In article <[email hidden]>,
"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote:
in re: ass hatchet Brooks B17S
Quoted message said:Before I send this thing back, I thought I'd try to troll up some other
people's
experiences.
As the liner notes for the Woodstock album say, imperfections are proof
of authenticity. I'm a big fan of leather ("Kinky!" I can hear the
assembled multitudes cry out) and it does have a wide range of quality
even with items from the same manufacturer. One rack of jackets by
Cooper will be soft and pliable, the next rack will be stiff as a board.
Brooks seems to be the same way, but I do think that improper storage
sometimes contributes to hard leather. (*)
You can always track down some of Brooks' Proofide or try neatsfoot oil.
I've had much better luck with a product called Lexol Leather
Conditioner, a dressing that doesn't darken the leather or make it prone
to stretching. It's very popular among the antique auto crowd as
neatsfoot will eventually cause seat or facia covers to stretch and sag,
and Lexol also doesn't leave a residue that will stain your clothes. I
get it locally at Jin's, a shoe-repair guy. The Wilson's Leather chain
stores carried it at one time, don't know if they still do. You might
find it at a saddle (horse, not bike) shop. Of course, it's sold at a
bazillion places online. Lexol also sells pure neatsfoot if you insist.
I'm on my third Brooks B17, I've tried a dozen saddles including a few
ultra-expensive superfantastic types and nothing else fits my tush. It
is something of a weight hit, but I'm not a racer. Two were soft out of
the box, my current saddle was a bit hard but I rubbed it with Lexol a
couple times and it softened up.
(*) I went to a closeout sale of an LBS a couple years ago and found,
still in its box, a saddle by the "Belt Leather Company" of Tokyo. As
near as I could tell, it was an early-70s clone of a Brooks B17. It had
been stored on a shelf all that time and had dried out. Hard as a rock,
but it hadn't cracked yet. I soaked it in neatsfoot for 30 minutes just
to get things started. Then, every day for about two weeks, I'd rub in
some Lexol *by hand* (using a rag just makes a mess, trust me on this)
on the top and bottom. After that, I mounted the saddle on a bike I have
set up as a trainer. I'd rub some more Lexol onto the saddle about ten
minutes before my usual evening "ride" while watching the news.
After a month or so of this, the saddle is as pliable and comfortable as
a brand new Brooks. Not bad for something that cost $2.
--
Strayhorn
"Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.
