Touring - Brooks leather saddle breakin

Just an update on how my saddle is holding up. This is the Brooks
one that I ws told to break in by soaking it in neatsfoot compound for a week,totally submersed, and then to let it drip for a week.

Well even though the "good people at Rivendale" advised against it, the saddle is still plush and is in fine shape.

Let me know if ya'all have any questions.

TERENCE:beer:

Terence,

You just took ten years off that saddles expected thirty year life span! ;)

I was too scared to harm my Swift by the neatsfoot method.

Good luck.

I have used Neatsfoot oil on a couple old, dried Brooks saddles (bought dirt cheap on E-Bay), and it really worked well on them! For my new Team Professional and my nearly-perfect B-66, though, I have only used the Proofhide. I apply it top and bottom. The B66 I put Neatsfoot oil on the underside first, though (it was a few years old), but not on the top.

I have many miles on a brooks swift ti, just proofhide, never anything else, super comfort after break in. ride a brooks B-17 on the commuter, nothing but proof hide and always comfortable, right from the start on that one.

I just put 25mi on my first Brooks B17N last Saturday and it was fine. Guess I like a firm saddle. Anywho, I don't understand the fear of the Brooks break in period.

I "broke" my B17 in by riding it a bit, just 5 miles at a time for a few weeks. It soon settled into my shape, and has never caused a problem. I dont understand this big deal with the process.
I also use just Proofhide on the saddle, because thats what Brooks tell me to do.