Need a new saddle, as the gel thing on one bike isn't cutting it. Wondering about taking the old Specialized Alias off one bike and putting onto my "light" bike (which has a saddle that isn't working for me), and getting something like a B17 Imperial for my long(er) ride bike. The Alias has been working for years, but there's that whole Brooks vibe.

Question: I see the rain cover. Is that something you can ride on if caught riding while it is raining?

Also, does the saddle come with Proofide, or do I have to buy separately? Amazon is grouping the cover and goop together.

Hi there ! Brooks buy saddle with Profide. You don't need buy separately. Brooks beatyful saddle, but how for me in my country is very expensive. We use saddle from Start- Shosse bike , that is soviet replica Brooks b16.
Respectfully from Ukraine

I am not clear on your question about the rain cover. It is intended to be ridden on, though I suppose as purely a cover, it would work as well.

The saddles come with a 1-2 use packet of proofide, depending on how much you apply to the saddle.

Intended to be ridden on, good to know. Thanks!

That was a great question as I didn't really know about the rain cover either. I am a Brooks B17 Imperial fan. I've put about 1500 miles + on one so far and it fits like a glove now. I did, however, purchase an additional tin of Proofide to have around and I dress it about every three months to 6 months. It does come with a little packet of proofide in the box.

- Cpt. Bob

Not sure which cover Amazon is pairing with the saddle, but I have purchased both the Ardvark and Serfas covers, and both can be used while riding. I'll typically leave the Serfas cover on my commuter b17 if it looks like it might rain when I get to my destination. The saddles new from Brooks typically come with enough proofride in the packet for a single application. We have a few b17's on various bikes, and now one c17 cambium carved. I'm finding the cambium carved to be the bees knees, and think I like it more than my previously well loved b17s. The imperial may accomplish much the same thing though. Enjoy.

Probably. But I never found a need to buy the fancy rain cover. My commuter bike has a Brooks B-66 saddle; I just kept a plastic bag from the grocery store stuffed underneath for when it rained. I'd put it over the saddle when I parked it outside at work, and if it was raining, I'd ride home with the bag on the saddle still. When the bag starts to wear, just replace it with another one.

My Brooks "Professional" saddle came with a can of Proofide; my B-66 did not. But both those saddles were purchased several decades ago. Things may be different now.

N.B. the 40g tin of Proofide should last much longer than just 1-2 applications. The tin that came with my Professional saddle lasted well over a decade.

I would certainly hope so! LOL - the 1-2 applications referred to the 2.5ml packet that comes as a sample of Proofide with new saddles.

I have purchased three B17s, one Swallow (B15), and one Team Pro Classic over the past five years. All from Amazon (US). All arrived in factory sealed boxes. None contained any quantity of Proofide.

Brooks England B17 Standard Saddle

For what its worth, this is $85. Free shipping. Took o days to arrice and comes with a small packet of Proof.
Over the winter they were $70!

$85 is still great.

As I noted, my saddles were purchased several decades ago, and "things may be different now." I've never seen one of those 2.5ml sample packets of Proofide.

If you're riding in the rain, your ass is the rain cover.

I've read several threads on Brooks saddles. One person posted his many years of experience with the Brooks brand and added photos. He said he never used anything on the leather. It was impressive how many decades of use he was getting out of these saddles.


If I am using the Yakima Steelhead for transport I use a couple of those plastic grocery bags. They are easy to tie on. . I have a thick freezer zip lock type in the pannier in case it raining and I need to get off the bike.

Where's a "like" button when you need one?

Only true if you have fenders. Otherwise, the underside of the saddle will become soaked. (That's why Brooks recommends coating the underside as well as the top of the saddle with Proofide.) For rain riding, a waterproof cover should wrap around the entire saddle. A plastic bag is fine, but it should be secured to the seatpost with a "twist-tie."

Riding on a soaked saddle will cause the leather to sag permanently and will void the warranty. I own three B-17s and I hope they last as long as I do.

I love the Brooks saddles but do not let them get wet. The covers are nice and any hint of dark clouds put some kind of cover on. I had a freak storm cloud sneak up behind me on a nice sunny day. A crash of lightening then poured. Dang near ruined saddle before I could get the cover on. It was well Proofided too. Switched to C17 after and now I laugh at rain.

My trunk bag has a rain cover and the two times I've been caught out, I just put it over the saddle and tied it off underneath with the drawstrings. Maybe if you ride in the rain regularly you might want the form fitted dedicated cover, otherwise just look around your house...you might have something that will work.
My Brooks from Wallingfordbikes.com (sadly no longer in biz) came with the packet of proofhide.

+1)..Fenders on the bike?..

I have a beeswax finish on the underside of my old Brooks, (team pro) & plastic bags to put over it.





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The bike I want to put it onto has fenders. So less worried about that. But I might go with the Cambrium all the same. I have a nasty tendency to let things go for too long when it comes to maintenance. And who knows. If I like it the saddle may wind up on more of my bikes.