hiromian

I have a Peugeot leather seat. Kind of like a brooks saddle. It is 30 years ols and looks dry but it is new as far as being used is concerned. Anyone have suggestions on care? A friend said Neets foot oil is the best because it's made out of cattle hoves. Great. Anyone try that?

ollo_ollo

Neets foot oil works but I have read it softens by breaking down the leather, so probably not the best choice for old, dry leather. Armor All made a leather care cream (avail in squeeze bottles) that I use on leather auto upholstry. It has lanolin & uv protection. I have also used it to restore old, dried out Brooks saddles. If it is still available, I would recommend it. Otherwise you could try some Brooks Proofide. don

halcpa

Brooks sells a paste that is made out of beeswax (I think). It works well on my B17. I replaced the original saddle that came with my old UO8 (late 60's vintage). The name of the saddle is stamped into the side but I can't read it. It is actually a very poorly made item. The saddle had a tendency to bottom out on the seat post (ouch).

San Rensho 

Neats foot works very well, sometimes too well, it will oversoften the leather if you use to much. Put it sparingly on the bottom, where the leather is rough and very porous, you can use a little more on the top.

Then wait a a couple of weeks and use some more if it isn't softening up.

hiromian

Yikes. thets the saddle I have . I quite like it. I'm not a heavyweight so I don't think bottiming out will happen. Who knows. I have loosened the tensioner improving the comfort which fits me well. I like the way it sqweeks like an old saddle should. (for a horse )

mpfgc

I just began riding on leather saddles this spring. One is an Ideal 39 that came on an old UO8 I rescued from the trash. The saddle was rock hard, but in reasonable good shape. I found it to be reasonable comfortable right away, and after a couple of hundred miles it became quite comfy. I debated all of the various recommended treatments, couldn't decide which to try, so did nothing, and found riding it to be the best way to break it in.

The second saddle is an old Wright's, it was much, much softer (and frankly a little to floppy) than the Ideale. I treated it with Proofride since it needed tensioning, and figure a little moisturizing might help to avoid pulling from the rivets. The tensioning helped, and this is the most comfortable bicycle saddle I've ever ridden.

I suspect that you need to ride frequently (I get out at least five times a week) and put in a moderate amount of mileage (I generally at least 75 miles per week), in order to get a good fit on a leather saddle.

Baggsy

Clean it up good and get some Lexol Leather conditioner and apply it 'sparingly'...you don't want to soften it, only condition it. A few light applications and let it work in each time. Hit both the top and bottom, and the edges. Then get some Sno-Seal and a blow drier. Warm the sno-seal, and the saddle, apply it liberally and work it in with the blow drier. It'll seal it tighter than a size 6 hat. Reapply the snow seal a couple times a year. Should last a long time if it's in any kind of shape to start with...

halcpa

There is a good discussion of the old Peugeot saddle at:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/carapace.html#uo8

Mine has "28A" stamped on the side.