My dad still rocks his Brooks on his Schwinn Typhoon from the 70s. I asked if he did anything to it to preserve its life and he just looked at me like I was crazy. He said he didnt get it wet since it was leather and hes "not a moron" (his words not mine) but that is it. I gave it a whirl and it feels dreamy. Too many products out there for the leaher saddle market are overwrought. They need tiny bit of treatment every few years if at all.
On Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 3:02 PM, Joe Bunik <[email protected]> wrote: > Ah! I just posted a tangentially similar question to iBOB, to wit: > > "Recently found a saddle I'd been looking for (Brooks Conquest aka the > "sprung Pro") for a reasonable price and seemingly condition, but now > that I have it in my hands, the leather seems unusually rubbery, and > almost "moist" (no residue to the touch however). Supple would also be > an accurate word to describe it. > > It's not unusually sagged or even sit-boned, so I am wondering if this > is the result of (overly?) applying of Proofhide or Goop or whatever. > Personally, I never have treated any of my Brooks, and prefer them > knock-on-wood hard." > > Any suggestions for how to undo an overdose of the softener? I am most > concerned that tensioning it up would likely stretch/tear the soft > leather. But it splays too readily for my taste. Hmm, maybe Vince@rbw > has a block of foam... > > =- Joe Bunik > Walnut Creek, CA > > > On 8/10/12, Cyclofiend Jim <[email protected]> wrote: > > Yeah - Brooks are generally pretty hardy. But, they are way different > from > > > > what most people have experience with. Since there is no plastic formed > > layer keeping everything in place, soaked leather will stretch. But, > just > > to be clear, I regard this as a good thing. I think that Grant's > warnings > > are to make folks mindful that a natural material is a bit different than > > injection molded plastic. > > > > The other thing which folks tend to do is over-oil the fabric - using a > > can's worth of Proofride or Obenauf's on a saddle will greatly soften it. > > Follow that up with aggressively tightening the tension bolt and you > won't > > get many seasons out of your saddle. > > > > They have very good reference about general care and feeding on the > Rivbike > > > > site - > > > > Also, there are a number of detailed care threads in the archives on this > > list - some good, salient tips and admonishments. > > > > One thing I found to help is using NikWax Aqueous wax periodically. This > > gives a good layer of protection if you are doing longer, seated rides, > and > > > > gets butt-buffed to a slightly sealed and shiny surface without extra > > work. I'll put a layer on in the spring, then maybe mid-year (when I > > notice that after a longer ride the saddle is pretty soaked) and then > > before the rainy season (winter) starts. I generally get the cover in > > place if it starts raining fairly hard. Though I find with fenders and a > > seated position, it's not overly necessary in lighter rains and misty > > conditions. > > > > Hope that helps, > > > > - Jim > > > > cyclofiend.com / [email protected] > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > To view this discussion on the web visit > > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/x-02feAkBhEJ. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
