Before







During



After











The saddle had some noticeable sag near the back edge. The previous owner had also applied a lot of reflector stickers that had kind of fused to the rails. I didn't think the saddle would be usable in its found condition, so I dissembled the rails and mounting hardware completely. Then I soaked the leather portion in a bucket of water for about 12 hours. Meanwhile, I polished all the alloy parts. After the leather had soaked, I gave it a pat dry and reassembled the saddle. I then stuffed a rag between the leather and the rails to help flatten the top of the saddle as it dried. I let it slowly dry on its own for several days and applied some proofide. The saddle has retained its stiffness, despite not yet having tightened the adjustment bolt. The saddle does have some minor cracks along the sides, but I'm happy with its current condition and to have given it a new life.

Interesting!

Do you have a profile picture, now that it's back on the bike? I'd be interested in seeing photos of its profile before and after your treatment, as well as what shape it takes when you ride it. I have reshaped saddles like this a couple times, but the re-shaped shape didn't last very long.

Is that a TB90? The rails and clamp look much nicer that what I remember seeing on equivalent Brooks. Great work! I hope it keeps on riding fine for many more years and miles!

Chombi

I don't have a good "after" profile shot, but I'll take one tonight when I am back home. It is definitely much flatter on top now, and I haven't yet started tightening the adjustment bolt. I still have lots of work to do on the bike itself, so it may be a while before I have a chance to mount it and test the saddle on the road. I read somewhere here on BF that some people have had success soaking the leather for 24 hours to reshape it; I did have some concerns that it wouldn't hold the new shape, which is part of the reason I soaked only 12 hours instead. The leather certainly does still feel very stiff, but time will tell.

Yes, I believe it is a TB90, though the embossed text on the side is no longer legible.

This really exemplifies what I love about C&V. The components and frames were built to last, and even after being abused have within them a "second life" waiting to be released by the thoughtful and saavy caretaker. And a public space to share and develop those techniques.

I was home for lunch and had a chance to take a better "after" profile shot. Not totally flat, as you can see. I might still get some of the dip out once I tighten the tension bolt, but still much improved from the "before" shot.



For a side-by-side comparison, I'll repost the before:

Rebour Jerky?

you know... that now that that saddle looks sooo nice (and it does), that old ratty looking seatpost is going to have to go.

BTW, i think that soaking in water first off did a lot of good. i once destroyed a potentially nice old brooks because i brutalized it before it was ready . i should have soaked it like you did.

The Birmalux seat post is a whole other story. Not only is it very deeply gouged high up the shaft, but the previous owner hacked off the bottom--crudely, I might add--only a cm or so below the minimum insertion line. There's not much below what is shown so it's a wonder it didn't snap or cause problem to the seat cluster. Normally I would polish it up, but in this case I will likely need to secure a new post. (Of course, the exorbitant ebay seller pb*bikes has the market on replacement Birmalux seat posts cornered. )

Can you adapt one of those Stronglight/Spidel fluted aluminum post by removing it's clamp? It would certainly look better than a plain aluminum or chrome steel shaft that I think these older saddles are usually clamped on to.

Chombi

^ Probably. I know almost nothing about these two-piece seat posts. Btw, is there a correct term for these posts with a post and separate clamp? I'll look into the Stronglight/Spidel. I suspect a Birmalux post is what originally came with the frame (this is the Ron Kit titanium in my sig), but I'm not necessarily wedded to it.

I've always referred to them as "straight posts" that require a separate clamp.

Oop's made a mistake. They're actually Simplex/Spidel seatposts.

Chombi

Great work! Did you see the Ideale Mod 90 RHM did for me? Keep that in mind if the leather does not hold its shape.

Ideale Model 90 Re-Worked

^Yes, Bob, I followed the "not-so-sad" thread about your Ideale closely. I was really impressed with Rudi's leather work, and your saddle was definitely on my mind as I worked on mine.