Originally Posted by v1nce
Damn! 34 and 25 years that is crazy (good)!! Hmm, do you actually leave it in the rain frequently? I do (almost obsessively) wax/oil my Brooks B 17 (find it fun to do plus i just got it second hand, i figured it could use it) and i even have a seat cover that i remove on longer rides. I also have a B 66 S. That's great about the springs! Who needs suspension bikes, posts and such... Not me.
The only tiny Problem i have with my second hand B66 is the slight creaking (my bike is otherwise very quiet) any additional tips for this?
Well, i think i will stop oiling it so much, as it is they may outlast me ha ha.
I cover the seats with a plastic grocery bag when I leave them outside and expect rain. Also I cover it the same way, rain or shine (for theft prevention) when parked in any US city or when I used my bikes in Amsterdam. Love that city, but don't appreciate their tolerance for petty thieves and con artists.
I place a small nylon camping stuff sack over the plastic bag when carrying the bike on a car rack to keep the draft/wind from ripping the plastic bags: I cover the seat only with me when riding in the rain.
I have never used oil or any other dressing except for teflon or silicon spray on the springs to get rid of squeeks, works even on the B72.
Forgot to mention I have a Wrights W-66 (a twin of the Brooks B-66) that is also over 30+ years old. It is on my daughter's bike now. See attached photos. I painted the metal parts silver over 30 years ago when I had this seat on an old (pre mountain bike days) Schwinn Balloon tired springer bike that I had painted silver from top to bottom including the tires and spokes. I used to use that one in Philadelphia all the time in the early 70's and elsewhere until the mid 90's when I got rid of the bike but kept the seat.