Re: [CR]Brooks/Ideale leather saddle treatment

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:51:21 -0700
From: "Mitch Harris" <mitch.harris@gmail.com>
To: john@os2.dhs.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Brooks/Ideale leather saddle treatment
In-Reply-To: <47498CD8.9010700@os2.dhs.org>
References: <F01C4B8E-9A1B-11DC-951C-00039315EF26@mac.com> <3.0.6.32.20071123185644.01472d70@mailhost.oxford.net> <00c101c82e32$67dc9150$0300a8c0@D1> <000801c82eba$62e26ca0$6401a8c0@maincomputer>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

My experience says once a year is enough, and then only if it looks like it needs it. For me, only on the top of the saddle too.

--Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, Utah

On Nov 25, 2007 7:55 AM, John Thompson <johndthompson@gmail.com> wrote:
> Kenneth Freeman wrote:
>
> > I don't use Brooks or Ideale any more since they don't fit my undersides,
> > but I have had several. I've only used Proofide, up to a few coatings on
> > top per month, and not seen any inordinate stretching. I liked a Brooks Pro
> > for quite a while. I understand that Proofide is gentle enough for many
> > applications, and I have not known it to aid in softening. My feeling has
> > always been that if the saddle will not break in to my shape, or if I can't
> > acclimate to it, I won't be able to use it.
> >
> > Many supposedly "broken-in" leather saddles have butt-bone depressions
> > flanking a ridge, and I find this shape to be impossible. I don't see how
> > any leather treatments that do not involve clever leather surgery can remedy
> > this situation, at least for me. Result is, I'm not comfortable on any
> > on-topic saddles.
>
> I suspect that "a few coatings per month on top" is far too much
> Proofhide, and may well have contributed to the ridge you complain of. I
> have a 25 year old Brooks Pro I ride regularly and it has no such ridge,
> but I only use Proofhide on it about once a year.
>
> http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/brookspro1.jpg
> http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/brookspro2.jpg
>
> --
> John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
> Appleton WI USA