Anybody using the $$ Brooks grips? I just mounted a pair on my wifes SS mixte, seems like I should proofide them but for the price I don't want to "experiment". Who's had these for a while, whats your experience?

I honestly have no idea, but I don't see why you wouldn't have to.

I've though the same thing regarding my Brooks bar tape. As of now, I haven't done anything, it's been over a year.

There's a fellow on the board, Andrea Man, that is from Brooks (he's the one got us all giddy about the Imperial saddles). Shoot him a PM and ask.

There is no need to apply Proofide on the grips, nor on the tape!

............ I think i would proofide them, mainly on the point, just like a nice pair of leather work boots, that oil is going to help keep water and sweat from permeating into the leather along with mainly keeping it soft and supple. I wouldn't buy a nice leather bar tape, and not proofide them. keep that stuff feeling good and looking nice.

very helpful answer.

I don't agree. The cows are killed because people want to eat meat, not because people want to ride on a BROOKS Saddle. BROOKS is making good use of a leftover material.

This thread just got murdered.

I'm a vegetarian and I agree with Andrea. The cow killing industry is not predicated by Brooks. If we are going to kill an animal, then we ought make use of as much of it as we can.

Consider this sp00ki, a Brooks will decompose and the steel frame will rust away or can be recycled. While your vegan plastic saddle will be with us forever to choke countless future generations of innocent creatures. Not mention that same plastic encourages the oil war we are in right now.

A leather saddle may actually the responsible choice.

wrong...wrong...wrong

Think about it from a supply and demand stand point. If you purchase any part of a cow, you are perpetuating the killing of more cows by supporting the industry. The higher the value of a cow goes, the more cows will be slaughtered until the supply and demand hit equilibrium. That being said, we aren't discussing cheap leather here, we are talking about high-quality high-priced leather. Sorry to break it to you, but this doesn't come from everyday beef cattle. The simple fact is, just like in humans, a younger cow has softer, more supple leather with less chance for scars or imperfection. Depending on how high end the leather is, it may have come from veal cows, or may have come from cows "farmed" solely for their hide.

As far as pollution goes, don't think for one second that they skin a cow and it goes directly to your shoes, jacket, or saddle in this case. The list of chemicals used to tan and treat leather includes: lime, sodium sulfate solution, emulsifiers, non-solvent de-greasing agents, salt, formic acid, sulfuric acid, chromium sulfate salts, lead, zinc, formaldehyde, fats, alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, dyes, resin binders, waxes, coal tar derivatives and cyanide-based finishes. Some estimates put the amount of environmentally harmful waste at up to 30% of the output (this doesn't include unused skin and hair).

Since most of you wont even read this, I'm sorry for killing this thread.

my simple response. why would you spend $80 on bar tape....BAR TAPE. ya it looks pretty nice, but you can get nice looking bar tape for a lot cheaper than that. obviously. ask yourself this....do you need it?

He is talking about the grips. Still too rich for my pay grade, but they probably will last a long time.

oh right. should have actually read the post first. but still. anything labeled 'brooks' is pretty darn expensive

Until you can demonstrate that the need for leather is outstripping (no pun intended) the number of cows being slaughter for meat, your argument has no merit. I look at it as efficiency.

Man is not a herbivore.

Same reason I spend $200 on a pair of boots or $25000 on a truck.

The need for leather doesn't have to "outstrip" the need for meat. They are both valuable products resulting from the slaughter of cattle. The value of the cow is the sum of the value of all its marketable products.

Once again, I will point out the fact that most quality leather comes from specially bred cattle, very young (sometimes unborn) calfs, or dairy cattle.

some examples:

https://www.whatsonbristol.co.uk/revi...200_coupe.html
https://www.offkilter.org/jan302002.html

why is this even your concern? most bike parts aren't "needs", in fact do you "need" a bike? or a computer, do you "need" to be reading this message board, do you "need" to be wasting your time replying with such nonsense?

who cares, spend your money as you wish

When I buy leather stuff I buy it because I know it will stand up to the elements longer then another material for how I plan on using it. So in a way buying leather for a lot of what I use it for ends up being less wasteful. Every material has its place, just use it in moderation and only use the proper material for the job.

p.s. Damnit spooki, why are your starting this **** again.

brooks is murder

Knock it off spooki. Start your own thread if you want to discuss the merit of using animal products in cycling.

don't attempt to censor me. i realize you don't agree with my opinion, but that doesn't mean i'm not entitled to posting it in a relevant thread.

Your threshold of oppression is amusingly low.

murder sp00ki

Having a relevant opinion and just being an ass are two different things.

so are selle san marco, selle italia, selle anatomica, and a lot of others, then. better dig up those threads for relevant posting.

Pipe down. I'm trying to eat my steak, dammit.

You sir/madame are a jack ass , there is no such large scale commercial operations that raise cattle specifically for the hides. Trust me on that one, I grew up raising beef cattle, the amount of meat on a cow far out weights the value of it's hide. AND if you were looking to get a specific type of leather you would do it by picking the breed. You have any idea how much beef comes from a 1400lb cow??
And since you are already on your "lynch the omnivores/leather/fur" streak these are 100% organic, pasture grazing cows, that literally frolic through the meadows and fields full of clover, alfalfa and hay. So take you uninformed know it all ass and go home.

On your mention leather perpetuating the murder of cows, you yourself also perpetuate the murder of cows, chickens, even in some instances dogs. You obviously buy goods, you have a computer that is on the internet also, well that computer you are using right now and or even parts of it were probably made in China, Taiwan, etc and good old Shing sitting in the factory might of just got off lunch and enjoyed a nice dog on a stick. The bike you ride, yeah i can guarantee some part of it was made by someone eating an animal. YOU yourself by your logic perpetuate the killing of animals by buying and using products and services that are brought to you by fine people that eat meat.