Brooks Saddle - is this wrinkling normal?

[Ian Cooper]

I bought a Brooks saddle a week or two ago and I've ridden it a few times now. It feels good, but I noticed after a 4-mile commute on a very humid day last week that it had developed some small wrinkles towards the rear of the saddle on top. It doesn't seem to be caused by the riveting, and I didn't notice the wrinkles when I bought it. The wrinkling only seems to affect the surface, as underneath the saddle is still smooth. So it seems merely cosmetic - doesn't affect the strength or the ride quality of the saddle, but I thought I'd ask here in case others have seen the same thing.

Does anyone know if this is a normal part of the breaking-in process, or is it a flaw that I should be contacting Brooks about?

 

[simon.r]

Photos?

Can't say that I've noticed anything similar on any of mine.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Do the wrinkles correspond with your sit bones?

If so then it is nothing to be concerned about: think about how a pair of shoes or a jacket wears.

Lighter riders won't see them, I do and I'm around 13 stones (85 kilos).

What is your dubbin/Proofhide/magic potion regime?

 

[srw]

Perfectly normal. Would you send a pair of leather shoes back just because they'd gone a bit wrinkly where your foot bends?

 

[Ian Cooper]

The wrinkles do seem to correspond to my sit bones, and I'm about 13.5 stone, so it makes sense that it's just the saddle getting broken in.

I don't really have a magic potion proofhide regime to break it in, as I never suffer from saddle soreness. I'm just using it when I think the saddle needs it for its own health.

Thanks for all the replies - I'll assume all's well.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Sounds alright.

The oft quoted audaxer's rule of thumb is "once a day for a week; once a week for a month; once a month for a year and once a year for life.

Best applied sparingly: whenever I read of leather saddles going saggy, it is almost always on account of excess dubbin/Proofhide.

 

[Aushiker]

The oft quoted audaxer's rule of thumb is "once a day for a week; once a week for a month; once a month for a year and once a year for life.

Love it

Andrew

 

[Hicky]

Dubbin'd my Honey B17n once, well over 1500miles later the only thing that seems to have changed is the colour.

 

[Friz]

The oft quoted audaxer's rule of thumb is "once a day for a week; once a week for a month; once a month for a year and once a year for life.

That sounds alot like a schedule for sex after getting married...

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

That sounds alot like a schedule for sex after getting married...

And "The more you ride, the less your ass will hurt." sounds like good advice for newly weds too...

 

[Garz]

Photos?

In this day and age I can only but agree! PHOTOS!

 

[martint235]

My new Brooks creaks. I seem to remember fixing this on the old one but can't remember how as I've tried to get proofide into all the little nooks but without success. Someone mentioned WD40 at the rivet joints and particarly the nose, any verification of this as a solution?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My new Brooks creaks. I seem to remember fixing this on the old one but can't remember how as I've tried to get proofide into all the little nooks but without success. Someone mentioned WD40 at the rivet joints and particarly the nose, any verification of this as a solution?

I've used GT85 in the manner mentioned with success on a B17. Nothing, but nothing will stop my Flyer from creaking.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Normal.
Agree, proofhide sparingly, I do faaaar less than the Audaxers 'schedule'.
You'll also need to adjust its position too in the early months.
ON NO ACCOUNT TOUCH THE TENSIONING BOLT.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Normal.
Agree, proofhide sparingly, I do faaaar less than the Audaxers 'schedule'.
You'll also need to adjust its position too in the early months.
ON NO ACCOUNT TOUCH THE TENSIONING BOLT.

I can't agree with that last bit. Depending on how it is used, how often it gets a bit wet, how often it gets a lot wet, how heavy the rider is, and precisely which bit of cowhide it is made from, touching the tension bolt may be essential unless you like riding in a saddle rather than on one.