old brooks tension

[caminsk]

hello everybody

A couple of days ago I got an old brooks champion flyer from a LBS,
the saddle was abandoned in an old bicycle
it looks like it was unused for a while,
it is very confortable anyway but I think due to the time it was there it got kind of deformed...the leather feels very flexible by the sides.

I dont know if it is a matter of tensioning it

so i posted some pics to you guys give your opnion

should i tension it more? and how much more?

thanks a lot

 

[tyred]

You need to make two holes either side just below the Brooks inscription and lace it from side to side to pull it tight.

You can just about see where someone has done this on my old Wrights saddle if you look at the pic.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3303772164_d590927093_b.jpg

 

[MartinC]

It looks like this saddle has sagged and needs a bit of tension. The nut under the nose is how you do it. If the leather is really dry rub a bit of Proofide (Brooks own leather treatment) first. Tighten it bit by bit and try it in between.

 

[Chuffy]

STEP AWAY FROM THE BOLT!!!!!! That's the best way to wreck a good Brooks. The bolt is only there to tempt the unwary....

Lacing will alleviate the splay. Easily done, as Tyred says.

 

[Cockney Scot]

If the saddle has been unused for several years before doing anything else i would do as martinC says. Get some proofhide (mines only cost £5.99) rub it in both to the top and underside of the saddle and leave at least a day ( do not buff it up when 1st applied) after a day buff up the top of the saddle, hopefully it should put some suppleness back into the leather. Then you can try and get the seat back taught again as others have recommended.

 

[Fab Foodie]

STEP AWAY FROM THE BOLT!!!!!! That's the best way to wreck a good Brooks. The bolt is only there to tempt the unwary....

Agreed. This is the unwritten rule of Brooks saddles.

 

[Yorkshireman]

I laced my B67 about four years ago as the cheeks had spread a little and were catching my inner thighs at times (used a cheap LIDL leather punch kit).

After getting the lace to what I considered to be the correct tension I checked the nose bolt and found that it needed a half turn to take up the slack. No further adjustment has been needed since (and no sign of any 'hammock effect').

 

[caminsk]

thanks a lot for the advices
im looking for proofhide right now.

I didnt know I could damage the saddle with the bolt,
before post here...I´ve moved about 8mm of more tension
(u can see it on the 3rd pic)
but i didn't see really any difference.

should i try some adjust yet or just go for lace it?

 

[MartinC]

Lacing it will stop the sides splaying but it won't take the sag out. To do this you need some more tension. But, as others have warned, you need to do this carefully and incrementally after you've made sure the leather isn't too hard and dry (proofide). Many Brooks saddles have been ruined by unnecessary overtighteneing.

 

[Greenbank]

STEP AWAY FROM THE BOLT!!!!!! That's the best way to wreck a good Brooks. The bolt is only there to tempt the unwary....

Lacing will alleviate the splay. Easily done, as Tyred says.

I disagree with the "bolt is evil" theory. I've needed to tighten the tension bolt on my Swallow otherwise the saddle would be unrideable. Punching holes and lacing it is impossible as it's a Swallow.

However, in the 2.5 years I've had it I've needed to put tighten the bolt by two whole revolutions, mainly in 1/4 turn increments every 3 months or so. Haven't had to adjust it in the last 6 months so I'm guessing it's got through the initial stretching after 15,000km.

So, spin the bolt round lots and you'll knacker your saddle, but small adjustments over time are generally ok.