OK, The touring forum seems to be the place to ask this question.

Just how much service do you usually get from your Brooks saddle?


I have a Team Pro with about 5 years of use and abuse on my road bike and I can actually see the saddle frame through a crack in front of one of the rivets. There is actually quite a large crack in front of both the out side rear rivets. I guess it is time to replace it? I have also looked high and low for another like it, green with copper rails, with no luck! The sprung flyer on my touring bike is going strong, but it's not nearly as old, or with as many hours on it. I sorta gathered, from here, that a Brooks would last FOREVER!

I would like to add that I have never gotton more than 2 seasons of ridding from one of the plastic undercarrage saddles.

ah does anything last for ever,i don't think so..my brooks b17 is green with copper rivets it's the champion special.

How much abuse does it get? out in the rain? protection on it? do you only use proofide or do you use oil?

I don't know myself, just curious. I got the impression that they last at least a good 20 years O.o

So far, I've only put proofide on mine, but it doesn't have that many miles.

Sounds like you didn't treat the leather to prevent drying/cracking. I believe this is the sole purpose of Proofide.

Most Brooks saddles sag to an unacceptable point before the leather cracks. It's actually a major design flaw which contributed to the decline in their use many years ago. Some people like the hammock feel, so to them a Brooks is ideal.

My Brooks started sagging after 1500 miles. I normally get ~5,000 out of a SI Flite before it sags appreciably. I prefer firm, flat saddles. Once they sag, I'm looking for a replacement.

Like most bike parts, a saddle is a "consumable" item that must be replaced periodically. Some folks claim a brooks lasts a lifetime - I suspect it could, if it spends most of its life in a garage.

My current favorite is a San Marco Regal. I mention it as it is rarely discussed in these forums, but is a fine, firm saddle that so far has not sagged, although I expect it eventually will. Cheaper than a Brooks b17, lighter by 200g. I don't care for the rivets.

massage it with Proofile, 2 x p/yr
i didn't, gave up Brooks Professional after +/-25 years, a sad day :-( with torn leather.
just bought B67 though, plan on bidding for B17 w/springs (Flyer) to compensate long hauls!
keep them conditioned!

I've had mine on my bicycle now for 5 years, and have ridden about 50,000 km with it. It's still going just fine.

I ride it in all sorts of weather conditions, I apply proofide about once a year, and Rowan tightened it for me for the first time probably about 2000 km ago.

Proofide in spring, fall, and after it dries out if ridden in the rain. I also proofed the underside when it was new. It has never been left out in the rain, but has done some all day rides in the rain. I am a big fella and the saddle has about 12,000 miles of ride time on it. I guess the saddles that last 20 years realy are just garage ridden models!
O'well, seeing that nothing does last forever it's time to buy another.

On the issue of sagging. I lace my Brooks saddles. I have a leather punch that I use to punch 4 holes on each side of the skirt to lace the skirts and keep them from flairing. This adds a lot of stringth and firmness to the center of the saddle. I put the first hole just in front of the adjustment bolt on the seat post (do this after you have your for and aft established), then proceed twards the nose of the saddle leaving about 8mm between holes. The laces don't have to be pulled tight, just barly snugg.

No ... like I said, mine has 50,000 km (more than twice the amount of riding as yours) on it and is still going strong after 5 years, and after 5 years of riding in all sorts of conditions. I could well imagine it could last another 5 or 10 or maybe even 15. But then ... I'm a smaller rider and I don't lace my saddle. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Also, up till recently I used fenders when I rode in the rain, and I've always got the plastic bag under the saddle which I use if I have to go into a store or something and leave my bicycle outside, or leave it outside overnight while camping.

Here's a shot of my Brooks at about the 4-year point ... nicely broken in. Very comfortable.