REQ :Leather care

SaintDan' dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want to restore. The
leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still. How is the best way to make it more
supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when
it was on my Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort bike. Oh.... it
is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color and dyed brown? Or if nothing else,
what is the best way to just restore the black color.

It's quite easy to damage Brooks saddles by over-softening them; many people have done it, so
procede carefully. Brooks themselves sell a product called 'Proofide'; I have always used this on my
saddles and have never had any problems with them. Some people recommend using proofide on the
underside as well as the top of the saddle, but again I've never done this.

I agree they're wonderful saddles, and with reasonable care improve with age.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

There are no messages. The above is just a random stream of bytes. Any opinion or meaning
you find in it is your own creation.

SaintDan' dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom said:

I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want to restore. The leather is
a little dry but in pretty good condition still. How is the best way to make it more supple and
prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when it was on
my Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort bike. Oh.... it is a black
color - can the leather be stripped of that color and dyed brown? Or if nothing else, what is the
best way to just restore the black color.

Get some Brooks Proofide and rub it in generously to the top and underside, let it sit overnight,
and then buff the top. Obenauf's is another option and I find it to be very good. Folks in Britain
and Ireland use "dubbins" which is sometimes something you can find in outdoor equipment stores
(Nokomis Boots in Minneapolis usually has it, and you can probably find it locally).

"SaintDan" <dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want to restore. The
leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still. How is the best way to make it more
supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when
it was on my Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort bike. Oh.... it
is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color and dyed brown? Or if nothing else,
what is the best way to just restore the black color.

Thanks, Dan

Dear Dan,

You'll probably get good advice from the legions of Brooks enthusiasts, but you might also stop by a
tack shop and ask the Marlboro men who handle saddles much larger than yours what to do.

They often restore ancient Western saddles and also pride themselves on how they dye and maintain
fine leather boots. If you tell them that this wider woman was bowlegged, they'll be sympathetic.

But don't listen to them if they suggest tobacco juice as a dye or preservative.

And beware of advice from any Colorado saddle-makers. The largest finishing school for saddle-makers
in the state is a medium-security prison.

[Passed by the Colorado Department of Corrections]

Carl Fogel #719-543-4767

Tim McNamara said:

Get some Brooks Proofide and rub it in generously to the top and underside, let it sit overnight,
and then buff the top. Obenauf's is another option and I find it to be very good. Folks in Britain
and Ireland use "dubbins" which is sometimes something you can find in outdoor equipment stores
(Nokomis Boots in Minneapolis usually has it, and you can probably find it locally).

I use Proofide...and don't tell anyone, but I used neatsfoot oil when the saddle was new. It didn't
do any harm - the saddle is very comfortable a few years later - but oil will turn a "honey" saddle
dark brown - you have been warned.

"SaintDan" <dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want to restore. The
leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still. How is the best way to make it more
supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when
it was on my Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort bike. Oh.... it
is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color and dyed brown? Or if nothing else,
what is the best way to just restore the black color.

Thanks, Dan

i use Proofide on the bottom & pure carnauba paste wax (yeeah, that's the car wax w/o cleaners)
on the top, polished w/ ass. i'd pass on that dye stuff. you got a Pro S? you can still buy the
Pro S in brown.

Quoted message said:

It's quite easy to damage Brooks saddles by over-softening them; many people have done it, so
procede carefully. Brooks themselves sell a product called 'Proofide'; I have always used this on
my saddles and have never had any problems with them. Some people recommend using proofide on the
underside as well as the top of the saddle, but again I've never done this.

actually brooks recommends the underside. it does more then putting it on the top.

"SaintDan" <dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want to restore. The
leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still. How is the best way to make it more
supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when
it was on my Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort bike. Oh.... it
is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color and dyed brown? Or if nothing else,
what is the best way to just restore the black color.

Thanks, Dan

Dear Dan,

To summarize the Brooks leather advice so far,

Simon Brooke -- proofide on top, never tried on underside Steven Knight -- proofide on underside,
does more than on top Tim McNamara -- proofide on top and on underside, then buff top Zog --
proofide, but he's not telling where, and neatsfoot oil Carl Fogel -- talk to a saddlemaker, but no
tobacco juice
B.C. Cletta -- proofide on underside, carnuba wax on top

Please be sure to follow all directions carefully, preferably during the full moon.

Carl Fogel

Great Idea, Ride um cowboys.....

Thanks, Dan

"Carl Fogel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"SaintDan" <dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

restore. The leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still.

How

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is the best way to make it more supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this
saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when it was on

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort

bike.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh.... it is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dyed brown? Or if nothing else, what is the best way to just restore

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

black color.

Thanks, Dan

Dear Dan,

You'll probably get good advice from the legions of Brooks enthusiasts, but you might also stop by
a tack shop and ask the Marlboro men who handle saddles much larger than yours what to do.

They often restore ancient Western saddles and also pride themselves on how they dye and maintain
fine leather boots. If you tell them that this wider woman was bowlegged, they'll be sympathetic.

But don't listen to them if they suggest tobacco juice as a dye or preservative.

And beware of advice from any Colorado saddle-makers. The largest finishing school for
saddle-makers in the state is a medium-security prison.

[Passed by the Colorado Department of Corrections]

Carl Fogel #719-543-4767

How can I tell if I have the Pro S saddle?

Dan

"B.C. Cletta" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"SaintDan" <dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have a Brooks leather saddle that dates back to the 1970s that I want

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

restore. The leather is a little dry but in pretty good condition still.

How

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is the best way to make it more supple and prevent it from drying out anymore. I loved this
saddle (the wider woman's saddle) when it was on

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fuji Royal road bike and want to install it on my Giant CrossComfort

bike.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh.... it is a black color - can the leather be stripped of that color

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dyed brown? Or if nothing else, what is the best way to just restore

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

black color.

Thanks, Dan

i use Proofide on the bottom & pure carnauba paste wax (yeeah, that's the car wax w/o cleaners) on
the top, polished w/ ass. i'd pass on that dye stuff. you got a Pro S? you can still buy the Pro S
in brown.

(Carl Fogel) said:

Steven Knight -- proofide on underside, does more than on top Tim McNamara -- proofide on top and
on underside, then buff top

aI should have posed tim's too that's what is on the brooks webpage. but proofride soaks in really
well on the underside not much on top. but I use it on both. it does not absorb in winter though (G)
don' try breaking in a brooks saddle in winter.

SaintDan' dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom said:

How can I tell if I have the Pro S saddle?

I _think_ the 'Pro S' is the one with the bigger rivets. The one on my road bike has rivets which
are fully 18mm across the head, whereas the one on my hill bike has rivets which are only 11mm
diameter. Both are stamped 'Brooks Professional' in the leather but I think when I bought the road
bike saddle it came in a box marked 'Professional S'. Can't really remember now, it's more than ten
years ago.

You can also get them these days with titanium rails.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

There are no messages. The above is just a random stream of bytes. Any opinion or meaning
you find in it is your own creation.

Simon Brooke <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

SaintDan' dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom said:

How can I tell if I have the Pro S saddle?

I _think_ the 'Pro S' is the one with the bigger rivets. The one on my road bike has rivets which
are fully 18mm across the head, whereas the one on my hill bike has rivets which are only 11mm
diameter. Both are stamped 'Brooks Professional' in the leather but I think when I bought the road
bike saddle it came in a box marked 'Professional S'. Can't really remember now, it's more than
ten years ago.

You can also get them these days with titanium rails.

or (b): the S is a shorter, wider Pro, said to be better for chicks. the big rivets is a 'Team Pro'.
you could also have a B72 w/ double rails. check out w-pgs for wallbike.com or harriscyclery.com,
they have comparison pics.

Simon Brooke said:

SaintDan' dcxdanATwowwayDOTcom said:

How can I tell if I have the Pro S saddle?

I _think_ the 'Pro S' is the one with the bigger rivets.

The Pro S is the Short nosed women's saddle ("S" for "short"😉. I suppose it's not necessarily a
women's saddle, but it is my wife's very favorite saddle and the one that made her willing to
consider riding a bike more than a few miles. The Pro S has big rivets.

The Pro comes in two men's models, the "Pro" with small rivets and the "Team Pro" with the
large rivets.

Great comparisons are available at:

www.wallbikes.com www.sheldonbrown.com

"Steve Knight" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(Carl Fogel) said:

Steven Knight -- proofide on underside, does more than on top Tim McNamara -- proofide on top and
on underside, then buff top

a I should have posed tim's too that's what is on the brooks webpage. but proofride soaks in
really well on the underside not much on top. but I use

it on

Quoted message said:

both. it does not absorb in winter though (G) don' try breaking in a brooks

saddle in

Quoted message said:

winter.

I use Proofide top and bottom; then warm the saddle with a hairdryer. The heat thins (liquefies) the
paste and it disappears into the leather immediately.

Paul.