I purchased my B17 a few weeks before my first century and never had an issue with it up to that point. My second century was the day after my first and it rained the entire time and I had brought nothing to protect it. The leather got soaked and became a hammock that I had to endure for several hours. The good news is that once it dried out and I adjusted it for the stretch, it was perfectly broken in with less than a month on it. I do NOT suggest this method though as the last 60 miles on day 2 was pure hell