New B17

[lutonloony]

not looking for helpful replies like "they are the devil's work". Have bought today a newB17, would the panel recommend lots of short rides, or a grin and bare it 50+ to best get it to mould to my "profile "

Serious replies gratefully received,frivolous expected

TIA

 

[Drago]

I believe your bottom gets accustomed to the profile, not the other way around. Very much a minority view, but there it is.

Good luck.

 

[Tim Hall]

I rode mine for a handful of 20 mile rides. I didn't do any of the soak it in dubbin/proofide stuff either.

 

[Dave 123]

I had 2 rides at the weekend on a brand new Brooks saddle.
23 & 52 miles. My undercarriage is fine!
Be brave.

 

[hoopdriver]

I never had a hard time breaking in Brooks saddles and I have been using them on all my bikes for over thirty years. As mentioned above, it is a good idea to apply some Proofhide to the underside of the saddle to protect the leather.

 

[raleighnut]

Likewise a good application of proofide to the underneath (with a brush) and a light rub on the top.

 

[Tim Hall]

I have mudguards so don't feel the need to protect the underside of my saddle.

 

[raleighnut]

I have mudguards so don't feel the need to protect the underside of my saddle.

The proofide soaks in better on the underside helping to make the leather more pliable during 'break-in', it should only be applied once there though and it's function is more to keep the leather supple and prevent it drying out than to waterproof it.

 

[MacB]

I rode mine for a handful of 20 mile rides. I didn't do any of the soak it in dubbin/proofide stuff either.

Same here but I never found it uncomfortable it just got comfier the more I rode, it had about 140 miles on it when I did my first century with it and no problems.

Oh and I didn't even know about proofride until I'd put about 2k miles on it, bunged some on and then annually since....not too much and more on the underneath.

 

[biggs682]

Soak in paraffin and set fire to it and you won't have to worry about breaking it in .

Joking apart proofhide the underside and ride it , you and your saddle will bond

 

[gaijintendo]

The only Brooks I had to acclimatise to was the Cambium. The leather ones have been great.
After moving from a moderately plush stock Norco saddle, I noticed how soft that was when I went back on it - but then when I went back to the Brooks, I noticed how little I noticed the saddle at all...

That all said - my Swift developed a creak, so I tightened the bolt. That process repeated itself, then the bolt snapped and the rails broke. I suspect there was a kink in the bolt, having reviewed it. Now my oldest B17 is starting that look, and I am just being too lazy to look... this weekend!

I hope your bum and saddle become best buds.

 

[Tim Hall]

Here's the word from the Brooks' website:

Apply a little Proofide to the finished side of the leather. Allow the Proofide to permeate until dry and then polish off. Proofide should be used several times during the ‘breaking-in’ period and every 3-6 months thereafter. On bicycles not fitted with mudguards, an initial application to the underside of the saddle will be beneficial, this needs not to be polished off

.

 

[gaijintendo]

I believe your bottom gets accustomed to the profile, not the other way around. Very much a minority view, but there it is.

Good luck.

Which of the two do you apply the Proofide to?

 

[Tanis8472]

I thought it was going to be one of these

 

[lutonloony]

I thought it was going to be one of these View attachment 364622

Pretty sure that would be uncomfortable, also not sure how I would fix it to seat post