Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 373
Loc: Never where I want to be
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Just bought a bike off a guy, Bianchi SS mtb, and it had a brand new Brooks on it.
I have an old Professional that was my dad's when he was young on another bike, but don't ride it very often.
So basically this is my first Brooks. I've moved it to the bike I commute on.
Just ride it and forget it? Any treating or conditioning that needs to be done? How long until it's truely "my" seat?
Some people I know say this is the trick:
1: Soak it in water for 10 minutes.
2: Dry it off and go ride for an hour.
3: Done.
Edited by Nev (03/08/07 08:14 PM)
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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It's religion with some folks. Most leatherworkers will tell you to use a light oil on it, let it sit a while, then wipe off the excess. Technically, if you want to shape it quickly, you have to ride it while wet with water and have it dry out slightly before you get off. It will be softer and will shape itself then set as it dries.
I've used neastsfoot oil on mine and it has not stretched out nor gotten too soft as some folks assured me it would. Any light oil will work but you want something that is volatile enough that it won't stay oily, does not have an odor and does not go rancid (ruling out most vegetable oils). Proofide, the stuff that is sold by Brooks is a mixture of paraffin, beeswax , tallow, cod liver oil and citronella oil and is very expensive. Cowhide leather, which the seat is made of, is happy enough with neatsfoot oil, made from cow material.
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 717
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Quote:
Nev wrote:
Just bought a bike off a guy, Bianchi SS mtb, and it had a brand new Brooks on it.
I have an old Professional that was my dad's when he was young on another bike, but don't ride it very often.
So basically this is my first Brooks. I've moved it to the bike I commute on.
Just ride it and forget it? Any treating or conditioning that needs to be done? How long until it's truely "my" seat?
Some people I know say this is the trick:
1: Soak it in water for 10 minutes.
2: Dry it off and go ride for an hour.
3: Done.
The B-17 and Professional are the easiest Brooks to get along with. I've got Brooks saddles on all my bikes, have had Brooks saddles on all my bikes for quite a while and I've found the key is the tilt of the saddle. I've found that tilting the nose up until the aft section (where you actually sit) is more or less level will ensure a comfy ride. Also rotating the saddle a little left or right, depending on how you 'dress', will keep things orderly. I use Proofide mainly for keeping the leather looking good and if going out in bad weather, apply underneath the saddle so water can't enter the leather. If you're riding a fendered bike, you won't have that problem.
--------------------
Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
Edited by Dave_Thompson (03/09/07 07:13 AM)
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Dave,
oils that are best on leather are water-soluble ones for the reason that leather is waterproof anyway. It can get soaking wet; just let it dry out. What you don't want is for leather to be totally dried out. For many folks just the sweaty oils from sitting on their Brooks keeps the leather conditioned enough.
I've learned a bit about leather lore being a civil war reenactor. A lot of leather was used back then. Much knowledge has been forgotten.
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