I just bought my first Broks Saddle

[Thurnau]

I went to http://www.wallbike.com/ since this place was recommended very often in this forum. To my surprise they are 6 miles from my house! A forum member recommended I try the b67 sprung rather than trying a suspension seat post. I went in and talked to the guy (the owner was very cool) for a while, and he talked me into the b17 with springs. I can't wait to try it. My question is, how do you proofide the bottom? There is so much metal frame stuff in the way.

Here is a link to the style http://www.wallbike.com/championflyer.html

[Richard_Rides]

Wallbike is very well known for their service and professionalism. Yes, dump the suspension seatpost. I have a Brooks Flyer on my MTB and it's great. Don't do any proofhiding to the saddle. Just mount it and ride it.

Once you ride your new saddle, come back here give us a test report!

Party on! :giver:

[c_m_shooter]

When I proofide mine I end up pulling the sides out and smearing the stuff under there as best I can with my fingers.

[Griffish]

I also bought a B17 recently and am so happy I did. It is not broken in yet, but is still very comfortable. I use baseball glove oil on mine(Sheldon Brown's site). I just rub it in both bottom and top and then ride. Hopefully this will work. I have to say though that I have tried 2 "comfort" saddles and then I bought the Brooks based on reviews here and am very happy so far...

[Richard_Rides]

Well you guys inspired me to do some reading and I was under the impression that treating the saddle was unnecessary, but I was wrong. So I just ordered some Proofide and will get busy with it as soon as it arrives.

[Ziemas]

Well you guys inspired me to do some reading and I was under the impression that treating the saddle was unnecessary, but I was wrong. So I just ordered some Proofide and will get busy with it as soon as it arrives.

Use very little Proofhide on the saddle. An amount the size of a pea is enough for one side. If you use too much you'll ruin the saddle.

[socalrider]

make sure to put a good coat of proofide on the bottom of saddle before you mount it on your bike..

I have never heard of anyone ruining a saddle using proofide.. Some of the other treatments that could be the case.. When I get a new brooks, a fair amount on the bottom and a little on top, put out in the sun for an hour and wipe clean..

Other than the break in process, the part that will feel strange will be the slipperyness of the saddle.. You will learn to realize that slippery is good, no friction..

[wrk101]

Any recommendations on color? While the honey color looks sweet, I wonder how clean it stays? May just go with black.

Looking at the B17 champion.


thanks!

[Ziemas]

Any recommendations on color? While the honey color looks sweet, I wonder how clean it stays? May just go with black.

Looking at the B17 champion.


thanks!

They stay clean, but darken (quite nicely actually) with age.

[Thurnau]

The honey looks great in person. My bike has all silver and black stuff on it so I went with black. I knew if I bought the black I would have always wanted the honey, if I bought the honey I would have always wanted the black. One thing is if you go with the black it looks like a normal seat from a distance, while the honey looks like a real leather seat. Up close they are both impressive.

[vbclown]

OK,

You inspired me. I had been thinking about upgrading to a Brooks (my first) for my comfort/city bike, and your thread pushed me over the edge. I'm just back from a nice ride to the LBS to pick up my Black Flyer Special.

[wrk101]

I hate to recommend this, but right now there are multiple dealers selling Brooks saddles below retail on fleabay, with buy it nows about 20 to 25% less than other retail outlets. Don't know if they loaded up before the price increase or what.

YMMV.

[dobber]

Use very little Proofhide on the saddle. An amount the size of a pea is enough for one side. If you use too much you'll ruin the saddle.

I'll have to disagree here. While I'm sure submerging the saddle in liquid Proofide is probably detrimental, I don't think you can really overdo it with the contents of that little tin.

I use a two-finger scoop on the top, rub it in good and then buff it off. For the bottom I just smear it on and let in dry. For those nooks and crannies, I'll use a long stiff artists paint brush.

[Ziemas]

I'll have to disagree here. While I'm sure submerging the saddle in liquid Proofide is probably detrimental, I don't think you can really overdo it with the contents of that little tin.

I use a two-finger scoop on the top, rub it in good and then buff it off. For the bottom I just smear it on and let in dry. For those nooks and crannies, I'll use a long stiff artists paint brush.

By using too much you'll soften the leather to the point where it will start to sag prematurely.

[Thurnau]

I took my first long ride today. The seat was slightly uncomfortable for the first 2 miles, but still more comfortable than my last two saddles. After two miles it felt great, after that it kept getting more comfortable, until my seatpost stripped on the middle of my ride. I rode two miles without a seat until I could stop someone to borrow an allen wrench to tighten it up. After that it wasn't so bad. I went maybe 15-16 miles.

[Thurnau]

I would like to say that unbroken in, the brooks saddle was more comfortable than the bontrager approved saddle, and the ergogel saddle I paid $50 for. I did not feel the saddle spring give on any bumps but maybe it did take the edge off some of the smaller bumps.

[socalrider]

The springs are the brooks are very stiff. You will not noticeably feel it give, but for longer rides it will help in overall comfort..

[Cosmoline]

I absolutely love Brooks. People think the big cushy seats are going to be more comfortable, but the smaller leather Brooks are actually superior. Esp. on long rides.