I found two vintage Raleighs at a garage sale today for $20 each -- and each was equipped with its own B-72 Brooks leather saddle. They have minor cracking & weathering but appear to be solid - maybe just a bit too solid. Any tips on how to bring these back to life? I did a search here and on the web and found recommendations ranging from Neatsfoot oil to olive oil.

Anyone have specific experience in successfully restoring similar saddles?

I think the one on the right may be a little too far gone.
-Gene-

But the bikes themselves... SCORE!

The saddle on the right has some surface flaking of the top layer where it had been polished (I'm guessing) No cracking or splits of any depth. It certainly feels solid. So, maybe gone or maybe not. I'd still like advice on how to proceed.

Here's some pics of the bikes. Early 70s 3 speeds with Sturmey Archer AW hubs. One says 72 the other date I can't find. Pretty nice condition overall. I actually saw two kids riding these bikes in the neighborhood a couple weeks ago.

Did you check the hub for a build date?
Soak those saddles with neatsfoot oil or Proofide, wipe them down and ride them.
Nice catch!

The right one does look like it's ready to go, but who am I to say. Proofide is the treatment/waterproof that Brooks sells for their saddles. I've been on a budget and I've been using mink oil.

Wear old clothing to ride after treating them!!!

I had good success restoring 3 dry/hard Brooks, Selle & Pryma saddles with a leather care product made by Armor-all. They looked better & became slightly softer after a couple of treatments. No sag or further deterioration after about 3 years of intermittent riding. I also used it sparingly on my newer Brooks saddles when I ran out of Proofide. The stuff I got didn't have any Silicon listed in the ingredients, hopefully that is still the case as many posters have warned against using any Silicon product on leather saddles. Don

Yeah, I would imagine you don't want them to soften up like neatsfoot oil is supposed to do. They are obviously broken in, so I would just use something to waterproof them like proofide or similar.

I don't think you can restore them so much as make them last as long as possible. I would ride them until they break, you might be surprised how long they hold out.

i rode one that was given to me for about 4 months. it was about 30 years old and quite dry- i was told it was far too gone. i did some leather treatment and rode it. after a few months, and a few days after a hard rain (was in class, and it was sunny when class started) the nose of the saddle ripped at the rivet and within about 15 feet of doing that the saddle completely let the nose pieces go, and they fell into the road. i turned around and picked them up, as the friend who gave me the saddle had me on the lookout for some- he needed the parts for another saddle that was missing them. as soon as i get enough money, i will have another brooks- most likely new this time.

just treat it, and ride it. for $10, what do you have to loose? even if the saddle rips, it is still ride able enough get home.

I had an old Brooks that I picked up for $10. It didn't look to be in that bad of shape, not great, but looked pretty solid. Cleaned it a bit and gave is a little leather treatment (don't remember what the product was) and all seemed good.

Started riding it and was liking it. On a slow speed group ride with the bike coop I feel the earth move (all right the seat move) and next thing I knew the nose was free range. It lasted long enough to let me know that I like leather saddles like this.

Just remember that if the saddle splits stop right away and take that nose bolt out of there. If left in place it could snag you on something that, well, you would not want to get snagged.

I use bees wax you can get it at any farm supply. Been using it on Damions [ horse ] saddle for years works great.

Here's the Brooks saddles after some light surface sanding to smooth out the cracks and then treatment with Neatsfoot oil followed by Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator. The Dr. Jackson's is a product sold by the Tandy Leather Company and the counter person said it's prized for use by the horse crowd for leather tack.

I think they cleaned up pretty nice, although on the bottom one, the sides flair out a bit more than I like. It's from the girls bike while the top one is from the boys.

I'd say both are usable, if not perfect. I need to polish the metal bits and decided whether to keep the saddles with the Raleighs or use one on my daily rider and sell the other.

Ask Jan Nikolajsen about the tale of Sr. Eibar, then...

-Nick

Hello Jamesl,

My brooks let me know when it was
time for the shelf, lickily not far from home.

Heres the now retired B-72

Cheers.