Brooks saddle

[jul]

I'm curious to know if a used Brooks saddle have to be replaced by a new one..

If yes, how can we know ?






Thanks in advance

[mickeg]

I would replace that one, that one is pretty stretched out.

But I have Brooks saddles that I have been riding for a couple decades that do not show anywhere near as much stretch as yours.

I have been careful to make sure that I wore my saddle into the shape I wanted before I put Brooks Proofide on it.  And I did not ride those saddles in the rain.  And once they were most of the way to the shape I wanted them, I applied Proofide to the top and bottom on a regular basis, initially more frequent than later. 

And I use a rain cover when the bike might be in the rain.  I am pretty obsessive about making sure I do not ride on a wet saddle.

One of mine in attached photo, my records say that this one was bought two decades ago, most of my bike tours were on this one.  It was honey color when new.  Photo was from last month.

But I have several bikes, I do not put a lot of wear on any individual bike.

[UKTony]

I just follow the Brooks leather saddle care instructions. Yours certainly looks like it needs replacing.

https://www.brooksengland.com/en-gb/pages/how-to-maintain-leather-saddles

[jul]

Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..

However, i don’t want to take care as Mickeg ,  maybe is it possible to find a similar saddle as the B17 but without leather ?

If somebody know the B17 and who can suggest to me another saddle as comfortable as the B17 ?

[mickeg]

Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.

[jul]

Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.

Yet i use proofide... but i can do small holes and add laces

[mickeg]

Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.

Yet i use proofide... but i can do small holes and add laces

If you really like it, then occasional Proofide should suffice.  If you lack fenders (mudguards) on the bike, putting some on teh bottom side is not a bad idea.

If it was mine, I would increase the tension on the leather, but maybe the current shape is what you like?  If so, maybe not change the tension.

[Andre Jute]

I applied Proofide to the top and bottom on a regular basis, initially more frequent than later.

IIRC, Brooks instruction for applying Proofide are to apply the proprietary wax to the top and the bottom when first applied, but for subsequent applications only to the top.

I presume that is to avoid building up wax on both sides so that the leather can breathe out any moisture through one flat side with only a light, single application of Proofide.

Trivia, I bought my Brooks saddle and leather grips in the Honey colour, not because it matched my bike well (it was actually a very good match but a bit flashy for me) but so that I could create a custom dark brown by soaking the saddle in neat foot oil (buy it from a saddlery or tack store which supplies the horse racing crowd).

[PH]

maybe is it possible to find a similar saddle as the B17 but without leather ?

I went from the leather B17 to the rubber C17 and prefer the C17, it isn't identical, a bit like a half broken in B17, not everyone likes that, I bought a second C17 from someone returning to leather.

[mickeg]

maybe is it possible to find a similar saddle as the B17 but without leather ?

I went from the leather B17 to the rubber C17 and prefer the C17, it isn't identical, a bit like a half broken in B17, not everyone likes that, I bought a second C17 from someone returning to leather.

I have two C17 saddles that I really do not like, they are currently unused.  I am sticking with leather.