Originally Posted by
Sean Gordon
Leather saddles are for recreational, occasional high mileage use, like on a bike tour. They won't hold up to a racer's training regimen, being bathed in salt sweat, rain, road salt, etc. and then ridden hard the next day.
I find them pretty resistant.
I have three (one tourer, one 60's road bike and a fixed wheel). The Tourer (it was the 3rd saddle on that bike ) Brooks B17 has probably 50000+ miles on it, mainly down to a 25-30 mile each day commute in all (Scottish) weathers, and several 80-100 mile a day tours in Europe. I use Proofide and, while it has become darker and stained, is extremely comfortable and supportive
Originally Posted by
Sean Gordon
I also hate how short the rails were. I almost always run saddles slammed back, and I could not get either Brooks in the right position. I ended up sitting too far back on them, often feeling the metal frame. And when you're "on the rivet," you're really ON THE RIVET.
You are exactly right. I'm pretty far back on the rails on mine, they don't have as much movement as others and if I needed more reach (I don't) would need to have a setback post.