Brooks saddles

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Jonnyrau

New Member
I am just eyeing up a brooks saddle on ebay. it is a b17 vintage so I am guessing its not from the current range of brooks saddles. Are these worth a look at? Do brooks saddles need any specialist equipment to fit? and maintain?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....19499&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

I just bought it for 30 pounds plus 4 pounds postage. It was advertised for 52 +p & p. Was this a good deal?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!

JOnny
 

anweledig

Well-Known Member
Location
Shropshire
you need to give them a bit of time to break in but you'll then you'll never want another saddle.

give it a good dose of proofide to help protect it and cover it on rain but leave the asjusting nut on the front alone and it will last for years
 

yello

Guest
As you've already bought it, I'd say just fit it (that shouldn't be a problem) and see how you get on. You'll perhaps need to be patient about micro-adjusting to get the right position as it's a trial and error thing. I'd try and find out from the seller if they proofhided it and, if so, how regularly. I'd then ride for a bit and see how you get on with it. If it feels okay then I'd invest in some proofhide (not expensive). Properly cared for, the saddle will last years.
 

- Baz -

Active Member
Location
Manchester
Been thinking about getting a B17 for a while - should it always be covered in the rain? What if it's drizzling? What if I'm grinding up a long hill and the heavens open? Buggered if I'm going to stop and put a mac on my saddle...

How much moisture can a Brooks take (under normal conditions and assuming properly treated with Proofide)?

Sorry to hijack your thread Jonny
wink.gif
 

palinurus

Velo, boulot, dodo
Location
Watford
They fetch good prices on eBay so you are unlikely to lose any money on it if you don't like it. You probably will like it though.
 

Manonabike

Über Member
Yeah I am just gonna pay and see what comes!
Do Brooks saddles need a special spanner to fix on?


You will find that some sellers on eBay use the word "vintage" to attract higher bids......

No special spanners to fix on, they have parallel rails like any other saddle.

They have a nut on the nose of the saddle to tension the leather, however, I would leave it alone. If at any time the saddle feels needs tensioning, probably after several 1000s of miles then you could lace the saddle.... I did that with excellent results.

Also, don't over do it with the proofing or you will do more damage than good to the leather.
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
Been thinking about getting a B17 for a while - should it always be covered in the rain? What if it's drizzling? What if I'm grinding up a long hill and the heavens open? Buggered if I'm going to stop and put a mac on my saddle...

How much moisture can a Brooks take (under normal conditions and assuming properly treated with Proofide)?

Plenty. It's worth covering if you leave it out in the pouring rain overnight, but that's it. You don't (I assume) put plastic bags over your leather shoes when it starts raining, do you?!
 

RedBike

New Member
Location
Beside the road
I didn't know what to make of my Brooks when I first got it. It was heavy, slippery and the leather was rock hard. Whats more it looked like something that belonged on my Gradfathers bike instead of a modern race bike. It very nearly got pulled off the bike and slung in the spares cupboard.

Thankfully I stuck with the saddle and over time/use it softened up and moulded its self to my backside. Now its so comfortable I no longer care about how much it weighes or what it looks like. The Brooks is my saddle of choice for longer rides.

What worries me about second-hand Brooks saddles is the way that the saddle deform with age / use. Whats happens if the previous owner had a different shaped backside? Will the deformations in the saddle now be in the wrong place?
 

tyred

Legendary Member
Location
Ireland
I think you'd be okay with a second hand Brooks. The Wrights WC3N saddle (basically a B17 clone) on my Carlton is older than I am and it felt a bit strange at first but after a few rides, it has been fine. The only issue is that it seems to have sagged slightly, despite being laced underneath. 

Just what does go wrong if you tighten the famous "nut" at the front? I'm very tempted to try.
 

GazK

Veteran
Location
Wiltshire
I know a man who paid £100 for a drive side crankarm. It all depends on your priorities - my bum is high on my priority list!
 
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