Dear Eric, The Berthoud bags aren't waxed. The differential fading on the canvas is part of its charm. However, the leather should be kept treated.
I've historically used sno-seal or Obenaufs. Blow-dry the bag enough to heat the leather a bit, then carefully apply to the piping and edging. You'll probably need a small brush to do it accurately, and throwing the treatment in a double boiler or (carefully) in the microwave to melt it in its plastic tin doesn't hurt either. Try to keep it off of the canvas, as it will stain. A Berthoud bag will be waterproof as long as the top vinyl map pocket cover isn't cracked and you're using fenders to keep road lime from saturating the bag, and it will be highly water resistant otherwise. I've never soaked anything carried in one in over twenty years of using their products. Any competent tack shop can replace the window material, which will eventually crack in cold weather if used outside year-round. For maximum aesthetic appeal you'll want to use an awl and re-sew the top yourself to match the existing holes in the leather. Unfortunately, the Berthoud bags apparently don't use UV-stabilized vinyl, and their material choice seems to prioritize flexibility over durability. There are marine-supply places that sell boat window material (Strataglass is one brand that I've used) that is very, very durable for cycling conditions, if a hassle to sew with, and I'd seek out a scrap once the window cracks. Typical fabric-store stuff will not last more than a year or two years, and a Berthoud is a long-term investment. Best, Will William M. deRosset Fort Collins, CO On Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 7:47:14 PM UTC-7, Eric Norris wrote: > > I have become the owner of a somewhat *beausaged* Berthoud bag, and I > wonder if this group might have suggestions for making it look somewhat > newer. Should I throw it in the washing machine? Scrub it with a brush? And > then what? Rewax it? > > Thanks in advance! > > --Eric N > www.CampyOnly.com > CampyOnlyGuy.blogspot.com > Twitter: @CampyOnlyGuy > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
