Does a White Leather Saddle Stay White?
07-19-10, 11:12 AM
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Does a White Leather Saddle Stay White?
Assuming that the leather is cleaned and cared for, will a white leather saddle stay white? I have an older bike I am restoring and a white Brooks Team Pro or San Marco Regal are my candidates for a white leather saddle. Searching past posts there are many opinions are a white leather saddle might be impractical, but few reports on the long term aesthetics. Any experience?
Thanks
JR
Thanks
JR
07-19-10, 12:21 PM
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Dont wear jeans.
most materials will only add grime to the surface which you can clean off, but denim will mess with white like no ones looking.
most materials will only add grime to the surface which you can clean off, but denim will mess with white like no ones looking.
07-19-10, 12:21 PM
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Most saddles (of any color) eventually turns grey to some extent, as the finish on them wears our from friction and weathering.
I was able to keep my white saddles in the 80's and 90's from turning grey and wearing out by using those tight fitting vinyl and lycra covers with sallde manufacturer's lables, that used to be sold back then. Saddles still wore, but in a much reduced rate than if ridden them without the covers. Unfortunately they do not sell these nice covers anymore and the covers sold today do not fit as well and as tight as the old ones did, so material shifting wil most likely cause friction wear to saddles.
I really think that they quit making them as it legnthened the life of saddles and saddle manufacturers would like to sell more units from higher turnover.
Chombi
I was able to keep my white saddles in the 80's and 90's from turning grey and wearing out by using those tight fitting vinyl and lycra covers with sallde manufacturer's lables, that used to be sold back then. Saddles still wore, but in a much reduced rate than if ridden them without the covers. Unfortunately they do not sell these nice covers anymore and the covers sold today do not fit as well and as tight as the old ones did, so material shifting wil most likely cause friction wear to saddles.
I really think that they quit making them as it legnthened the life of saddles and saddle manufacturers would like to sell more units from higher turnover.
Chombi
07-19-10, 12:33 PM
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I have a white leather wallet that turned blue after a week in the back pocket of my jeans.
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07-19-10, 12:37 PM
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07-19-10, 12:47 PM
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What about the re-issued Turbo saddles that are white? They are made of synthetic leather, has anyone been riding one for an extended period of time yet?
07-19-10, 01:02 PM
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Chombi
07-19-10, 02:50 PM
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No, white leather will not stay white. Leather never stays any one color. It is porous. It absorbs things that are put on it, including the white pigments originally put on it in the first place to make it appear white.
Do you remember white shoe polish (Sh0oe White)? You'd periodically have to replenish the white pigments on your saddle shoes to keep the white leather white. I'm not recommending this product for use on a saddle unless you want a white bottom.
Do you remember white shoe polish (Sh0oe White)? You'd periodically have to replenish the white pigments on your saddle shoes to keep the white leather white. I'm not recommending this product for use on a saddle unless you want a white bottom.
Last edited by Mike Mills; 07-19-10 at 02:56 PM.
