Saving an old Brookes saddle?

[Garz]

but isn't that what brooks say to do? (Proofide it occasionally then tighten the bolt when it starts to sag?)

 

[tyred]

I tightened the nose bolt on a Wrights WC3N some time ago and it's been fine. I don't see why this is advised against. Leather stretches, the bolt takes up the slack. It's the way the saddle is designed.

 

[John the Monkey]

This edition of the Rivendell Reader has an interesting idea for far gone saddles, using firm foam; http://shade.keeptrees.com/publications/g30/Rivendell Reader Issue 42/#page44

 

[tyred]

Thanks for that John. I might try that on the Dunlop saddle on my Rudge which is a similar design to a Brooks but covered in rubber rather than leather. It is really saggy and I had resorted to a band of insulating tape around it to keep it spreading out (no tension bolt on a Dunlop saddle).

 

[John the Monkey]

Thanks for that John. I might try that on the Dunlop saddle on my Rudge which is a similar design to a Brooks but covered in rubber rather than leather. It is really saggy and I had resorted to a band of insulating tape around it to keep it spreading out (no tension bolt on a Dunlop saddle).

There's a lovely section in the Reader called "The Make Do Mechanic", a sort of bodger's corner - I find it very appealing

 

[gwhite]

So is Hydrophane a permanent waterproofing then ?

In my experience it is permanent and I've used it on around 20 -30 saddles over the years including some of 50 years of age. That said I would still cover the saddle if wet. Just as important though is that it prevents the leather from drying out and deteriorating with time (20 years+ admittedly).
I used Neatsfoot oil some 40 years ago but would avoid this now as it's organic in nature and can attract mould.

 

[Alun]

Why don't you (the OP) ask Brooks for their advice? Their website seems to have a section for queries, I'm not dissing any advice on here, but you sometimes get a lot of conflicting opinions.

 

[asterix]

When I bought my Brooks B17 I turned it upside down (having detached it from the bike it came with) and coated it with proofhide. Then I put it in front of an open fire (coal not wood). When the proofhide soaked in I put another lot on, carrying on till I got bored with it all - or maybe I ran out of coal.

The saddle really wasn't a lot softer but I could leave it out in all weathers. I always did my cycling in black shorts or trousers after that due to the marks it left on clothing for about a decade. After a decade it had become the most comfortable saddle you could possibly want and I got a further 9 years out of it (before someone nicked the bike). Even then, from not too far away it still looked good as new. Its successor (bought in a junk shop in Hawes for £3 in the 90's) is maturing nicely.