newkie

There is a similar thread going I didn't want to hijack as my question was slightly different. Anyway, I have a relatively new Brooks B17 and I've done the whole proofhide thing a couple times. Recently I've noticed there is a dried out patch on the nose and also a "band" across the saddle. This has happened rather recently so it may have to do with riding when wet (the band seemed to appear overnight). If it were a shoe, I'd get a little shoe polish. Anyhow, it certainly doesn't look new anymore! Any advice on care?

Click for a bigger pic:
2011-10-13 16.30.29.jpg

Schwinnrider

Now it has "beausage", the beauty of usage. It's probably nothing to worry about. Would shoe polish work, or would it rub off on your pants? If it were my saddle, I'd just give it another coat of Proofide and deal with the aesthetic quirk. Do you have a saddle cover? If not, it would be a wise purchase. Or at least carry a plastic grocery bag.

sm1960

go light on the proofide. +1 to using a saddle cover in the rain. I keep mine velcro'd under the saddle.

Geeeyejo

Agreed - too much proofide can weaken the leather, stretching it and ultimately ruin the saddle. I would i fact use a small bit of shoe polish to even out the color - couldn't hurt and then would use a clean cloth to buff off the excess to avoid soiling your pants. I keep a plastic bag in my pack to use when the weather gets too wet - a little water shouldn't hurt a well conditioned saddle (sweat in the summer probably gets them wetter) but a drenching is never good...

ThermionicScott 

+1 to a saddle cover. It's okay to let them get a little moist from riding, but you don't want them to get drenched. I keep a 1-gallon ziplock bag tucked under my Brooks B17S and put it on whether it's sitting or being ridden in the rain. You may need a size larger for yours.

lostarchitect 

It looks better now. The advice above is all solid.

fietsbob

Odd , I warmed my Brooks Pros, upside-down in an oven, 100 F,
It sponged up a good sized dollop of melted Proofide,
which re solidified at room temperature,
and I have ridden on it.. one for 30 years,
and another for 20 , and they are fine, ..

I haven't really re treated them since..

lostarchitect 

That is the operative statement in your post.

fietsbob

still leaves a waxy under side , though I live where Mudguards are essential ..

pgoat

I think when people give different advice for treating a Brooks you have to take into consideration just how they want theirs to feel...I liked mine right out of the box, I didn't feel it was too hard or needed any 'breaking in'. Hence, I have only given mine the lightest coating of Proofhide or another good treatment like Lexol once or twice a year to keep it from drying out (I also carry a plastic grocery bag or two and use them if it rains). I guess I could see really beating it up and moisturizing if your preference is for a soft saddle, although as mentioned, it will probably greatly shorten its life.

Having said that I'd hold off on the shoe polish for a little while; my saddles have developed light marks now and then, but they disappear with regular use, or at least blend in. I should add I was horrified the first time I scratched or marked my Brooks and I was concerned as to how fragile it would be but it has proven to be plenty tough and I now love the patina it has gotten from use.

newkie

Thanks for the advice. My concern isn't looks but just making sure the leather is treated and doesn't dry out. As I said it's fairly new (since march) so I ordered a new proofhide since I lost my old one and could probably afford another treatment or two to help finish the break-in.

Funny thing about the longevity of these saddles... was in the country at my brother-in-law's surveying his garden from the deck. I noticed an antique bike out of service, exposed to the elements, leaning against a fence near the back of the property. Had to check it out... the mechanics of the brakes everything about it seemend very, very old. And sure enough, worn but usable with a little tlc was a brooks saddle.

skycomag

has any one tried GLOVOLIUM? this used to soften baseball gloves.
i tried this on a pair of new stiff shoe to break them in, worked perrty well.

an how about using SILICONE SPRAY to ad some water resistence and some conditioning to leather.

thanks for your opinions.

ThermionicScott 

Yeah, I was about 500-600 miles into using my B17S and considered trading it in for a regular B17 when I accidentally let it tip over onto the road and scuff the side. Another 600 miles later, I'm okay with it.

Schwinnrider

The question I have to ask, is why use anything else but Proofide? Brooks has been in business for a LONG time, and they recommend Proofide ONLY. It's not expensive, and a tin will last a long time. You don't want the leather to be baseball glove soft. Brooks saddles are leather hammocks. Stiffness of the leather is necessary. If the leather were as soft as a baseball glove, I don't think the saddle would work well.

I have three B17s. I live in a wet, humid area. I've only ever treated my saddles with a tiny bit of Proofide, and always cover them when I ride in the rain. Nothing else is necessary, IMHO.

fusilierdan

How about using mink oil on a leather sadle. I have an old Ideale 90 that seems a little dried out on the underside it hadn't been ridden in 30 years but looks usable.

JPMacG

Here is my experience, for whatever it is worth...

I treated my new B17 with pure neatsfoot oil per Sheldon Brown (against the advice of several here on BF). That was over 5 years ago. I now have about 7000 miles on the saddle. I have not applied anything to the saddle since then. The saddle is still almost as hard as when new. There are two very slight indentations where my butt bones rest on the saddle.

I am very careful to keep the saddle dry. I cover it with a plastic bag when the bike is outside and rain is expected.

I really don't think it matters much what you treat the saddle with or even if you treat it at all. The important thing is to keep it from getting wet.