Looks like I just bought my first Brooks...
 

I just won an auction for a '70s professional. Never sat on one, but thought I'd give it a try. Decided on this one because of dimensions and different positive comments I read about that era pro models.

Sweet! I love my b17 even if it isn't very old! I bet you got a great saddle!

They're a little heavy, but, they usually work very well. Is the leather smooth? Does it have sit-bone dimples? Be careful about the tension: too much will ruin it
I have two, the ugly one with the steel rivets works/feels the best. It's super hard without dimples. It's the best one I have even including one TI Swift and a large copper riveted Professional. Welcome to the club. I wouldn't be surprised if you get BSAS (Brooks Saddle Acquisition Syndrome).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110973943663...84.m1423.l2649

I think it is in pretty good shape. There are a few scars, some paint on it...but it looks ok to me. (?).

I think the price was fair, and not too bad to try. What do you think? Did I do ok?

It appears that you did very well. It doesn't appear to have any stretch marks near the rivets, the leather hasn't sagged, and, most importantly, the tension hasn't been changed. I think it's a rider from the start. I would however get some Proofide and apply a thin coat to the top, leave the bottom of the leather alone.

See...that's what I thought. But never owning one, I wasn't sure. I planned to do something to it...I will order some Proofide. Thanks for the tip.

Hey, what are friends for anyway!

Brooks Professionals are pretty hard. Try a B17 if it doesn't work out for you.

That's a bad thing? I think the harder the saddle the better, at least for keeping important bits off a saddle.

You aren't kidding. It just showed up and it is hard (to the touch). Haven't installed it yet, but am anxious to. It looks to be in pretty good shape...probably not ridden very much.

Treat it with Proofide to help it break in.
My Berthoud saddle also felt and sounded like a wooden board when I knocked on it. Treating it on top and under the leather with their own leather wax made quite a difference almost immediately. Still hard, but not like it was made out of a tinder dry oak board, when I first got it out of the box. It's now breaking in nicely with every ride.

Chombi

ummmm....70's Pro. My favorite saddle. Nice price. :thumb: I nearly bid on that one.

Just ordered some Proofide.

And, rootboy...from what I had read...that's exactly why I did bid on it. Hopefully I like it as much as I think I will.

I have two Pros from the 70's. Wouldn't trade them for anything. I hope it fits you well. Some folks find them a little hard and/or narrow, but I like 'em.

Contact Sorefeet for an up to date review on Brooks saddles :D

ROFLMAO.. yeah that's what you'll get...

I always thought you were supposed to put a coat of proofhide on the bottom to protect it?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...oofide-Q-amp-A

Too late now :lol:

Berthoud tells its owners to apply their leather treatment to the bottoms too, so I don't knw why it woud be different with a Brooks....
Hasn't hurt my Berthoud doing so.....

Chombi

That looks like an excellent saddle for a pretty reasonable price. It shouldn't need much proofide. It will probably be hard; that's good. I have a couple old Brooks Pro's, and the hard ones are better than the soft ones. Yes, yes, I know, that's what she....

I've always applied Proofide to the bottom when I first buy one, then just treat the top annually after that. Some say you should apply more often, but so far (and with 8 or 9 Brooks, Wrights, and Fuji Belt saddles) its worked well for me, they all ride nice and I find them very comfortable.

CMC

Too much proofide will make a saddle too soft. This should be obvious from the use of the word "too."

The question is, how much is "just right"?

If you have just bought a 30 year old saddle and it is comfortable as is, then you do not want to do anything to change it. Judging from the photos, I'd say OP is in precisely that situation. Put the saddle on the bike and ride ride ride. Then assess the situation. The saddle may be too hard, but I would not jump to that conclusion until having ridden it at least a few hundred miles. Further complicating the assessment, this is his first Brooks Pro, and he may be unfamiliar with what "just right" means in terms of a Brooks Pro (pretty hard).

Again, my advice would be to do nothing to the saddle until you have had it on your bike for a while.

It is now in its new home.
http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/a...ee/photo-6.jpg

And

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/a...ee/photo-7.jpg

A perfect match!

That's real nice. If it were mine I wouldn't be able to resist tinkering with it a bit. Just a light coating of Proofide, top and bottom, worked in with a hair dryer then wiped with a cloth. Just to "feed" it a bit and protect it. Nice score.

I fixed that for you! :lol: