Cycling UK Forum

i was touring on a brooks fairly new (about 450 miles before tour with one application of proofide )and inevitably it got wet every day, particularly the last day. so i took it into my room in b&b where it dried slowly. it is honey but around some of the rear studs and on the nose the colour has washed out and is pale and has a "tide mark" from where the nose particularly got wet.
so will the saddle have suffered at all? does it need some sort of "nourishment"? and should you prepare it with anything before touring when wet is expected

I love my brooks... even though she is hurt right now...


Firstly I would ensure she was well and truely dried out, as you said... Nice and slowly. Then a good feed with Proofide the product that Brooks themselves suggest. Make sure you get the underside done as well.

Personally, I get the proofhide on my fingers first and massage several cotas of it into the leather. Leave overnight and with a soft cloth polish off before cycling.

You might end up wht a water stain as the leather is light in colour, but maybe wiht a brooks that all part of the bikes tapestry of life and hardship... My brooks was holed by a courier company transferring my bike. I have to replace it unfortunately as the hole interfers with my inside leg.

Im sure the wet wont have done too much damage. Leather is great a bouncing back. I never leave my saddle unprotected from rain. I use plastic bags and a saddle cover if the bike is stored outside for any reason. Just wish I had removed the saddle for her homeward journey last week!


Good luck with it.


mary

Well after a long ride in the rain I just have a great big mug of tea, and maybe if I think I've done really well a take away from the Chinese!

...sorry I'll get my coat on the way out!

If left to dry naturally, no harm will come to your saddle. Leather has the ability to take a shape while wet and retain this shape as it dries and returns to its former hardness. I use this facility to shape each new saddle to my sit-bones before riding it and have done for years. It does save a lot of discomfort.

I would be careful when rubbing Proofide into the underside of the saddle. The finish of the topside does prevent Proofide from penetrating further and it provides only a temporary waterproofing effect. However, if regularly rubbed into the underside it will eventually cause softening and especially if this is a B17 or B17 Special which have leather slightly thinner than the Pro. The practice of coating the underside was a result of the new Brooks company responding to the needs of Americans riding without mudguards, and was not recommended before this.

It may not have been recommended but it was common practice at least until Brooks began to discourage the old methods of treating the saddle with neatsfoot oil or Nikwax. There's still a fair number of us think that is purely to sell the company's own leather treatment.

Its hardly a big expense though to but Proofride as my experience so far is one tin lasts for life!