Touring - How to carry Proofide while touring?

There's got to be a better way... I am carrying the tin of Proofide and it melts in the sun and gets all over the place and is a royal mess. I have the tin in one plastic bag, then that bag in another bag. It works, but is a pain to use as it melts all over and then the tin is slipperier than a greasy eel and I can't get the tin open and have to pull out the screwdriver on my pocketknife to wedge it open and the Proofide gets all over the knife...

So - how do you carry Proofide for your Brooks saddle? If we were just on a short tour, I wouldn't bother, but since we're out for nearly three years we need to treat them here and there.

Hi Nancy, been following you and your family on your blog but never spoke. Incredible adventure and its so rewarding to see how your kids are progressing in life with real life adventures. Way to go. For those darn critics that say these kids should be home and in school is absurd. They're in the best school in the "world". No pun intended.

Hmm proofhide...tough one. I'd suggest scooping it out and putting it into a small nalgene bottle (medicine one) that is totally sealable. I know you're on the road and that might not be an option.

You can put it into a small ziplock bag and stuff deep inside your clothing to keep cool as much as possible? As you know, with everything while touring it becomes whatever temp over time.

I guess normally when you put on proofhide, you'll be at a place that will have a frig? I can't see you putting it on in the middle of nowhere in 100 degree heat. So, you can just put the tin can in the frig for 10 mins to solidify it?

I'd go with the first option.

2000 km to go!

Best,

. For those darn critics that say these kids should be home and in school is absurd. They're in the best school in the "world". No pun intended.



We totally agree! When the criticism first started I was crushed - seriously hurt. But in the end, it's been a good thing. It's forced me to totally reevaluate why we are doing this and I've come to the conclusion that it's good for all four of us. It's not perfect and there are days when it royally sucks, but overall it's been wonderful for the whole family.

I just proofided our saddles for the last time on this trip, but will definitely come up with another plan if we do another long tour. I like your idea of some sort of Nalgene bottle - the tins it comes in is the pits!

Maybe something like this:

http://www.rei.com/product/605887

I love these little containers!

Maybe I am missing something.

Proofide is a once a year thing from what I've heard.

But... I usually put a lot on when I get a saddle to help break it in,
and them put some more on a few years later.

I don't get it.

I guess you would want to put some on if your saddle happens to get soaked unexpectedly, but it is kind of pointless to carry proofide on a tour. Of course, when you are touring for 2+ years non-stop it changes the situation a bit.

Maybe I am missing something.

Proofide is a once a year thing from what I've heard.

But... I usually put a lot on when I get a saddle to help break it in,
and them put some more on a few years later.

I don't get it.

Exactly - you don't need to use it often at all. But, when you are touring for many years and need to treat your saddles, you need to have it with you. I suppose we could have just treated them once 3 years ago and forgotten about them, but they would be pretty darn dried out by now! I try to treat ours twice per year - done it five times so far on this trip.

Clean out a toothpaste tube, and pour it in there while it's still warm >>>>>>>>>

Clean out a toothpaste tube, and pour it in there while it's still warm >>>>>>>>>

Brilliant idea!!

I carry stuff like that (chamois butter, sunscreen, etc.) in prescription pill bottles with those childproof caps. It seems to keep the goo in really well and they come in various sizes. It's easy then to scoop out with your fingers.

There were refillable plastic squeeze tube, though once the tin liquifies , a screw cap container will work
Nalgene or a recycled makeup container, just pour it in and let it cool.

you will find a laboratory supplier will offer more of their product lines than an outdoor store's buyer thinks you want.

My wife put 30,000+ miles on a Brooks B72 black saddle on our tandem.
Never used anything on it except occasional spray of furniture wax. Saddle rail broke at 30,000 some miles. Leather was fine and not cracked.

Try using old 35mm aluminum film canisters, the ones with the screw on caps (if you can find them). I use one for Bag Balm with good results.

alternate saddle treatments aren't quite so liquid in high heat. obenauf's montana boot grease.

i'd still put it in a screw top container of some variety.

Clean out a toothpaste tube, and pour it in there while it's still warm >>>>>>>>>

Eventurally toothpaste tube will not work. Proofhide in liquid form is an oil and as you know nancy, super duper slippery! The oil will slowly undo the toothpaste cap over time unless you tighten is once in awhile and i know you'll forget, then you'll have a greasy mess. Nalgene will work better.

Maybe I am missing something.

Proofide is a once a year thing from what I've heard.

But... I usually put a lot on when I get a saddle to help break it in,
and them put some more on a few years later.

I don't get it.

Hi Late, this family has been on the road longer than any of our tours combined. I think 2 or 3 years. They started in Prudhoe bay, AK and headed to the tip of S. America and finding bike shops with Proofhide in S. America is a stretch so they have to bring it. You should read their blog...it's keep you busy.

www.familyonbikes.com

Best,

We totally agree! When the criticism first started I was crushed - seriously hurt. But in the end, it's been a good thing. It's forced me to totally reevaluate why we are doing this and I've come to the conclusion that it's good for all four of us. It's not perfect and there are days when it royally sucks, but overall it's been wonderful for the whole family.

I just proofided our saddles for the last time on this trip, but will definitely come up with another plan if we do another long tour. I like your idea of some sort of Nalgene bottle - the tins it comes in is the pits!

Sorry for the off topic. When I read your blog entry about the critic stating that you folks are bad parents subjecting your kids to this torturous adventure, there was steam coming out of my ears. People don't know what us touring cyclist knows and the only way for them to realize it is to saddle up. Years back I did my first tour and it was life changing as you know. Since then, I've met alot of touring cyclist with kids and we keep in touch after their tour. I must say emphatically that all these kids are acute to their surroundings and more open minded than most. Kudos to you for being the best teacher!

Best

For camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota where cans and glass bottles for food are illegal, I use these for cooking oil and squeeze margerine:
http://www.rei.com/product/605499

For tobasco sauce I don't need 4 oz, instead I use this:
http://www.rei.com/product/605500

The lids have to be threaded onto the bottles very tight, otherwise they leak.

I carry these bottles inside a plastic bag that is inside of another plastic bag because when you open and close the spigot a couple times a day, a bit of the cooking oil starts to coat the bottles. I suspect you would want to carry the bottle in plastic for the same reason but at least 99.99 percent of the proofhide would stay in the bottle.

They also make a 3 oz size in event you get on any airplanes and have your liquids in your carryon. I was in the local REI store last week looking to buy another, they were out of stock on the 4 oz size so I looked at a 3 oz size for olive oil, I noticed that the 3 oz is much stiffer plastic than the 4 oz.
http://www.rei.com/product/753331

I took my partially used tin on tour. Double ziplocked. The tin did get a bit melty/messy over the length of the tour, but luckily it didn't leak on my gear.

I like the idea of using a little nalgene/other plastic bottle-and do use them for various other incendentals.

-I re-dressed my saddle a couple times while on tour. I think a few times was just a partial touch-up, while once was a "full re-proofhide".

I think that all day riding in the warmer temps can wear out the saddle oils from sweat/friction.

I think a plastic, screw-top, contact lens storage container would be pretty good. You don't need a whole lot of proofide to treat a saddle, so the small container should hold a few years supply. Given the fact that proofide is liquid sometimes, a water-proof container is essential.

I'll make a fairly off-the-wall recommendation. Get a restaurant-style squeeze bottle. Put saran wrap between the top of the bottle and the cap. Then, when you want to use it, just unscrew the cap and remove the saran wrap. When finished, put the saran wrap back in place and off you go.

I think the tiny little Nalgene container sounds like the best option. If we ever do another ginormous tour, I'll do that.

We totally agree! When the criticism first started I was crushed - seriously hurt. But in the end, it's been a good thing. It's forced me to totally reevaluate why we are doing this and I've come to the conclusion that it's good for all four of us. It's not perfect and there are days when it royally sucks, but overall it's been wonderful for the whole family.


I helped host the Harrison Family; aka: Pedouins http://www.pedouins.org
same deal... kids, on a bike tour. great experience.

I helped host the Harrison Family; aka: Pedouins http://www.pedouins.org
same deal... kids, on a bike tour. great experience.

It really is an amazing experience for the whole family. The kids get to see the country for real rather than encased in a metal/glass cage and they get to meet the people. Lots of people. It's phenomenal. I honestly don't really understand the criticism.

If we ever do another ginormous tour, I'll do that.Try it on the way back. :D

Seriously though, I just realized I don't know how you're planning to travel home from Argentina?

--J

Seriously though, I just realized I don't know how you're planning to travel home from Argentina?

--J

Flying :)

It really is an amazing experience for the whole family. The kids get to see the country for real rather than encased in a metal/glass cage and they get to meet the people. Lots of people. It's phenomenal. I honestly don't really understand the criticism.

because most people are stuck

because most people are stuck

Maybe that's it. They know they are stuck in a rut and wonder how we managed to get out. I dunno...

Maybe that's it. They know they are stuck in a rut and wonder how we managed to get out. I dunno...

something like that. recently I've been on a kick about reading up on "Self Domestication". Its interesting. I think that often people see "wild" people as a threat.

i.e. I had worked at a local hospital as a Pharmacy Tech for 13 years, great employee, I left my job to help with my dad who had bladder cancer and to basically return to my family whom I had not been around for about 20 years. I left my job on good terms, and they paid me the 466hrs of paid leave that I had accrued. Its been over 3 years since I've had a "real job", spending a bunch of time riding my bike, touring, etc...
its very interesting to go to an interview as a rehire, and to "see" what everyone has in common.
Explicitly, its debt
Tacitly; I suppose one could argue if its commitment or obligation

either way, its the same old phobia of things that are Free and Wild