Brooks Saddle in the rain?
 

Brooks saddle riders, assuming you have fenders and a cover, are you comfortable riding your bike in the rain? If so, how much rain?

it doesn't bother me to much if i'm sitting on the saddle it wont get wet,mind you it is a bugger when the saddle get's soaked now i always carry a plastic bag under the saddle.

I don't worry about it one bit, in any kind of rain. I cover it at night, not only for rain, but also in case some animal would be tempted to nibble on salty leather. That never happened, although a squirrel did nibble on a leather mudflap.

Fenders on bike, Poly bag on the saddle and wearing proper raingear are a wise weather adaptation ...

I have a 30 year old brooks pro, its still fine..

How much Rain, ? Ireland in the spring..

I had a B67 that seemed to be slow 'breaking in'. Rode a century in the rain (not downpour, but a steady, soaking rain) with a Brooks cover (might be good for keeping crud off, but NOT good for keeping dry), and afterward, the 'breakin' period was over! Now, I carry a plastic bag, to keep it from getting too broken in.

Yes.

It's Seattle. Lots.

I don't use any cover while riding the bike. I try to cover my saddle if I'm off the bike. Luckily when I commute, I am able to park my bike indoors at work. If I had to leave my bike out all day in the rain I'd probably get a different saddle.

Yes. Any amount of rain. The only thing that covers my saddle while I'm riding is my arse. When it's parked up in the rain, I cover it with a shower cap I have liberated from a hotel. Always pack a couple of those when touring, they weigh nothing

+1 on the shower cap tip.

My bike lives inside, or under my arse. I dont worry about the rain.

I did treat it with SnakeOil (AKA Proofide).

z

Yes. The saddle isn't the limiter in the "how much rain" question. I'll pretty much ride through anything for one day. If I'm "ahead" of where I want to be I might wait out a day of hard rain here or there - if it is continuous or if I'm on gravel/mud roads. However, that is more me being a wimp than concern for the saddle.

My first brooks eventually cracked, tore and wore out, but that was after quite a bit of touring. My second is still going strong including a number of rainy rides.

DIY Brooks Saddle Cover
 

I made a good looking dirt-cheap custom cover out of some lightweight waterproof nylon:

Lay the cloth over the the saddle ('wrong' side up) and trace an outline of the edge of the leather (yeah, it's awkward on the sides--err toward too big). Fold it in half to make sure its somewhat symmetrical. Then sketch a 1" border all the way around and cut on that line. Sew a buttonhole 1/2" in from the center of the back edge. Fold the edge over and sew a hem all the way around. With slick waterproof fabric this is going to be sloppy, but don't sweat it because none of it shows. Just make sure there's enough hem to feed a small safety pin through. Clip a safety pin onto a shoelace or some other cord and feed it through the buttonhole, all the way around and back out. Slide both ends through a a 20-cent cord lock and tie a knot.

That's it. Fit it over the saddle nose-first, hem down. Tighten down a bit and then make sure it's under the lip of the saddle all the way around before pulling it snug.

I keep it tucked under the saddle. Also serves as a disguise if you're leaving the bike in a hood where it might attract unwanted attention.

Mine gets ridden regardless of the weather. I typically keep a hotel shower cap stuffed under the saddle to cover it when it is parked. I have also used plastic shopping bags, Target bags are the best. Riding, it is covered. BTW any bike of mine that has a Brooks probably has fenders. IIRC I only have one bike without fenders and that one doesn't have a Brooks on it.

Aaron :)

I also have a +35 year old Brooks Pro. I rode it pretty hard for about 25 years. It is still in great shape and is on my PX10. I used it in all kinds of weather except for winter training. I sometimes used a little more weather resistant (cheaper) saddle. Putting any kind of cover on a saddle does not help comfort. I treated my saddles both top and underside with "Snow Seal" which generally made them impervious to water. I quit riding the Pro about 12 years ago when I found other saddles that were more comfortable for me.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/y...rooksPro-1.jpg

I've got this Aardvark cover: http://www.velo-orange.com/aasaco.html

It's nice. Sometimes I even ride with it on the seat.

I ride with my Brooks cover on the Brooks saddle in the rain. I rode it one time in the rain on a tour with no cover during stops at red lights and such, it would get wet. I swear, that since that day it feels a little sloppier, especially on the sides where my sit bones go. I wish I had used a cover to ride on that day. I find that the covers do not make the saddle uncomfortable just different so I use them whenever there is rain.

I ride my bike in any weather. I have mudguards (fenders). I put a plastic bag over the saddle in heavier rain or on longer wet rides, and at night if the bike's outside.

NOTED, thanks

My B17 is now sagging from riding in the rain. I never left it in the rain, but I rode it, uncovered, in the rain. After a couple of years, it's not so great.

I've taken it off the bike for now. I'll probably lace the sides to tighten it back up.

I loved that saddle, and I pushed Brooks to anybody that would listen. Now I'm wondering if leather saddles are a good idea for me. :twitchy:

It's really a simple matter to tuck a thin plastic grocery bag under the saddle for use when riding in downpours or long periods of steady rain. They're free and easily replacable. It seems to be a minor accommodation to be able to get the benefits of a Brooks saddle

I ride mine in the rain, often allowing it to get soaking wet. It does sag after being ridden while wet. I've both laced it and tightened it several times by now, after 8000km. I've taken up about one sixth of the threads on the bolt. By the time I run out of bolt, I'll have gotten my money's worth out of the saddle.

Yes. Pretty much any amount, or duration of rain.

I have fenders, and I keep a rolled up plastic bag in my tool bag. My worst case experience was a century ride where it started to rain steadily at about 35 miles. I stopped, put the bag over the saddle, put on my cycling cap, and kept going. So, about 65 miles in a steady rain. No problem with the saddle.

(edit) There's nothing special about the bag. It's a simple plastic shopping bag.(/edit)

Speedo