keeping a leather saddle dry

02-20-2005, 11:03 AM

I love my Brooks Team Pro-S. I tried several modern saddles before
buying the Brooks, and hated them all. One women's model wasn't wide
enough for my sit bones and the other was like a rock under a little
surface give.

But now I'm planning to do a triathlon, and ride my bike in wet shorts.
So I need to either change saddles or cover my Brooks. I also want to
do a century ride or two this spring, so I am reluctant to change to a
less comfortable saddle. Wallingford Bicycles carries a saddle cover,
but they say it is only marginally wide enough for the Tream Pro-S,
which sounds not good enough. I could just use a shower cap or a
plastic bag--it is a sprint triathlon so only an 11 mile bicycle ride.

Anyone had good experience with any of these solutions?

Pam

02-20-2005, 11:25 AM

"pam_in_sc" wrote: (clip) So I need to either change saddles or cover my
Brooks. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Or, you could treat the saddle with a couple of liberal applications of
neatsfoot oil, to make it water repellant. (And then be sure to wear
dark-colored shorts, 'cause the oil will most likely transfer to the fabric
to some degree.)

02-20-2005, 11:25 AM

"pam_in_sc" wrote: (clip) So I need to either change saddles or cover my
Brooks. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Or, you could treat the saddle with a couple of liberal applications of
neatsfoot oil, to make it water repellant. (And then be sure to wear
dark-colored shorts, 'cause the oil will most likely transfer to the fabric
to some degree.)

02-20-2005, 11:30 AM

My Brooks rain cover is a plastic bag from the market--as in "paper or
plastic?"--which I tuck under the saddle when the weather looks
threatening. I've done 50, 63, 75 mile rides sitting on such high-tech
devices with no problems.
--Roy Zipris

02-20-2005, 11:30 AM

My Brooks rain cover is a plastic bag from the market--as in "paper or
plastic?"--which I tuck under the saddle when the weather looks
threatening. I've done 50, 63, 75 mile rides sitting on such high-tech
devices with no problems.
--Roy Zipris

02-20-2005, 11:55 AM

There's plenty of proofing creams & sprays available which should do the
trick. I periodically proof my leather saddles & have experienced no
problems as a result.

Cheers, helen s

02-20-2005, 11:55 AM

There's plenty of proofing creams & sprays available which should do the
trick. I periodically proof my leather saddles & have experienced no
problems as a result.

Cheers, helen s

02-20-2005, 12:44 PM

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 15:03:21 -0500, pam_in_sc <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote in message <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>:

>I'm planning to do a triathlon, and ride my bike in wet shorts.
> So I need to either change saddles or cover my Brooks.
>Anyone had good experience

I have a Brooks on my wedgie. I have ridden it, in extremis, with a
waterproof saddle cover on (from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] if I remember
aright). I found it quite uncomfortable, though I can't say why - I
certainly got a lot more sweaty than usual, and I got a bad saddle
sore that day.

I'd be inclined either to treat it liberally with Proofide and make
sure it gets time to air-dry afterwards (which would be no worse than
a really wet ride, something the Brooks can certainly stand) or use a
different saddle.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

02-20-2005, 12:44 PM

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 15:03:21 -0500, pam_in_sc <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote in message <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>:

>I'm planning to do a triathlon, and ride my bike in wet shorts.
> So I need to either change saddles or cover my Brooks.
>Anyone had good experience

I have a Brooks on my wedgie. I have ridden it, in extremis, with a
waterproof saddle cover on (from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] if I remember
aright). I found it quite uncomfortable, though I can't say why - I
certainly got a lot more sweaty than usual, and I got a bad saddle
sore that day.

I'd be inclined either to treat it liberally with Proofide and make
sure it gets time to air-dry afterwards (which would be no worse than
a really wet ride, something the Brooks can certainly stand) or use a
different saddle.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

02-20-2005, 01:34 PM

Sun, 20 Feb 2005 20:25:01 GMT,
<xm6Sd.250101$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net>,
"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote:

>
>"pam_in_sc" wrote: (clip) So I need to either change saddles or cover my
>Brooks. (clip)
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Or, you could treat the saddle with a couple of liberal applications of
>neatsfoot oil, to make it water repellant. (And then be sure to wear
>dark-colored shorts, 'cause the oil will most likely transfer to the fabric
>to some degree.)
>
Neatsfoot or mink oil will destroy a leather saddle by softening them.
Proofide or Sno-Seal is a better leather dressing for bicycle saddles.
--
zk