prevail24
03-09-04, 06:45 PM
My GF got me a B-17 for an anniversary present, and I wanted to know if anyone had any tips or advise for breaking in the saddle.
Commuting - any one use a brooks?
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uciflylow
03-09-04, 07:32 PM
I love my Team Pro!!! I love it! Just use profhide on the bottom and top, let it sit over night and wipe off the excess. Then just ride it. Ride a few miles at a time at first then just inrease the milage a little at a time.
The only complaint I have with my Brooks, IT HAS RUINED MY BOTTOM! I mean that now when I ride my other bike, the saddle feels like someone is kicking me in the a$$ after about 30 mins on the bike! :mad:
The only complaint I have with my Brooks, IT HAS RUINED MY BOTTOM! I mean that now when I ride my other bike, the saddle feels like someone is kicking me in the a$$ after about 30 mins on the bike! :mad:
supcom
03-09-04, 07:41 PM
Marry that woman and quick before some other cyclist gets her!
Your GF must think you're really special.
Breaking in a Brooks is simple. Get some Proofide and smear a thin coating on top and a thicker coating on the underside. Let the Proofide soak in and kind of dry (overnight is good) then buff the top with a soft rag. Leave the underside alone. The Proofide helps waterproof the saddle down there. After that, put it on the bike, adjust for comfort, and ride it. Simple.
As you put on the miles, the saddle just gets better.
Your GF must think you're really special.
Breaking in a Brooks is simple. Get some Proofide and smear a thin coating on top and a thicker coating on the underside. Let the Proofide soak in and kind of dry (overnight is good) then buff the top with a soft rag. Leave the underside alone. The Proofide helps waterproof the saddle down there. After that, put it on the bike, adjust for comfort, and ride it. Simple.
As you put on the miles, the saddle just gets better.
late
03-09-04, 07:45 PM
Hi,
I recently got a Brooks, and used my old boot treatment with great success.
All you need is a cloth, a hairdryer, and a can of Proofide. Use the hairdryer to GENTLY warm the saddle. Then use it to melt a little Proofide. Rub the leather with the melted Proofide, and keep it warm with the dryer. At no point let the saddle get hot. If the stuff is liquid it will soak in quicker. Do that for a couple minutes over the entire top. Ride it a little, and then repeat the treatment. Except this time concentrate on the middle of the saddle. You can put a little around the edges, but they don't need much. After that treatment you're done. I did not put Proofide on the bottom. You don't need to do that if you use fenders. And if you do use it on the bottom it will take longer to dry when it does get wet. I think of fenders and Brooks saddles as two very sensible ideas that complement each other. Cheerio.
I recently got a Brooks, and used my old boot treatment with great success.
All you need is a cloth, a hairdryer, and a can of Proofide. Use the hairdryer to GENTLY warm the saddle. Then use it to melt a little Proofide. Rub the leather with the melted Proofide, and keep it warm with the dryer. At no point let the saddle get hot. If the stuff is liquid it will soak in quicker. Do that for a couple minutes over the entire top. Ride it a little, and then repeat the treatment. Except this time concentrate on the middle of the saddle. You can put a little around the edges, but they don't need much. After that treatment you're done. I did not put Proofide on the bottom. You don't need to do that if you use fenders. And if you do use it on the bottom it will take longer to dry when it does get wet. I think of fenders and Brooks saddles as two very sensible ideas that complement each other. Cheerio.
froze
03-09-04, 08:54 PM
I have the Brooks Swift ti saddle and I did not use any presoftening junk on it. I did that after reading an article in the Rivendell reader concerning the B17 they sell and they recommended not using anything either. So I didn't and it took about 300 to 500 miles to break in.
late
03-10-04, 04:06 AM
1) Life is too short
2) Proofide is little different from the stuff they sell to put on hiking boots. I can tell you from experience that leather is happier when you take care of it. I can see where that could be a reaction to people using too much. But really, that is a bit of the old hair shirt.
.....PS,
just wanted to add to my previous thoughts on treating the saddle. You are not trying to turn the saddle into glove leather. You only want to get enough in there so it isn't rock-like.
2) Proofide is little different from the stuff they sell to put on hiking boots. I can tell you from experience that leather is happier when you take care of it. I can see where that could be a reaction to people using too much. But really, that is a bit of the old hair shirt.
.....PS,
just wanted to add to my previous thoughts on treating the saddle. You are not trying to turn the saddle into glove leather. You only want to get enough in there so it isn't rock-like.
RainmanP
03-10-04, 10:09 AM
I also like to Proofide then leave the saddle in a warm location to keep the proofide soft. It has nothing to do with softening the saddle. You DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT want to soften a Brooks saddle. That will not make the saddle more comfortable; it only risks damage. I want to Proofide to soak in to provide deeper nourishment protection to the leather. My Brooks saddles are still so hard they sound like wood when you knock on them, but they are extremely comfortable. I ride them in the rain, and they show no sign of having absorbed water. THAT is what I want. When new I treated them every other day with Proofide and gentle heat. They still look nearly new despite regular commuting use, including rainy weather.
One thing I do find with my Team Pros is that I have to tilt the nose up in the front. The design of the rear part of the saddle seems to tilt forward a bit, enough that I feel like I am sliding forward, which puts too much weight on my hands. By tilting the nose up some, the rear, where I tend to sit, is more level. My standard more modern saddles all sit perfectly level.
One thing I do find with my Team Pros is that I have to tilt the nose up in the front. The design of the rear part of the saddle seems to tilt forward a bit, enough that I feel like I am sliding forward, which puts too much weight on my hands. By tilting the nose up some, the rear, where I tend to sit, is more level. My standard more modern saddles all sit perfectly level.
MichaelW
03-10-04, 10:51 AM
For the first week or so, there are no dimples, so she may find herself sliding around the saddle, but pretty soon it beds into the rider's shape.
Dont play with the tension screw for a few years.
Use proof-hide every 6-months. I found that1 initial applicatio worked fine.
Keep a couple of plastic carrier bags stuffed under the saddle. When it looks like rain you can keep the saddle dry.
Dont play with the tension screw for a few years.
Use proof-hide every 6-months. I found that1 initial applicatio worked fine.
Keep a couple of plastic carrier bags stuffed under the saddle. When it looks like rain you can keep the saddle dry.
midwestmntnbkr
03-10-04, 11:08 AM
When new I treated them every other day with Proofide and gentle heat. They still look nearly new despite regular commuting use, including rainy weather.
For how many "every othr days" did you proofride it when new? I am most likely buying a B-17 for my fixie project, and am getting all the info I can.
Thanks
For how many "every othr days" did you proofride it when new? I am most likely buying a B-17 for my fixie project, and am getting all the info I can.
Thanks