Restored leather saddle – embarrassing problem
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,141
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Classic, 1984 Schwinn LeTour, 1998 Gary Fisher Marlin, 1969 Hercules, 1977 Sekai 5000 Superlite, 1993 Koga-Myata TerraLiner, 2013 Trek Farley.
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Restored leather saddle – embarrassing problem
I treated a dried-out old leather saddle following C&V forum advice (and using what I had on hand) with various iterations of moisture, heat, mink oil, and Glovolium.
Here it is on my commuter bike, which I'm back riding this week (yay spring!):
sorry - bad cell phone pic - in the storage closet at work, where my bike goes
The saddle is much improved. I would not call it supple - it is still quite hard - but it flexes a bit, and at least it's not dried-out anymore.
After tweaking its position over a few rides, I’m even starting to find it comfortable.
The problem is … it leaves brown stains on the seat of my pants!
So, go ahead and have your fun with the inevitable potty humor.
But, any actual suggestions?
Here it is on my commuter bike, which I'm back riding this week (yay spring!):
sorry - bad cell phone pic - in the storage closet at work, where my bike goes
The saddle is much improved. I would not call it supple - it is still quite hard - but it flexes a bit, and at least it's not dried-out anymore.
After tweaking its position over a few rides, I’m even starting to find it comfortable.
The problem is … it leaves brown stains on the seat of my pants!
So, go ahead and have your fun with the inevitable potty humor.
But, any actual suggestions?
#3
Oh Snap, not again...
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Cardiff, Ca
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sounds like you have a new pair of bike commute pants. Carry a spare change or keep some clean pants at you workplace to change. Use the ones it sounds like you ruined as your riding kit. Let the oil wear in/off the seat over time, it shouldn't take to long. Oh yea, don't turn your back on anyone today
#4
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,811
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Liked 577 Times
in
342 Posts
You have encountered the answer to the age old question, "why are cycling shorts black?"
I'm afraid once this has started to happen, it's hard to make it stop. The saddle was too dry, so you made it wet, and now there's dye (or the functional equivalent of dye) suspended in whatever solvent you put in it, and it will transfer to any absorbent material that comes in contact with it.
I suppose it might be possible to soak the saddle in water, changing the water repeatedly until all the dye is gone; then drying it out again and replacing the lost moisture with oil of some kind; but adding oil might cause the process to repeat and anyway, none of this is going to do the saddle any good. I don't recommend even trying it.
Letting the saddle dry in the sun for a loooong time might do some good, but will not solve the problem 100%.
When you ride with good pants, or any that will show a stain, you have to put a plastic bag over the saddle. This will compromise comfort to some degree, but it will protect your pants. Or wear black pants!
I'm afraid once this has started to happen, it's hard to make it stop. The saddle was too dry, so you made it wet, and now there's dye (or the functional equivalent of dye) suspended in whatever solvent you put in it, and it will transfer to any absorbent material that comes in contact with it.
I suppose it might be possible to soak the saddle in water, changing the water repeatedly until all the dye is gone; then drying it out again and replacing the lost moisture with oil of some kind; but adding oil might cause the process to repeat and anyway, none of this is going to do the saddle any good. I don't recommend even trying it.
Letting the saddle dry in the sun for a loooong time might do some good, but will not solve the problem 100%.
When you ride with good pants, or any that will show a stain, you have to put a plastic bag over the saddle. This will compromise comfort to some degree, but it will protect your pants. Or wear black pants!
#6
Yes.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#8
Curmudgeon in Training
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rural Retreat, VA
Posts: 1,956
Bikes: 1974 Gazelle Champion Mondial, 2010 Cannondale Trail SL, 1988 Peugeot Nice, 1992ish Stumpjumper Comp,1990's Schwinn Moab
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Start rubbing it with a cloth until you no longer get a color transfer to the cloth. Apply leather treatment of choice. Rub again with new section of cloth. If you continue to see color transfer, adhere to the dark clothing/wrapping advice.
Just an idea. I've never dealt with this, but at some point, color transfer has to stop.
Just an idea. I've never dealt with this, but at some point, color transfer has to stop.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 424
Bikes: 1983 Peugeot UO14, KHS Green-Heavily modified, 1972 Raleigh Sprite 27" (work in progress)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Put some rags tightly pressed around the saddle, use a hair dryer to gently heat the whole saddle, then wrap the whole mess in a plastic bag overnight. Eventually all the loose dye will get soaked into the rags and you'll be good to go.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,932
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Likes: 0
Liked 2,007 Times
in
1,062 Posts
Sheldon Brown warns of this dilemma and did so many years ago. Why not wear the stained pants and enjoy the looks you get, as well as any opportunity that presents itself to explain the stain.
And, a word of advice, for the guys only, - never wear pinkish lycra bike shorts, stain or no stain...
And, a word of advice, for the guys only, - never wear pinkish lycra bike shorts, stain or no stain...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: currently in Bombay
Posts: 17
Bikes: Gios "Aerodynamic" with an electic mix of Campy and Cinelli parts. A custom made Chinook frame built by Bruce Gordon, using Columbus tubing and Cinelli lugs silver brazed. I have upgraded the components on this bike to Campy Chrorus 9 speed
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A tip I picked up from bike forum, you have not mentioned is softening your saddle with oliv oil. it gives the leather a nice glow, and also softens it. The first priority preserving the integrity of the leather dealt with; regards the saddle leaching oil, you have two options one buy a saddle cover, which is a thin rubberised slip on arrangement, with elastic to hold it in place. They are not very durable, however aesthetically were very pleasing as they were available in different colours. Alternatively, fabricate your own, however use cord as tiedowns under the saddle. The silver, slip on cover, of an ironing board is rather durable material to make into the afore mentioned cover.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Francsico, CA
Posts: 324
Bikes: Schwinn Voyageur '89
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Aardvark saddle cover. They are cheap, they look pretty good and will help keep your seat from getting soaked and your but from getting stained.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around Seattle
Posts: 1,207
Bikes: 1969 Raleigh Sports: The Root Beer Bomber
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,141
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Classic, 1984 Schwinn LeTour, 1998 Gary Fisher Marlin, 1969 Hercules, 1977 Sekai 5000 Superlite, 1993 Koga-Myata TerraLiner, 2013 Trek Farley.
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
^snark, I gave it an "enter at your own risk" thread title, so you really should have known better! Aside, any suggestions on a rear rack for my wife's Sports? Wald 535 is currently the front-runner, do you have any better ideas? Asking since you have researched racks and baskets extensively IIRC. (See my comments #1520 and 1523 in the 3-speed thread)
End of self-hijack. Re the comments above, many thanks all. I am not going to go with a saddle cover, the whole point of the leather saddle is its appearance. The vintage look. So if I can't ride it without a cover, I'm going to swap it out. The dark pants approach is more practical.
On a later ride in my work clothes, the saddle did not do as bad - possibly because the pants were darker, synthetic slacks, not light cotton chinos like the first pair. Also now that I've got the fit dialed in, I am moving around on the saddle less.
End of self-hijack. Re the comments above, many thanks all. I am not going to go with a saddle cover, the whole point of the leather saddle is its appearance. The vintage look. So if I can't ride it without a cover, I'm going to swap it out. The dark pants approach is more practical.
On a later ride in my work clothes, the saddle did not do as bad - possibly because the pants were darker, synthetic slacks, not light cotton chinos like the first pair. Also now that I've got the fit dialed in, I am moving around on the saddle less.
#17
Start rubbing it with a cloth until you no longer get a color transfer to the cloth. Apply leather treatment of choice. Rub again with new section of cloth. If you continue to see color transfer, adhere to the dark clothing/wrapping advice.
Just an idea. I've never dealt with this, but at some point, color transfer has to stop.
Just an idea. I've never dealt with this, but at some point, color transfer has to stop.
Originally Posted by sekaijin
So, go ahead and have your fun with the inevitable potty humor.
#18
Senior Member
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rhm
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
28
05-28-18 02:06 PM
.baker
General Cycling Discussion
8
12-30-10 02:13 PM