Road Cycling - I ordered a B17, forgot the Proofide. Any substitutes?

Hi,
I have a really good hiking boot treatment kicking around somewhere.Ahh, found it. It's Bitwell, really good stuff for boots. Maybe I could use that. Anyone tried anything else?

You can ride without it for awhile, it's not critical. I'd wait and use the approved stuff rather than risk a nice saddle and shorts with something else.

http://rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/saddles_accessories/11005.html

-s

Late,

lets see, you're in Maine, it either rains/snows/sleets
all winter long, I'd get something on that saddle pronto.
Don't forget to Proofide the underside of the saddle
(and leave excess on).
Marty

I would just let it break in naturally, I did that with my Swift. But if rain/snow/sleet is in your realm of possible exposure then I would buy the bonnet that Rivendell sells at: http://rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/saddles_accessories/ The bonnet cost about $15 for members.

Many years ago - more than I care to count - I bought my younger son a brand new catcher's mitt. At the time, it was the best that I could find in Hawaii - over $100. He was 8 at the time and in Little League.

I showed him how to break it in, rubbing in oil and wrapping it with a baseball inside. He took it outside to show a friend, and, of course, being a little kid, left out on the lawn. Long story short, it rained and the glove was totally soaked.

I stuffed it and wrapped it with newspaper, replacing it whenever it became saturated. It took several days for it to dry out, but that was the best catcher's mitt in all of Pearl Harbor Little League, and later in his youth baseball days in Maryland. He used all the way through high school and American Legion.

Now, I told you all of that so I could tell you that if a Brooks saddle gets wet, wrapping it in newspaper will draw out the excess water. It is not something of which you want to make a habit, but it does work.

go to billbostoncycles.com/brooks_pro.htm. has a great treatment for brooks saddles. you will have a perfect broken in saddle in about 2 weeks. good luck.

I got this link off Sheldon Brown's website. FWIW, Sheldon marches to his own drummer.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

He recommends neatsfoot oil or baseball glove conditioner. He even mentioned one guy who used 30 weight motor oil. :eek: