Brooks saddle or just the proofhide?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Brooks saddle or just the proofhide?
A Brooks England Flyer is on order for the commuter, but (butt) i have been thinking.
If I need to apply the proofhide to the saddle to break it in to fit my butt, why can't I just apply proofhide to the leather over my sitbones and break my butt in to fit the saddle that came with my bike?
For a savings of over 100-dollars.
Friday ponderings, thats all. The saddle I have is actually pretty comfy for commuting but I miss the ride I had on my schwinn, the torker is a bit stiff.
If I need to apply the proofhide to the saddle to break it in to fit my butt, why can't I just apply proofhide to the leather over my sitbones and break my butt in to fit the saddle that came with my bike?
For a savings of over 100-dollars.
Friday ponderings, thats all. The saddle I have is actually pretty comfy for commuting but I miss the ride I had on my schwinn, the torker is a bit stiff.
#2
GATC
Dissolve the proofide in DMSO before applying it to your butt
(ps-> I know that brookses can break in just fine w/ no treatment whatsoever and I believe the proofide is only for waterproofing; I have been using snoseal for that instead of the official product)
(ps-> I know that brookses can break in just fine w/ no treatment whatsoever and I believe the proofide is only for waterproofing; I have been using snoseal for that instead of the official product)
#3
Seasoned Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2008 Cross Check; Santana Sovereign
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've never treated any of my Brooks, and they broke in fine after very few rides. Even riding in the rain, I've never found the saddle to get wet. I cover the top, and my fenders cover the bottom. The only time moisture is an issue is from sweat after 80-100 mi. in the summer. I'm more concerned about the leather drying out.
#4
I use the proofhide on my Swift just for wate rproofness and to avoid dryingcracking. Even then ya only have to use it once or twice a year. the proofhide does nothing for breaking in. From what I have read the thinner seats such as the Swift and Swallow take longer to break in. The wider ones like the B17 are good to go right out of the box.
#5
Ride On.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 315
Bikes: 2010 Trek 1.5, 2010 Specialized Langster, 2010 Specialized Hardrock Sport 29er, 2011 Gary Fisher HiFi Plus 29er
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
B17 good to go right out of the box? Mine was like concrete, and is just now starting to show signs of it starting to break in (after 100 miles).
#8
Mirror slap survivor
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 1,297
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Surly Pacer, Access MTB, Ibex Corrida, one day a Simple City
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Proofide is only for waterproofing, or so I understand. Breaking in is done by riding. That being said, I have three B17s and they were all comfortable from the start.
#10
Waterproofing??? There is no such thing for leather. Making it for tad resistant to water, yes, but not waterproof.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,230
Bikes: 2007 Giant Cypress DX, Windsor Tourist 2011
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have a Brooks Flyer that I've put about 600 miles into (about a month). At first the leather was incredibly rigid. I remember thinking that it felt just like sitting on hard plastic and had thoughts of returning it if it didn't improve. It has improved quite a bit by riding, and I think it will only continue to get better.
According to Sheldon Brown's site, you can use oil to help the break in process. Proofhide works also, but is much slower (again, according to SB's site).
According to Sheldon Brown's site, you can use oil to help the break in process. Proofhide works also, but is much slower (again, according to SB's site).
#13
Senior Member
I've never treated any of my Brooks, and they broke in fine after very few rides. Even riding in the rain, I've never found the saddle to get wet. I cover the top, and my fenders cover the bottom. The only time moisture is an issue is from sweat after 80-100 mi. in the summer. I'm more concerned about the leather drying out.
#14
If you can't waterproof them, does that mean they have to be covered when you're not sitting on them? I ride to Dallas, put my bike on a bus, ride the bus, then ride my bike to work, where it is stashed in a place where it could get rained on. So would I have to be putting the cover on and pulling it off multiple times, until I lost it? Or can you ride with the waterproof cover on?
#15
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Posts: 31
Bikes: specialized hemi, Cannondale trail 5 29er, and Dahon Vitesse
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you can't waterproof them, does that mean they have to be covered when you're not sitting on them? I ride to Dallas, put my bike on a bus, ride the bus, then ride my bike to work, where it is stashed in a place where it could get rained on. So would I have to be putting the cover on and pulling it off multiple times, until I lost it? Or can you ride with the waterproof cover on?
Shopping bags work great though, and are easy to find laying around if it rains and
you don't have anything to cover your saddle with.