Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Brooks tale # ?

I have uneven sit bones, so have used stretched leather saddles. With a hard plastic saddle causing a bleading wood on the left bone. I'v delt with the short leg issue with shims & no real solution. My latest B 17 was rather thin & stretched quickley. I have been trying a professional, with the thicker leather, off and on for a coupple years. I returned from a 90 mi. overnight a coupple weeks ago with the sit bone as painful as ever. In desperstion I roled the bike into the garage, got out my heat gun. I heated the left sit bone area until it was warm to tuch (not bubling hot) got on and rod for about 10 min. the left bone was very happy, the rt. not so much. I reheated both sides and repeated the ride. It has been 2 weeks and i'v nothing but good to say about the process. I had only used proofhide & regular shoe polish on the saddle, NO oil. The impressions on the saddle are more evedent now,and the unevenness is easy to see. I heated the saddle so lightly (blow dryer) that I hardley notised it therw paded shorts. I hope that if anyone tryes this that i'm not to blame for any blazing saddles!

Never heard of anyone doing this, but clever idea! you first though ;)

Tom

Did you Proofhide it while it was warm? Did the underside possibly have proofhide on it?

Your sig line is ironic in light of your post.

Very interesting! I've been struggling with Brooks break-in for some time now (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=522448) and may want to try your technique at some point. Did you heat the saddle from above or the underside? I'm assuming from above.

I see you are in Omaha... where do you ride?

when making leather knife sheaths, we wet the leather and wrap it around the knife to form it as it dries, usually overnight. I imagine you softened the leather with the proofide and heat, and it formed some during your ride.

I used no proofhide when the saddle was worm, I don't think the saddle had proofhide underneath. The heat was from above. Keystone from western. I hope one old f--t has less influande than a village.

This makes sense. I used a product for breaking in my sons baseball gloves that you cover the leather with something that looks like shaving cream, then bake in the oven for 5 min (I think) and then throw a ball, and repeat. Worked very well.