>Mitch Harris wrote:
>>
>> We're probably all familiar with the tendency of a Brooks to spread
>> and sag permanently when it gets soaked and then gets sat on. How did
>> generations of pros who used Brooks saddles deal with this before
>> plastic shelled leather saddles became the norm?
>(snip)
>> Using the nose bolt to take out slack seems like it couldn't
>> accommodate the abuse that continental racing dished out.
>(snip)
>
>
>I have a Brooks B.17 from the 1920s or '30s that has had the top
>re-riveted after it got stretched out too long for the nose bolt to take
>out the slack. It now has an extra set of rivet holes to the rear of
>the saddle after they made new holes forward of the old ones. I guess
>money was very dear and they didn't want to say good bye to an old
>comrade at arms.
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, Southern California
>
>.
This was discussed on the ibob list in detail (search the archives), but at least on a bike with fenders or an under-seat bag to protect the underside, riding in the rain isn't too bad for a Brooks. The rider covers the saddle quite effectively - only the nose gets slightly wet. There really is no need for any extra covers on top. Just don't stop and get off the bike...
It's worked for me over the years.
Did the racers protect the undersides of their saddles? I don't know, but I have seen old leather saddles with an extra sheet of leather on the underside, which presumably acted as a spray shield. -- Jan Heine, Seattle Editor/Publisher Vintage Bicycle Quarterly c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles 140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C Seattle WA 98122 http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com