Brooks Saddle Advice
 

I've got my touring bike rideable and have this B17 currently on it. It was a given to me by a friend who has long since quit riding. The saddle is about 25 years old and sit in his garage unused for about the last 20 years.

When he gave it to me I covered it in proofhide a few times because it was super dried out and cracking alot. I rode it a few times last year and it seems to soft almost like I'm riding on the frame. It also was pulling away from the the corner rivets as you can see. Tension adjuster is appears to never have been turned.

Is this saddle fixable?

Last year on a short tour I took a modern Specialized saddle and while it's great for about half a day the second half was rough and every day got worse. I want to try something different this year, but am afraid this saddle will come apart out in the middle of the tour.

The pictures!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4192/3...18788d64_k.jpgIMG_9926 by Matt Gholson, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4193/3...c3e8ee92_k.jpgIMG_9924 by Matt Gholson, on Flickr

Tension it if it hasnt been tensioned. Thatll help keep it from feeling as saggy as it is.

If it fails on tour, then get another saddle at the time. Unless its cracking across the saddle, it probably wont suddenly split.

Proofhide has to be used very sparingly. Overuse weakens the leather making it too soft and prone to stretching out much faster that it would otherwise.

I don't know how bad it is, but if you tension it slightly, and it just starts stretching more, then it might be toast.

If it is starting to pull at the rivets I would be cautious about stretching it too much with the adjuster. I took a lot of sag out of mine by tying the bottom of the side skirts.

Old leather can't be made young again.

Tighten the nut on the tension bolt only enough to keep it from rattling around.

Some people like to tie the skirts together; I don't. It changes the way the saddle works, basically makes it into a different type of saddle. That may suit you, or not.

One thing you can do to perhaps give the saddle a little more life, if the leather is seriously compromised, is to stuff a triangle of semi-firm foam (the kind used for flotation is good) between the rails and the leather. Do this with the seat post in place, otherwise you won't be able to attach the seat post. The foam should be thick enough to hold you up when you sit on the saddle, but not so thick as to press the leather up.

If the leather fails, please don't just toss the frame. I can put new leather on it for you or for someone else.

Good luck with it!

rhm, I have a B17 frame, how much for new leather?

I'll send you a private message.

Well good news the saddle has been ridden about 150 miles and is OK. I tightened it about one turn and added a bit of oil to the dry cracking areas. Just to review I coated this saddle well in proofhide after it had sit in dry storage for about 15 years. The saddle still felt dry after a good coating but I rode it anyway. It started to tear and crack. I started adding light oil a few times where it seemed overly dry and cracking, and I also added more proofhide. It seems to be good now.

time will tell, time will tell

When you take it on a tour, bring a rain cover to keep it dry. And put the rain cover on it every evening so it does not absorb any dew. Sounds like the proofide you put on it may be enough to keep it from absorbing any water, but using a rain cover does not hurt so I suggested that anyway. And inspect it frequently.

This is important! I ruined a virtually brand new brooks, first tour out, rained and got wet and didn't dry out, destroyed in 2 days. I was sitting on the frame. Took it off and used it to hammer my tent stakes...about the only good it was worth.

I have read the first 12 entries and as owner of 3 Brooks 17 saddles I can say only 2 things:
1. Call brooks on Skype if possible: TELEPHONE: +39 0444 46 11 69
2. Or go to www.brooksengland.com and find customer service and get GOOD advice.

Happy trails to you.

I applied Proofide, to my new saddle*, heated upside down to be warm enough to melt the waxes in it, applied just inside,

and it was absorbed like a sponge... that was 1977, still OK, now. only a slight distortion at a couple rivet holes.

* Brooks Team Pro.