"Eric S. Sande" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >Heavy rain while standing at at traffic lights would mean the saddle would get very wet. These
> >are conditions I face regularly every summer.
>
> It's a misconception that a little rain will hurt the saddle. The problem is that a thoroughly
> soaked saddle will deform under load.
>
> >How feasible/comfortable is it to ride with a plastic bag over the Brooks?
>
> It's not particularly difficult to do this but you'd better use a thick plastic bag. Normal riding
> in the rain isn't a problem with a Brooks, provided you park the bike so the saddle has a chance
> to dry before you ride it again.
>
> Rain covers are available, they're inexpensive.
>
> If you park it where it's going to get rained on, then jump back on a few hours later, cover the
> saddle with a plastic bag.
>
> I have a page on this if you care to check it out:
>
>
http://www.geocities.com/cochise_20009/features/newbrooks.html
>
> In fact the saddles are quite durable, it's a mistake to think that they melt in the rain,
> they don't.
>
I bought one of these newer-thinner-leather Brooks Pro saddles and ruined it in the rain riding
without mudguards. I got caught in the rain for 30 miles year and I should have brought a plastic
bag. I didn't worry because I had treated with Proofhide, heavily on the underside. By the end of
that 30 miles, the saddle had sagged heavily under my "sit bones" leaving a ridge in the middle. I
tried pushing the sunken portions back up and leaving it to dry naturally in my garage. It didn't
work. The sunken portions sank again immediately when I use it a week later.
This never happened to my old Brooks I bought in the 70s.
I replaced the saddle with another thin-leather Professional. This time I used Proofhide lightly and
sprayed the underside with repeated coats of a waterproofing spray. I always bring a plastic bag and
rubber bands in my seat pack now!