Preventing damage to a Brooks seat
 

This Sunday I decided to get up early and do my first Century. Totally unprepared, hadn't ridden more than 50-60km in over a month and this was 160km.

Anyway, I wore nylon basket ball shorts. I assume that somehow they rubbed the seat the wrong way. At first I simply blamed the shorts, but then recalled this summer I'd had rides of 120-140km in same shorts with no issues.

It didn't rain, it wasn't super hot. I didn't notice I was sticking to the seat.

I can probably rub the scuffs out with a little brown shoe polish to darken it but I'd like to know what I could do to prevent a re-occurence. Bertinjim suggested that nylon can be abrasive so maybe no more riding with nylon?

Any thoughts???

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8efa84566b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...66fc49eb7e.jpg

Any ideas.

Lots of cover options, including one made by Brooks. My favorite is from Randi Jo Fabrications:

https://www.randijofab.com/collections/saddle-covers

Shows how the contact there can wad up in weird ways.

I would be just as concerned with the cracking in front of the first rear NDS rivet and behind the DS one, those will not heal but can be slowed way down with salve which will also remedy the chafe although I would go easy on that area.

FWIW, I don't subscribe to Proofide, too thick for my taste.

[MENTION=45088]nlerner[/MENTION] - I have a rain cover for a B72 but had never used it because someone told me that it interferes with the "Brooks ride" and you aren't as comfortable. Can you say how the ride is with a cover?

[MENTION=425004]merziac[/MENTION] - "slowed way down with salve". What is this salve you speak of? I had simply used a light amount of brown shoe polish on a kiwi cloth. I was unaware of anything to use beyond proofide. I had used an off market leather product that didn't show silicone as an ingredient.

I am aware of the damage at the rivet. The seat came to me in 2019 as part of a grab bag of stuff. I have no idea of the age or usage of this seat. It was stored in a damp basement for who knows how long and dried and covered in dust. Then, in August I flipped when a tire caught in a pavement rut and sent me flying. Seat got scuffed good on the D side.

Well I didn't list my salve, it has silicone and comes from world famous Langlitz Leathers, custom makers here in water logged PDX since the 40's so ymmv. ;)

I do use it sparingly but treat in and out, old, new and all in between, no adverse effects in ten years and has at least partially healed some very fragile looking and seeming ones.

I have at least a dozen and they are all just fine IMO.

LOL! Guess I can't just pop over to the local Langlitz Leathers. Guess I can try a local shoe store.

That would be a good trick since there's only one. ;)

Well I'm not sure what else is in it and as you already know silicone is a bad word for many here so I would proceed with caution if using something else. I stumbled on it when the Proofide didn't seem to help bad condition ones and tried the Langlitz since it was on hand, sparingly at first and more as needed. Its a little fickle as it turns liquid on application and soaks in fast but doesn't go far so you have to be careful, you can wipe off excess if your quick but you need to go easy from the jump.

I would reach out to them and see if they will send you some, if not I can do it and in the mean time maybe a shoe repair or a tack shop, the stores are going to have standard stuff and likely no one with actual hands on experience.

I use Dr. Martens boot treatment. I get it at the western wear store that I bought my cowboy boots from. It is fantastic for treating all my Brooks and Ideal leather saddles. I pay $10 for a tin that lasts about 2 years and I have quite a few vintage saddles. It is a bit like waxing a car , it takes some rubbing. It helps if you set the saddle out in the sun for a while. Joe. joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress

The two bikes I commute the most on have covers on their leather saddles (one Brooks, one Berthoud) year round. That way I avoid the sudden summer rainstorm while my bike is parked outside, potentially ruining a fine leather saddle. As far as comfort, can’t say I notice a difference, but my commute isn’t very long.

Over the years I've found that MinkOil performs better than anything else I've come across. I have used it on several Ideale saddles and still do, as well as any other leather I own particularly the nifty boots.

In terms of the saddle, you clean/treat it best you can, lotsa great suggestions here. Try the ones that are practical, like I'm supposing traveling to PDX to visit Langlitz ain't. Whatever comes out the other end adds to the saddle's character.

In terms of future prevention, I'd give a big YES to the idea of not doing more long-distance rides in nylon shorts. Not to get too anatomical/personal, but I'd be worrying about my own hide's scuffs, not the saddle. But I'm biased from having to prove I was a serious cyclist back in the late-'70s by wearing real bike shorts, when a Brooks Pro was standard equipment.

For shorter rides in nylon shorts, and for longer rides in bad weather _wearing actual bike shorts_, a cover is a good idea. Doesn't feel as nice as no cover and actual bike shorts, but should minimize saddle damage. For wet weather either a rear fender or making sure your cover protects the saddle underside is a good idea.

Might be worth saying that in some circles, a pair of non-cycling shorts/slacks with a Brooks ass-stain is a mark of honor. So there's that.

Thanks all.

I first applied some Kiwi boot polish and then gently rubbed that in. Followed up with Proofide as it was on hand. I'll do the underside next, then I'll bring it next week to a proper shoe repair place and show them the issue and see if they can help. If not I might have to ask for help with that PDX stuff. I'll order some covers as well.

Kiwi neutral shoe polish also works great and those scuffs will disappear. Polish those rivets with Simichrome after you've applied the shoe wax. I've used a Brooks cover on all day rain ride and didn't notice it was there. Which makes me question what magical properties a leather saddle has if the addition of a nylon cover makes no difference.

My current saddle is 13 years old and looks better than other rider's saddles with 1/4 the mileage.

'Rode a BMW R100S for years in a full set of made-for-me Langlitz Leathers. I've never been fitted for a suit as well as I was for this riding gear. When I was done with motorcycles, Langlitz sold them for me for more than I paid for them!

Dean

:thumb: My first Langlitz was an unclaimed one that someone had made and never picked up, medium weight dk. brown plain Cascade with pleats on the back and plain straight zip up the front.

Fit like a glove, went down at the dragstrip, slid about 700 ft. on my back, major rash, no burn through, could not tell a thing from the front.

Paid $175 for it, sold on efbay for $225 + ship after the slide. ;)

Had a new one made then, can't imagine having one made now. :twitchy: