Hello everyone,

I scored some Brooks GREEN leather bar tape to match my saddle from the place we do not speak of, and I'm going to redo the bars + cables + tape on my specialized expedition tonight... Should I coat it with proofhide? Before or after wrapping?

Thanks, this is the first time I've played with this stuff.

hmmm...I'd say use a light coating of it after you've got it all nice and tight and exactly right...ONLY if you expect to be getting it wet. I say this because I'd bet that even a thin coat will feel waxy in your hands, and maybe slippery in heat, and you really only need a dressing on this if you need water protection cause the oils in you palms will "dress" that leather naturally over time. Just guessing, cause I don't own any myself. I might opt for an application of Lexol if I felt the need to apply *something* to the bar wrap.

The instructions I got with the Elkhide barwrap from Velo Orange says to rub on some proofide or neatsfoot oil so I used the proofide and it darkened them up considerably I'll let it soak in overnight and rub off the excess if any. The Elkhide really soaked the stuff up fast. Its an almost perfect match for the Honey colored B-17

+1 Good stuff! Leather *does* occasionally need nourishment to prevent drying out, cracking, and fading. Lexol is a clear liquid spray that won't stain your clothes (or hands), or leave the leather tacky feeling, like neats foot will on elkhides (speaking from experience). I haven't used Proofide on the elkhides, but I would think continued use of it, or overuse of it would leave the hides feeling tacky too.

I proohided my smooth Brooks tape because, well, I live and ride in Portland. It did leave the tape slightly tacky to the touch, which has remained even after buffing off the excess. The feel doesn't bother me, and it only darkened the finish lightly. It did a good job improving the water repellency. If you're going to ride in the rain I'd do it.

When I ran out of Proofide, I bought a can of leather preservative from a tack shop. Got a much larger tin for about the same price as Proofide. The stuff I got smells like Proofide but is not as greasy, seems to have much more beeswax in it. I applied it sparingly to my Brooks leather bar wrap with good results. I did a google search & found this stuff: https://www.shanestack.com/shop/index...-flypage-12466 which seems similar. If you live near a tack shop, it would be worthwhile to see what leather treatments they sell.

Yes Poprad we in the Pacific Northwest have to think about the stuff we do to our bikes if there is a chance we are going to ride in the rain,( thats inevitable) so I'm with the you on the proofide Velo Orange recommends it so I figure what the hey and it made a nice look with the Brooks saddle