Touring - Brooks rain/inclement weather protection question

I'm going to drink the Koolaid and become one of the Brooksian cult. After dealing with several synthetic ass-hatchet saddles in an effort to find something that I don't think about while riding, I've decided to go B17. Anyway, I've read all the threads about shower caps, plastic bags, blah blah blah... I'm going to be putting fenders on my bike but since I ride in Chicago and plan to be commuting throughout winter, I'm a bit concerned about keeping the saddle in good shape with all the muck I'll be riding through, not to mention the salt they throw down everywhere. When folks are talking about plastic bags, shower caps, or even the dedicated covers, do these only protect the top of the saddle from moisture coming from above? I could see where a plastic bag might be pulled tight enough to protect the bottom. I'm guessing full fenders will keep a lot of spray and gunk from getting on the saddle underside anyway? Do the dedicated covers (Aardvark, etc.) cover any of the bottom of the saddle? Does the Proofhide applied to the underside confer any water resistance? Anyway, your best tips for keeping a leather saddle in top shape under very trying riding conditions would be greatly appreciated.

I've got full fenders, and that and a saddle bag seem to protect the bottom of the saddle adequately. I'm one of those pushing the Aardvark cover; they won't last forever, but they'll last for a long time even with you riding.

To tell the full story, I figure my butt does a decent job of covering the saddle for a light shower, especially with a rain jacket. I only use the Aardvark when it might pour, or when I have to leave my preciousss outside.

I've got full fenders, and that and a saddle bag seem to protect the bottom of the saddle adequately. I'm one of those pushing the Aardvark cover; they won't last forever, but they'll last for a long time even with you riding.

To tell the full story, I figure my butt does a decent job of covering the saddle for a light shower, especially with a rain jacket. I only use the Aardvark when it might pour, or when I have to leave my preciousss outside.
Everyone in the building simultaneously looked at me to see what was so funny. I described as best as I could, but just ended up getting weird looks. :rolleyes:

or when I have to leave my preciousss outside.

It sounds really funny if you say it in the Gollum voice! I laughed out loud!

Everyone in the building simultaneously looked at me to see what was so funny. I described as best as I could, but just ended up getting weird looks. :rolleyes:

Obviously a bunch of Phillistines who wouldn't know good bike humor if it came up and bit them on the ass. :lol:

I don't ride in the winter so I can't answer some of your questions. I put Proofhide on the top and bottom leather, that appears to protect the underside quite well. I don't trust waterproof covers, I put a plastic bag under the waterproof covers so that if and when the cover leaks the plastic bag protects the leather. In other words, I use the cover to protect the plastic bag that I rely on for waterproofness.

If I did ride in the winter, I might be tempted to put a cheap plastic saddle on the bike if I was going to go riding while it was snowing.

I hope you are not one of those people that ride down the center of residential streets in one of two tire tracks at about 6 mph on a snowy day preventing traffic from getting past. I hate those people, they do not realize how much road rage against cyclists they are causing.

I keep a target bag in my saddlebag and tie it around the bottom of the saddle when it's getting wet. That seems to do the trick. I've got fenders and they actually do pretty well keeping water from coming up under the saddle, but the target bag has worked out well.

-adam

Plastic bag.

plastic bag lives under my brooks saddle , just in case it did rain here in Ireland LOL

Brooks saddles... has P.E.T.A. ever had a Brooks protest?
Some poor bovine gave up its life so you can have a comfy tush.

, just in case it did rain here in Ireland LOL

got a guffaw out of me there O'Reilly

Brooks saddles... has P.E.T.A. ever had a Brooks protest?
Some poor bovine gave up its life so you can have a comfy tush.
And I enjoyed eating the steak it provided too.

If you can get across to Canada and an MEC store, see if you can pick up one of the saddle "condoms" they stock. When we went to an MEC in Vancouver early this month, I found this really neat latex rubber saddle cover that is appropriately shaped and simply stretches over the seat. The opening sort of gathers around the seatpost. With fenders (or a rear rack or in our case a seatpost rack to support the Carradices) I expect it to be a great solution to keeping the Brooks dry.

Proofide underneath is a good move anyway.

Light rain is not really an issue as pdlamb points out (safe in the knowledge that Brooks hasn't found a lamb or sheep hide thick enough to make its saddles from... yet!).

plastic bag lives under my brooks saddle , just in case it did rain here in Ireland LOLWe both know it only rains when you forget the plastic bag, or use it to carry home something from the grocers. :innocent:

Rowan, if it is the same thing I saw, what I didnt like is that if felt sort of "grabby", know what I mean. I bought a brooks rain cover and while it is a bit stiff, i do like its feel, no grabbiness. Havent ridden on it all day though, so perhaps the folds might get annoying.

Rowan, if it is the same thing I saw, what I didnt like is that if felt sort of "grabby", know what I mean. I bought a brooks rain cover and while it is a bit stiff, i do like its feel, no grabbiness. Havent ridden on it all day though, so perhaps the folds might get annoying.
Yes, probably is the same. I haven't tested it yet in wet conditions, but maybe the additional of water will slightly lubricate the surface to eliminate the grabbiness.

I ride all year round, proofide on top and underneath, with a plastic bag stuffed underneath. I dont often leave precious outside, but the bag is there in case.

z

Does the Proofhide applied to the underside confer any water resistance?

If you get it in the leather..
at 100F, an upside down saddle in the oven soaks it up like sponge-bob.

Ie, the melting point of the waxes, then they re-solidify at room temperature.

I'm going to drink the Koolaid and become one of the Brooksian cult.

That's good, because resistance is futile, and you would have been assimilated anyway.

Proofide top and bottom,and fenders is all you really need for rideing.
When I stop rideing and it's still raining then I put a cover on it,or if I'm leaveing it out overnight when touring.
Had mine for 7 years now,it doesn't look as pretty as it did when new but man is it comfy.
Anyhow does a Brooks saddle really look as good as new after a year or two.

I hope you are not one of those people that ride down the center of residential streets in one of two tire tracks at about 6 mph on a snowy day preventing traffic from getting past. I hate those people, they do not realize how much road rage against cyclists they are causing.

Nope - my path to work is a MUP with no vehicular traffic on it. I only deal with cars for exactly about a block and a half where I ride from my apartment to the path.

That's good, because resistance is futile, and you would have been assimilated anyway.

:lol::lol::lol:

Fenders, Proofide top and bottom (and unlike fietsbob) I live in a part of the country where leaving the bike in the sun for an hour will allow the Proofide to soak in. I also carry cheap (free) shower caps to cover the saddle when the bike is parked. I also like Target bags. If I am riding my arse covers it.

Aaron :)

I've done a lot of riding and touring in wet weather on Brooks and can wholeheartedly recommend generous waterproofing of your preference among 1)proofhide; 2) Obenauf's; or 3)SnoSeal

and as to the best saddle cover, the superlative choice, bar none, is an Aardvark neoprene saddle covers in SMALL.

Distributed only from Cyclone Cycling products out of Portland, tough to track down but the BEST saddle cover on the market for Brooks. Greggs' greenlake cycles in Seattle can sort you out one if you give them a call. Ben's Cycles in Milwaukee might have them too.

the small fits like a glove, the regular Aardvark cover fits Brooks loose and sloppy. its worth finding a small. ask your LBS to try and order one for you but i've only seen the regulars in most of the wholesale catalogs.

Aardvark waterproof saddle cover, SMALL.

Of course, Brooks do make their own cover. It comes free with Ti saddles. I've not used them yet, either.

Of course, Brooks do make their own cover. It comes free with Ti saddles. I've not used them yet, either.

I have gotten a couple of those, and unfortunately the quality isn't all that good. One came with our Lady B18, the other I believe was a gift or a gimme from somewhere. I still prefer my shower caps from the hotels, basically free and easy.

Aaron :)

Drain a 5L box of Vin Ordinare, and it includes a free saddle cover ..
the bladder that held the Vino.

Drain a 5L box of Vin Ordinare, and it includes a free saddle cover ..
the bladder that held the Vino.

Not a wine drinker at all, but even so, 5L seems like it'd be too large for a saddle cover.

The shower caps are free from motels and cost about 1.49 US from Chinamart / Walmart. Snowseal is quite available in the middle states (Misery) and it works well when melted and allowed to soak in as already stated. I used the Brooks cover but it cracked in a crease the first winter. I keep the bike inside at home and an open parking lot at work. The saddle still looks great after 2000 plus miles. The fenders help but add weight. The saddle was a good investment in cost and for comfort provided. Long live Brooks Saddles.

I use the brooks saddle cover, it attaches securely. It is fine for snow, however it is not fully waterproof - if it looks like wet snow or rain - I put a shower cap over the cover. I also put proofhide on the saddle underside and sprayed the metal frame with boeshield (this also fixed a saddle creak).

I use the brooks saddle cover, it attaches securely. It is fine for snow, however it is not fully waterproof - if it looks like wet snow or rain - I put a shower cap over the cover. I also put proofhide on the saddle underside and sprayed the metal frame with boeshield (this also fixed a saddle creak).

re brooks cover, apparently they changed them to be fully waterproof (I am told the one I got is...we will see one day after a long time inrain, so far just short rides)

Boeshield--I am intrigued....will look it up, but what is it anyway?

btw, I ride sometiems with friends in northern vt, damn pretty area to ride in!

I bought a B17 five years ago, rode it in all seasons (except winter, when I keep the bike in an uninsulated shed). Other than cover it with a cheap shower cap in the rain, I did nothing to it. It's always been fine.

This spring, though, noticing that the saddle was looking a bit dry, I shmeared it, top and bottom, with ordinary boot goop. It looks like new, and continues to keep its shape (and comfy ride).

I use a shower cap, and fenders.

Boeshield--I am intrigued....will look it up, but what is it anyway?



I believe it is a protectant/lube. I've see it for sale in bike shops here and there. It's bloody expensive and was apparently developed by Boeing or for Boeing, hence the "Boeshield" name. Lots of guys swear by it for keeping tools in good shape but I don't know how good it is as a lube.

I use Snoseal on my Brooks saddles, top and bottom. I also have fenders on my year-around commuter.

For several years, I used the grocery bag method of covering the saddle during heavy rains. I kept a bag under the saddle, a small strip of velcro wrapped around the seatpost, and would put the bag over the saddle for rain. However, I quickly learned that not all bags are created equal, some are more durable plastic (such as Target bags), and used them mostly.

I got tired of fiddling with plastic bags and eventually got a Jandd seat cover (http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FSCW). I have been using that for the past couple of years and it has performed flawlessly.

re brooks cover, apparently they changed them to be fully waterproof (I am told the one I got is...we will see one day after a long time inrain, so far just short rides)

Boeshield--I am intrigued....will look it up, but what is it anyway?

btw, I ride sometiems with friends in northern vt, damn pretty area to ride in!

Boeshield T-9 was developed by Boeing aircraft to prevent metal corrosion. It sprays on and leaves a slightly waxy protective layer, some use as a chain lube. Another use is as an internal frame corrosion protector. It worked well on creaky saddles, both Brooks and Sell Anatomic a.

thanks both of you for the Boeshield info, will remember that.

...Jandd seat cover (http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FSCW). I have been using that for the past couple of years and it has performed flawlessly.

I like this. I see it has a draw string, do you know if it will stay put at 70 mph while the bike is on top of a car? That is the main failure of my shower cap method.

When I mount my bike on a car with a showercap covering the seat, I wrap the seat with a Bungee cord to keep the showercap in place.

5L seems like it'd be too large for a saddle cover.

it's a square , double-layered pieces of plastic, welded around the edges,
You cut out the spout and slit it a little bit , on the diagonal,
and the 'wings' can be clipped together with a spring paper clip.

without the 6.6 , 0.75L bottles, 5L is not that large a volume.
and once its empty the bladder is flat.

Boeshield T-9 was developed by Boeing aircraft to prevent metal corrosion. It sprays on and leaves a slightly waxy protective layer, some use as a chain lube. Another use is as an internal frame corrosion protector. It worked well on creaky saddles, both Brooks and Sell Anatomic a.
It's wax in a solvent. It is little different, in my book, to White Lightning. I bought a bottle of it after reading reommendations over the past five years or so, but found it doesn't suit me as well as oil-based lubricants.

The alternative use as a surface protectant might be useful.

I like this. I see it has a draw string, do you know if it will stay put at 70 mph while the bike is on top of a car? That is the main failure of my shower cap method.

I've never done it, but it's a solid fit. I don't think it would blow off.

I can get the shower caps to stay on at 70mph the challenge is keeping them from shredding. I have much better results with the Target bags. I have had some saddle covers in the past, but nothing to write home about.

Aaron :)

as in #39.. continuing,
Double layer Bladder bags out of the 5L boxes of Vin Ordinare, work for me.
tough and waterproof from the outside in as they were from the inside out.
cut out spigot and make a diagonal cut on that side.
leave uncut just enough to reach saddle nose to the seatpost..

I forgot to mention about the Snoseal. Buff the remaining wax after the Snoseal has melted and soaked in all it can. The cloth buff gets the excess off. If you don't your commuter shorts/pants will have a waxy substance on the seat. Others will see it before you will! ;)

swim caps work. all your triathlete buddies get a new one each time they race