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Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 10:55am
by jonwboy
Looking for a Brooks B17 replacement ie waterproof saddle for wet weather work.
An waterproof saddle needs to have similar dimensions to the classic B17.
Any recommendations?

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 10:59am
by thelawnet
They have a canvas saddle, the C17, it is not as good but do read the many past threads on here about issues etc.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 11:26am
by andrew_s
If you find the B17 comfortable, do what everyone else does:
Proofhide on top, mudguards underneath, and keep a plastic bag under the saddle to cover it when parked.

If you go for a different saddle, there's a good chance that since it's not a B17, you'll not find it comfortable, and end up buying saddles repeatedly until you chance on something else that's equally comfortable. It's no good asking other people what they find comfortable; they haven't got your backside.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 11:29am
by alexnharvey
Spa nidd. Same problems but cheaper to replace!

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 12:52pm
by julianm
I bought one of these for my winter bike - at £13 it`s been fine.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SAHOGS/ho ... age-saddle

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 1:22pm
by pjclinch
A B17...

I've never had a problem with riding in the rain. I put on some Proofide once in a while (about once a year), I put a plastic bag over it I'm parking in the rain, and since I'm generally sat on it when I'm riding that keeps the worst off then.
If you don't have mudguards then Proofide the bottom too, and/or put something over the bottom to keep the worst of the cack off.

I have B17s on the MTB, Brom and Moulton, the latter two being my everyday hacks. The saddles on those are about 18 and 15 years old respectively and I've never been shy of riding them in the wet. The B66 on the 8-Freight used to be on my drop-bar tourer before I went 'bent. That's well over 20 years old, and is not obviously suffering despite me not worrying about the rain.

If leather couldn't cope with wet they wouldn't make hillwalking boots out of it. Just Proofide it and don't leave it out in the rain without a cover on a regular basis.

Pete.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 1:28pm
by Jamesh
If my leather saddle is treated with proofhide or dubbing etc
Who would you need a plastic bag to cover it?
You don't put plastic bags over your shoes?
Benefit of spa saddles is the water proof layer underneath them.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 2:24pm
by NUKe
Another vote for proofide, both sides and mudguards and just keep using the Brooks. Personally I like to cover mine if left in inclement weather.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 4:09pm
by pjclinch
Jamesh wrote:If my leather saddle is treated with proofhide or dubbing etc
Who would you need a plastic bag to cover it?
You don't put plastic bags over your shoes?
Benefit of spa saddles is the water proof layer underneath them.


Try the following...

Dubbin/wax a pair of leather boots without a waterproof membrane. Stand in a bowl of water for a while, and notice how your feet are starting to get wet...

A Proofided saddle isn't waterproof so much as more waterproof than an untreated one, so it's not a Great Plan to assume it'll shake off water just like a plastic one. So if it's parked give the leather an extra help and pop a bag over it.

Not convinced? Try this one... leave a bike with a leather saddle out in the rain for a while with a plastic bag over it. Take the bag off and climb aboard. Now repeat without the plastic bag. Which one is more pleasant?

Some people seem to think a Brooks will dies if left out in the rain, and of course it won't. But regularly leaving it parked in the rain will possibly reduce its working life, and will definitely make it much less nice to climb on and sit down.

Pete.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 4:56pm
by yostumpy
Now then this leads me on to an idea. I have successfully re-covered 2 saddle in the past, the last being a plastic charge spoon, that I covered with a leather cusion, with very good results. Now then Why not take a C17, that is scruffy, remove the canvas cover,I would imagine it would just pull off, and then cover the rubber seat with a leather cushion, colour of your choice, (or an offcut from an item of old leather clothing. ) It would feel like a B17, but wouldn't sag like a B17.

100_0285_zpsbfeee9cb.JPG

100_0287_zps4f2272fd.JPG


thus.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 5:30pm
by pwa
Jamesh wrote:If my leather saddle is treated with proofhide or dubbing etc
Who would you need a plastic bag to cover it?
You don't put plastic bags over your shoes?
Benefit of spa saddles is the water proof layer underneath them.

Shoes are different. They do a different job. They start off softer and more pliable than a B17 and get softer again with use. I have ridden with a nylon cover over a leather saddle and it kind of works. That would be my answer. C17s (I have the Carved version) are okay but not nearly as comfy as a broken in leather saddle.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 27 Jan 2019, 7:37pm
by alexnharvey
yostumpy wrote:Now then this leads me on to an idea. I have successfully re-covered 2 saddle in the past, the last being a plastic charge spoon, that I covered with a leather cusion, with very good results. Now then Why not take a C17, that is scruffy, remove the canvas cover,I would imagine it would just pull off, and then cover the rubber seat with a leather cushion, colour of your choice, (or an offcut from an item of old leather clothing. ) It would feel like a B17, but wouldn't sag like a B17.

100_0285_zpsbfeee9cb.JPG
100_0287_zps4f2272fd.JPG

thus.


The cotton on the cambium isn't exactly a cover, it's kind of molded into the rubber. I think it would be tough to peel off.


Of course, there's no need to remove it, just cover it with leather if you wish.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 28 Jan 2019, 9:15am
by Jamesh
I suppose it's how you define left out in the rain?
If you mean left out at a station or workplace 8hrs a day or worse still in the yard at home I can see a cover would very much be nessesary but for the cafe run stop I cannot see it being much of an issue?!

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 28 Jan 2019, 9:19am
by geocycle
I cover mine with a plastic bag when it is left outside in the rain. Otherwise I just keep riding it year round and have been doing for 15 years. It has aged but the shape is still fine. I proofhide it about three times a year.

Re: Brooks B17 replacement for Wet Weather Riding?

Posted: 28 Jan 2019, 10:01am
by Brucey
I don't think there is much point in thinking of covering a C17; all this will do is hide the fact that the saddle is just about to fail at the nose (which is something you can usually see coming and do something about) , so when it does fail, it will come as a highly inconvenient surprise.

FWIW traditional leather saddles can be very comfy but should the leather get even slightly damp it stretches at x10 or x100 the normal rate. I find leather saddles like that rather impractical for hard riding; if it rains enough during the ride, the saddle gets wet and stretches to blazes.

cheers