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B17 Special--is this right?

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B17 Special--is this right?

Old 07-30-20, 01:08 PM
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IceNine
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B17 Special--is this right?

Sorry, this isn't really a C&V question, but I wasn't sure what forum fit better. I picked up a B17 special a couple of days ago, and noticed that it has really pronounced ridges 1/4 of the way down the sides. My other one is smooth there, but I have a couple of thousand miles on it, and perhaps it started out like this and I don't remember.
Does this seem right, and will it break in and get smooth in good time? I got it from across the pond and already have two days of obenauf's on it, so really, really don't want to send it back.


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Old 07-30-20, 02:00 PM
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Looks like most B17s. Some have the ridge and others do not. If you ride in padded bike shorts you will not know it is there. you may not even if you ride in plain clothes. Roger
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Old 07-30-20, 02:01 PM
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They all have that, at least the modern ones do. It's normal, decorative, and you won't feel it.
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Old 07-30-20, 02:01 PM
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On this bike I typically ride in padded shorts.
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Old 07-30-20, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by IceNine
On this bike I typically ride in padded shorts.
It is how they are, has varied a bit over the years.

I would slow down with the dressing, too much too soon may not go well.

They all won't be exactly the same, different leather, different stamping, batch, etc.
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Old 07-30-20, 02:43 PM
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To make we are all on the same page, OP, you aren’t talking about the lighter colored brown along the bottom edge of the saddle, rather true ridge at what appears to be a sort of binding point, correct?

I ask only because someone above described it as decorative, making me think they’re referring to the bottom.
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Old 07-30-20, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by polymorphself
To make we are all on the same page, OP, you aren’t talking about the lighter colored brown along the bottom edge of the saddle, rather true ridge at what appears to be a sort of binding point, correct?

I ask only because someone above described it as decorative, making me think they’re referring to the bottom.
No, I was not talking about the decorative part at the bottom, but rather the horizontal ridge at the upper portion of the sides.
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Old 07-30-20, 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by merziac
It is how they are, has varied a bit over the years.

I would slow down with the dressing, too much too soon may not go well.

They all won't be exactly the same, different leather, different stamping, batch, etc.
How much dressing, how fast would you recommend?
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Old 07-30-20, 02:50 PM
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The B17 Special that is the saddle I ride most often has both the impressed, raised ridgeline in the leather running along the transitions of the leather hide's top to sides, and the "skiving" of the lower edges -- I thought they all did. The ridgeline is more pronounced on mine than it appears in the photos above, and I've never had the sensation of feeling it during a ride. I generally ride in jeans (RBW "ride what you're wearing" style), but sometimes thinner non-athletic shorts; no difference.

Though you didn't ask me, I use very little ointment on my saddles; sort of like the advice generally given for use of the hide tensioning: avoid it, if at all possible. Or the sage advice I received from my favorite uncle when a sprat: "If it's working, don't f*** with it." There is some "lore" from, I think, René Herse/ex-Compass about how Proofide has some property to break down leather fibers, while Obenaufs (which is what they sell, go figure) is simply a "preservative and waterproofing" product and doesn't. Like most ointments of any sort, there's a lot of salesmanship, and very little science or controlled experimentation to inform the consumer -- at least that's my view. So my policy is, if a miniscule amount is helpful and gives you peace of mind, it certainly doesn't follow that regular application is advisable.

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Old 07-30-20, 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by IceNine
How much dressing, how fast would you recommend?


Much less, like none for quite awhile, too much can make them too soft and not hold their proper shape for the long run.

Everybody here has their own process, secret sauce, etc, ad nauseam.

I have at least a dozen of all different styles, ages, break in and condition.

They all work ok for me from the jump, some don't agree as well down the road but are still fine.

If I need more compliance, I will use a cover with I think 1/8in high density foam, tri athlete? style and/or untension the screw a couple of turns for awhile but make sure to retighten within no more than a few months whether it helps or not.

If you can get your backside to meet in the middle somewhere with the slow break in then you will get there sooner.

You can't put it all on the seat, you have to toughen up a bit if that's what it takes.

PS, You can always talk Brooks here, its in our DNA, love em or hate em.
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Old 07-30-20, 03:32 PM
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OP, I think perfect leather surfaces are rather rare. There's always markings, almost but not quite flaws and thickness changes, as much as they strive for uniformity. Think of them as beauty marks.
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Old 07-30-20, 04:08 PM
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After 30 years its all smoothed out. get on it & ride ..
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Old 07-30-20, 07:29 PM
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Your saddle is defective, and since you’ve used it it’s non-returnable. I hate it for you.

Nothing left to do but send it to me..
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Old 07-30-20, 08:20 PM
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I appreciate the help. Thanks.
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