So you're one of the Brooks sponsored riders as well? Where will it stop! :p

So you really think they're the go for wet weather over in NZ?

Come on saccy, it never rains here! At least not today anyway :p

On the saddle side of things, I couldn't be arsed mucking about with all the saddle conditioning bollocks you seem to have to do with the Brooks jobbies. Something maintenance free like a Flite or a Concor if you want a traditional shape might be best.

What about this one? No leather to condition, plenty of ventilation :p
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/I.../Full/7432.jpg

No I'm not, I ride MrM's old Specialized Milano (the 6 month old saddle he replaced with the Brooks).:p

I'm just saying you should consider it.

If you're sitting on the saddle, rain isn't an issue and when you get off the bike, wipe off any obvious moisture and stick a shower cap over it or something. If you decide to seriously consider a Brooks, PM me and I'll give you MrM's email address so you can benefit from his experience.

And 'vette, the conditioning bollocks takes no time at all ..... basically you apply the supplied leather conditioner daily for a couple of days, then infrequently thereafter. Only problem is, it is kinda slippery for the first week or so, with all that conditioner on board. The months to break it in malarkey is a load of cobblers basically perpetuated by people who don't understand leather.

lol. is that thing for real vette? :lol:

What about all the water running between my butt cheeks? :p

Nah, I'd just love to have a sit on one to see what they're like. You never know until you sit on one.

yep, AKA the Tioga patented butt cheek grater

lol. I rekon that would be perfect for NZ. I want one!

well, it is, as most of the crap that affects your brooks saddle in the rain gets there from under the saddle, flung up by the back wheel. sure, your arse might be covering the saddle, but there is still water on top of the saddle between the bum and the leather.

and even if it's not raining, you still get a wet saddle from sweat. or don't any of you guys sweat when you ride?

leather conditioner, top AND BOTTOM of the saddle. wipe down and then dry the saddle naturally when you get home: don't use a hair dryer, and DON'T cover the saddle with a shower cap, it'll go mouldy if it doesn't dry. and if you can't get brooks saddle conditioner, there are plenty of other usable oils out there like Kiwi Mink Oil (not made from minks any more, i don't think):D

nor from kiwis either :p

Yes, all that is quite correct, I just didn't feel like reproducing the entire saddle care guidelines from Brooks especially given Saccy hasn't actually committed to buying one.

never read them myself. i do have a really old leather san marco, though, on my single speed.

lots more rain riding here in taipei than i ever did back in sydney.

Benched 300 for reps on the weekend.

Pretty happy with that.

But it's Valentine's Day in Oz, and here you are posting. My condolences. Or is she basking in the afterglow, so you slipped away for a quick post?

Mate...just been relieved of $125 for 1 doz. roses. Reckon they saw me coming....


The cheese & kisses better appreciate I could've bought a Corsa CX with that!!!

You could have bought 5 truffle innoculated oak trees with that!

MrM and I have never gone in for Valentine's day .... we both prefer the spontaneous romantic gesture.

Me too. Though I haven't bought my wife flowers for over 5 years so maybe I'm not very spontaneous.

Well I wouldn't do it now, you'll just look like you're cashing in on cheap post-Valentine's flowers. :p

How about you mark April 5th in your diary and buy the missus some flowers then? Ok, it's hardly spontaneous, but I think you need some help in this area. :rolleyes:

We're going to Belgium for the weekend so I promised her lots of Belgian chocolates and beer.

Where in Belgium?

Bruges for 2 nights and Brussels for 1.

Do you know any good bike shops there? I'm after some rollers and a Garmin Edge 305.

Not in Bruges or Brussels. I have to admit we only did a quick flit through Belgium. I did check out Plum Vanquier and Goodefroots when I stayed in Gent.

Plums was slightly disappointing, probably because I was expecting to be blown away as it was the shop back in the day. All the Aussies coming back from Europe would have swags of all the latest gear they'd brought in Plums. Still worth checking out if you can sneak off to Gent.

Walter Godefroots shop is friggin awesome. When I was there it was still the T Mobile service de course, so all the team cars and trucks were parked there. The old shop apparently used to be smack bang in the middle of Gent near the big tram station but its on the outskirts now, on the Kortrijk road IIRC. It was funny because our friends took us to the old location because they still thought it was in the city, even when I said I didn't think it was. :) Their mad keen cycling fan friend knew that it had moved.

I wouldn't have thought the prices in Belgium would be any better than Geoffrey Butlers or some of the other big London shops?

edit: http://www.fietsengodefroot.be/04.route.aspx

The Garmin goes for about £245 here but I've seen it on ebay new for £199.

$120 Aust difference. Thats a good pair of tyres.

Crikey, imagine just hopping in the car and driving to Frenchland or Belgiania in a few hours!
Where do we get in 3hrs? Bloody Bairnsdale? :p

Actually just jump on a train. 2 1/4 hours to Brussels.

After November it will be 1 3/4 hours as they will have completed the high speed train line then. It will be 2 1/4 hours to Paris then as well.

I've stopped converting into AUD. It's too painful.