New Brooks B17-How Much Proofhide Underneath?

[Velocivixen]

Hi All. Did a search but didn't get exact answer I was looking for. Just bought a Brooks B17 Standard in "Honey" for my Robin's Egg Blue Surly Cross Check. I bought the proofhide and read the instructions that came with the saddle.

It says to proofide the underneath side of the saddle, but it doesn't say how much. A light coat for underneath? A goopy, heavy coat? For the top, finished side it says "Apply very little" so I understand what that means.

Also, it says that "a new saddle should be treated with Brooks Proofide Leather Dressing to help to assist the 'breaking-in' process", but they don't suggest how long this breaking in process lasts. So how often, initially, should I use the dressing on the top surface? Once a month? After so many miles?

Thanks.

[KnottedYet]

I put a thick, heavy, goopy coat on the underside of my various Brooks saddles. The unfinished leather soaked it up within a day.

I put 3 or 4 light coats on the top (finished) side of the saddle over the course of about a month or two. That allowed time to soak in. Used the polishing cloth to get the excess off before each ride during that couple of months.

Now that my saddles are generally matured and broken in, I only put proof-hide on every 3-6 months. A thin light coat that I let soak in and wipe off before my next ride.

[Velocivixen]

Update: Apparently the Brooks website link for FAQ was not working or is not in service, but I googled and found the contents of that page telling, specifically, more details about Proofide and the seat.

Thanks.

[Velocivixen]

Oh, hey, thanks Knotted. I was hoping you'd chime in. You know, we're related now, in a way. We've both got Cross Checks! lol.

I took all the stickers off with simple masking tape. They peeled right off. Bike looks better already, and now with the honey seat...dreamy. Unfortunately it's been pouring here today and I don't have fenders yet, so I'm waiting for it to dry out a little.

[KnottedYet]

Ahh, the Surly Sisterhood!

Fenders are awesome, they are a sign of a serious rider in our neck of the woods. I hope you get some soon! Rain be danged, we're RIDING!

[Velocivixen]

@Knotted, so I know this is a public forum and all, so I don't need to know specifics, but I think you are in Portland area or maybe SW Washington. So, yes, I've got SKS P-45 on my Trek and likely get the same on the Surly. However, the pretty Velo-Orange metal or Hanjo's are nice and bike stores here sell them. I take my bike, sometimes, on light rail & I know from experience that the chromoplastic SKS fenders hold up really well, as well as having break-away front fender in case something big gets picked up.
What are your thoughts on fenders? Any that you particularly like?
Thanks.

ps buy at the bike shop where I bought my Surly told me that last year a guy on a Cross Check came in 4th at the Twilight Criteriums (in Portland this August 12th)! Can you believe it though? On a CC?

[KnottedYet]

I'm in Seattle.

I've got basic Planet Bike fenders that cost me about $35 6 or 7 years ago. They've been on two bikes so far, and still going strong. I've picked up the occaisional rock, which has been spat out forward like a pea-shooter.

The plastic fenders have been tossed around and bumped into things and been pried up by bus rack hooks and tossed into the car and generally abused, they've done fine.

They are quite forgiving.

I'm not surprised someone did well on a steel bike in a race. A steel frame is only about 2 lbs more than a carbon frame. Go pee before a race, and you drop a pound anyway.