morgothaod

Are there any good cheaper alternatives to Brooks proofide? How often should I apply the leather dressing to a brand new saddle? Should I apply the dressing underneath the saddle as well? Also, what are your thoughts on the B17 saddle? I don't have one yet but I am considering it because I can't ride an hour on my saddle without getting sore.

linberl

I love my Brooks B17 now but I have to say I hated breaking it in. It was really painful - I rode home standing up a few times! If I had to do it again, I would purchase the aged version to avoid most of the break in process. Not everyone has this experience, but I'm fairly lightweight (~130 pounds) and it took forever to soften up for me (more than 6 months). I applied Proofhide once a month and also did the underside (water and stuff can splash up when you ride through puddles and you don't really want it to get wet). Measure your sit bones and make sure it fits. Best if you can purchase from a place that will let you exchange it if you aren't happy. When I ran out of the Proofhide sample that came with the saddle, I used my Dr. Martens balsam - not recommended by Brooks, but it did not seem to hurt my saddle in any way and it is what I had on hand.

seedsbelize 

For the small amount you use, the Proofide will last a long time. I treated mine when new, a year ago, and not since. Unless it's out in the weather, it shouldn't need it.

Doug64

+1

I still am using the tin of Proofide that I bought in 2007. It is still about half full. A light application, rubbed in by hand once a year, should be adequate. A light coat on the underside is recommended.

This is a Brook Pro that I had since the 1970s. It went with my Peugeot PX10 when I sold it. I'm working on breaking in a B17 Imperial now and so far needed minimal application of saddle dressing.

MRT2

Same here. LBS threw in a tin of proofhide for free when I bought my B17 in 2012. Use it once or twice a year and even use it for my wife's B17 and there is still another 5 years of proofhide left.

fietsbob

People say 'Snow Seal' works.


I Heated my saddle up [100F] then put a dollop of the proofide inside while it laid upside-down ,
and the leather soaked it up like a sponge.. 30 years ago, once.






....

TGT1

10,000 mi on a B-17 Imperial now.

Slathered both sides with Proofhide when new and once more during the breakin. Now a light coat on the top once a year or so.

As long as the leather feels a bit waxy you don't need any more.

If I resided in wetter climes I'd switch to Snowseal after the break-in, especially on the underside.

Proofhide is tallow based, Snowseal, Beeswax based.

I-Like-To-Bike

Yes, don't use anything.

I've been riding on Brooks Saddles since 1971 and have never treated any of them with anything. I have ridden them (B-72, B-66 and B73 and a Brooks Twin W-66) in all weather; the only protection I give them is to cover them with a plastic bag if the bike will be parked outside and rain is likely. All have been comfortable since day 1. I retired the still serviceable 45 year old B72 several years ago since I too have gotten 45 years older and now prefer the springier saddles.

JohnDThompson 

Proofide has a number of ingredients, including tallow and beeswax. SnoSeal is just beeswax dissolved in a volatile carrier. SnoSeal's carrier allows the beeswax to penetrate deeper into the leather before evaporating. Whether Proofide's additional ingredients make a significant difference is an open question. I've used both, and they both seem to work well. I would suggest avoiding things like glove oil or neatsfoot oil, as those products are designed to soften leather. A soft saddle will sag and eventually become ruined.

Dark Arrow

Stick with Proofide.. I find it odd someone is willing to purchase a topnotch expensive saddle from brooks and then look for a cheapy way to maintain it. Brooks has been around for how long? I doubt they don't know what works best on their saddles. You don't really use that much. Just do it.. you won't be sorry!!

Bear

Snuts

(If), the purchase of the proofide hurts, it is only once.
The satisfaction of treating your pride and joy properly, is a lifetime.

I only have two Brooks saddles, use and love them both.
Enjoy your purchase.

-Snuts-

Moe Zhoost

I use Swanson's Oarsman Marine Tallow underneath and their topcoat (tallow and beeswax) on the top. I just happen to have a supply of this for other boaty purposes for which it works great. I tried it on my saddles many, many years ago and they have weathered very well indeed.

Lurchaddams

I want the cambium so badly. Seems like it would need different maintenance than the leather saddles.

seedsbelize 

It needs no maintenance. I have two.

Retro Grouch 

How much does a can of Proofide cost? I have one but it's probably 15 years old. That would make the cost per year (so far) about 50 cents or so and dropping every year because I still have most of it left. Not going to save enough money to improve my lifestyle here.

linberl

Don't want to derail the thread but did your cambium require the kind of break in time that a leather Brooks does?
I hope no one ever steals my saddle (I use security bolts) but if they did, I can't see subjecting my butt to another break in period, it was awful for me.

fietsbob

I have a Plastic bag over my Brooks .. Irish Tour It was under Plastic a lot.

... Also does offer some camouflage.

seedsbelize 

No break-in. Comfortable right out of the box.

Crawdaddy

A C17 and your worries are solved

morgothaod

A few more questions, would the B17 connect to my bike?



Also, my sit bone width (After adding +25-30mm to my measurement) is 152-157mm, would the seat fit me?

What are your thoughts on buying a Brooks saddle from Amazon? It is $50 cheaper there than at a bike shop in my area.

Lastly an off topic question on bike maintenance- What are your thoughts on bike tune-ups? Do I need to get one even if I don't notice any problems with my bike? How often should I get them? I know some LBS have different types of tune-up packages varying in prices. My LBS does not mention anything about tune ups on their website. Should I just ask for a "basic" tune-up? My bike was made in the '80s and I ride 10 miles a day on it. I bought it used and I have had it for a year (Two things that I had fixed was the shifting- the chain would lock up and I had the "arms taken off, shaft greased and arms put back on" to fix a squeaking issue when pedaling).

Phil_gretz

Thank you for properly spelling the two products.


I use SnoSeal, FWIW. PG

morgothaod

Bump

Machka 

I have a collection of B17s and like them very much for all the cycling I've done.

I applied a little bit of proofide to one or two of them, but I don't think it has been applied to the others.

I will put a plastic bag over them if I'm parked in the rain for some reason but that's about the extent of the maintenance I do.

rumrunn6

my B17 was perfect right out of the box. huge improvement in comfort. you use so little of the company's lube, why not use it instead of something else? I also got a rain cover for it, you can find them on Amazon. this is the one I use

Serfas Waterproof Seat Cover
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

morgothaod

I didn't know the proofide last so long. I'll buy the books brand. I hope the seats on Amazon are legit. The black one is $90 but on a bicycle store site it is $140!