Question about new saddles, specifically BROOKS

[sandra]

Reading about Brooks and lusting, I have this question. Does the saddle get "broken in" to the original owners sit bones? Is this a problem if you buy a used Brooks from someone else?

Would you buy a used saddle?

I'm interested if any of you have used Brooks lying around that you are not using. :)

[mimitabby]

Another person can definitely break it in for you.
Raleighdon put 300 miles on the saddle that I just put on my new bike.
It's already broken in... (welll, almost) :D
So if you're a lightweight like me, a used saddle from a bigger person is a nice thing. Not OVERUSED of course..

[Veronica]

I would not buy a used Brooks.

I have 4 Brooks saddles - three Finesses and a Professional S. The first Finesse I got went on our tandem. My position on the tandem was very upright and that's the way the leather conformed.

About a year later I got a road bike and another Finesse went on that. The poor tandem did not get ridden for a while. After about ten months of no tandeming, we took it out again. Now I wanted to ride in a more aerodymanic position behind my husband. But the saddle said no. It made for a very uncomfortable hundred mile ride. Same butt, but the saddle conforms to how you sit on it.

We have retensioned that saddle and now it's on my road bike in the trainer and working out nicely. But it has taken a while for it to get to be the shape I now want it to be.

V.

[skyhand]

so a person buying a mildly-to-moderately used brooks couldn't just adjust the tension to tighten the leather, and thus gradually reform it to their own tushy?

[mimitabby]

imho, yes.
My first brooks was an older used saddle, well used. I adjusted it, it was fine from the very first day. This was before i even knew you had to break them in.
As different people ride our tandem, we leave the B67 on it. It's getting more broken in, and it's getting better and better! The last person to put 500 miles on it rode it with the nose pointed WAY UP, and it doesn't seem to have affected it adversely for me.

[Veronica]

so a person buying a mildly-to-moderately used brooks couldn't just adjust the tension to tighten the leather, and thus gradually reform it to their own tushy?

As Mimi said, yes you could. But my experience has been that reforming its shape takes longer.

I think a lot also depends on the leather and the saddle. I have two green Finesses and a black Finesse. The green ones were primo right out of the box. It took a few rides for the black one to get comfortable, probably 400 miles.

I have the Pro S on my commute bike and the leather is still not broken in after 18 months.

V.

[Blueberry]

I have a B17S that may be looking for a new home. It doesn't have very many miles on it, and I'm pretty sure (but would like to give it a little longer) that my B17 is working better.

I would buy a used brooks, but would understand that it might take a little longer to be comfy (or not, depending). There just weren't regular B17's looking for homes when I bought mine.

[Christopher]

Doesn't exactly relate to the OP, but close enough:

Next month, I should get my mitts on my mom's Brooks saddle... bought 1971! Sister says it has a rip, but assuming it isn't too bad, how would I go about restoring it? I can get saddlesoap and neatsfoot oil, but thought it was best to ask some Brooks owners first. I'm more worried about the state of the very old leather than the tension. The saddle has been sitting in a box for years so is a bit dry. It was on her '71 Gitane that was crushed by a falling stone wall :( - luckily no-one was hurt in that collapse.

Anyway I have a black merino wool 'Brooks' jersey, bought from those fine people at Mercian Cycles, so I'll have to get a Brooks!

[KnottedYet]

The leather on a Brooks is pretty darn thick and tough, so if there's an actual rip in it, you might be out of luck. (the leather IS the saddle, that's all there is, a big hunk of leather suspended over a frame) If it's a gouge, you might be ok.

See if your LBS can get you a tin of Brooks Proofhide. Warm it in your hands and rub it into the leather. Might take a few applications until the leather isn't thirsty anymore.

I used to restore leather bound books, and you'd be amazed at how dry and crumbly leather perked up with just some dubbin!

For extra help (especially if there is a real rip or separation or something else awry) you could call Bill at Wallingford Bicycle Parts. www.wallbike.com He's a nice guy and really knows Brooks.

[Christopher]

Knotted, thanks for the advice. I'll get the Proofhide and hope for the best. It won't be wasted as Sister has a Brooks on her Rossin. TBH I have never noticed the rip so it may not be that bad (or I'm just really unobservant).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I would have no hesitations about buying a used Brooks saddle if it was in good condition.

[Veronica]

I would have no hesitations about buying a used Brooks saddle if it was in good condition.

Nope, not me, no way no how - having suffered through a century on my own saddle that was shaped by a different position on the bike.

I put in too many hours on the saddle to be uncomfortable.

V.

[Christopher]

Update: I got my mitts on the saddle, did everything that Knotted advised and put the old Brooks on my commuter and set on an evening ride last night. It split apart before I even went a block, so game over. A shame, but the split really was huge - right through the entire leather and right on the nose of the saddle. But thanks for your help Knotted!

OTOH I got some absolutely beautiful vintage Campag brakes from the Recyclery in San Rafael for $35... they're going on the fancy lightweight of mine