Author Topic: Brooks saddles and rain  (Read 13956 times)

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Offline driftlessregion

Brooks saddles and rain
« on: June 19, 2008, 11:02:10 pm »
A few months ago there was a discussion about whether riding a leather saddle in the rain was hard on it. One writer even suggested that sweating was as bad as rain. Well, after a couple of hours riding in rain last week (barely escaping the rising rivers in Iowa) on my new Brooks Pro it collapsed under my weight when it got wet, even with a cover on underneath me. I had almost 1000 miles on it with lots of sweaty hard rides before that with no breakdown. The Pro is much tougher than the B-17 so I was very surprised at the damage. Had I put on the fenders the saddle would have been protected from the rain.

« Last Edit: August 09, 2009, 04:43:08 pm by driftlessregion »

Offline biker_james

Brooks saddles and rain
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2008, 08:06:20 am »
Sorry to here about the saddle. I'm a little surprised to hear that, but I guess maybe there was a lot of water thrown up off the rear tire. Since you didn't have fenders, did you put Proofide or soemthing on the underside of the saddle?
I have a theory on the sweat issue-I think that the oils and whatever else comes off your body when you sweat makes it less harmful(maybe even beneficial)to the leather than plain old water. Of course, I have no idea if science could prove that or not.


Offline driftlessregion

Brooks saddles and rain
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2008, 11:05:13 pm »
Now that I think about it, it was 90 minutes hard rain, and 3 more hours light rain. That's a lot for the underside to take. I will treat the underside with Sno Seal which is waterproof and Proofhide on the top.


Offline Oldbob

Brooks saddles and rain
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2008, 08:05:42 am »
I have the same saddle and experienced the same kind of weather a few weeks ago.  I guess the tool bag I carry beneath the saddle helped to protect it from water, the saddle is fine after 12 years of use.
Bob


Offline driftlessregion

Re: Brooks saddles and rain
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2009, 04:46:55 pm »
The damage to my saddle was where I sit, not sagging in the middle. A couple of weeks ago I soaked in for 6 hours in a bucket of water and then crammed a tennis ball under each rail as far back as it would go. It's almost like new! which also means hard, but hey, I'm not complaining.,