arex

What sort of cord do most people use for lacing up Brooks saddles that are splaying out on the sides? Any tips or caveats for doing so? Is it even advisable?

I recently purchased a used Swift saddle that looks like it might need lacing.

Bianchigirll 

It’s not a Brooks but I used a mens dress shoe lace. It looks kinda nice and the dry cleaner / cobbler gave me the pack for free. I’ll see if I can find a pic after work.

RustyJames 

I am planning to use a leather boot lace on my splayer.

scarlson 

@rhm ought to have an opinion on this!

I have a splaying Brooks Swift as well. The leather on it is thinner than the leather on my B17, B15 (old), Flyer, and Pro. It's similar to the thickness of leather I've seen on the B66 and 67. I thought this is probably why it's splaying. Maybe it's a concession to weight.

I haven't done anything with it yet. I was thinking about turning it into a Swallow by cutting and then riveting it together underneath. That ought to stop the splay, but might cause other problems.

pastorbobnlnh 

I've only ever laced one saddle, and it was a Sprint, which was used by Schwinn in the early to mid 1960s. It was splayed when it was purchased.

I laced it with black leather rawhide laces. As you can see, I did so in two specific locations in order to bring back the original shape as close as possible. The challenge is to fit the lacing to the saddle in the needed locations without impinging on the saddle clamp and its attachment to the seat post.


In regard to a Brooks, a few came with pre-drilled/punched holes. For instance, a B5N, which are elegantly executed, but would impinge on the post and clamp if used in lacing.


However, a Swift does not have similar deep skirts, which facilitate lacing (sorry about the poor focus).

My suggestion is to mount your Swift to a seat post, adjust it to the correct angle for riding, and carefully plan where the lacing needs to be located, making certain the lacing id not blocked by the post or attachment clamps.

USAZorro

Not saying these suggestions won't work, because clearly they will. However, all these are a PITA to adjust, and the hard lacing can eat into the holes over time.

Several years ago, I received one of the prototype Imperial saddles - and the only complaints I had were that it didn't come in brown or honey with huge honking rivets, and that it tended to splay. I initially set it up with long shoelaces, but then I had a revelation when I went out on a chill, rainy, windy day and adjusted the opening in my hood. The combination of these closures/adjusters, and elastic cord seemed just the thing. I picked up a cheap garment with the necessary components from a thrift store (there are other sources, obviously), replaced the shoe lace arrangement I had on there, and over the years... this has worked great. I've had to adjust it a time or two (a sub 30-second task), and there's no splaying or even scuffing on the saddle.




Here's a slightly better image of the closure device. (not my image)

stevel610 

I did an older B17 after I conditioned the leather. Used a drill after marking holes, then a black bootlace. Not sure how it held up as it went with the bike it was on when I sold it.

john903

Hi there, I had an Imperial and didn't like it because it was to wide. I also didn't like the lacing it rub my inner things and was annoying to me. So I found an old Brooks pro and chopped it and made flaps like a Brooks swallow and used zip ties to pull the flaps together. It worked great. I don't think you have enough side skirt to to cut down though. I liked the two suggestions above mount the seat where you like it. Then use a drill to put the holes in and use a shoe lace to lace it up but use that closure someone mentioned so you can vary the tension.
Have fun.

SurferRosa

Same. Two-four holes in each skirt.

Drillium Dude 

A waxed shoelace works for me, too. I knotted it at both ends to ensure it stays put:





DD

nlerner

But what do you do then with the tongues of your dress shoes flapping around.

SurferRosa

Good question.

​​​​​I have a lot of twine left over from back in the day when I thought it was cool to use it on bars as finishing tape. I will say, the shellac does make it a little messy getting dressed each morning.

Bianchigirll 

It’s a Middlemore. I think it came out nice looking

SJX426 

My favorite saddle was a Pro. Today it is the Swallow, which is a bit more comfortable from the get-go. I must admit, the oldest Pro is the most comfortable, is not splayed and is falling apart.
Time will tell how well the Swallow works out. I get them used, but nearly new.
P1040763 on Flickr

ascherer 

I got a new B17 Imperial for my Falcon and it came with perforations and 4 different color cords for lacing, black, white, red, blue (more of a cyan really)

Chombi1 

The more flexible leather cover on the Brooks Imperial pretty much makes using the lacing the saddle came with, a requirement.

gearbasher

I pretty much laced all my Brooks pros. I saved old cycling shoe laces and used those. I also bought a leather hole punch like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/UNCO-Leather-...85970582&psc=1
Makes the job easy.
Suggestion: Do not use the stamped logos for positioning the holes. They are not evenly stamped on both sides. I put strips of masking tape in the area I wanted to punch the holes, then measured and marked the first hole from the nose rivets. Then evenly spaced them back.

PhotonDon

Yeah, Ive used waxed mens laces, rough-ish leather laces, and zipties. Zipties are probably the worst because they can cut into the leather, but sometimes you use what you have laying around.
Be aware that cinching up your Brooks may change the way it feels to your bum, and adjust accordingly.

67tony 

Color coordinated lacing!

panzerwagon 

That riveted badge offset is wreaking havoc on my ocd. They should have moved it to the middlemore...

67tony 

Did this one myself, very easy.
I used a leather punch...six holes is plenty, in my opinion.

SurferRosa

Might be the perfect number. From the Brooks site:

gearbasher

I usually do 4 - 6 holes. But, I use a different lacing pattern. Here's a 4 hole: