You are reading a single comment by @Fox and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@Fox
The Brooks B-72 that came with the 1969 Raleigh Sports I’m doing up is in good shape – no real cracks or damage, has all of its rivets etc.
But it’s really really dry – I’m not so bothered about re-shaping it, but it’s so dry at the moment that it feels like it would crack if you bent it – I think it needs to be more supple and healthy looking.
I’ve bought some Proofide and given it an initial treatment on top with a sensible amount which I’ve rubbed in. This has had a slight effect but I didn’t expect much. Next step is to clean up the bottom and rub a good amount into that. I’m not sure this will be enough though as it’s so dry.
Sheldon says Proofide is a very slow way of hydrating a saddle and suggests turning it upside down, putting it on some tin foil, forming a ‘tray’ around it and pouring neats foot oil (or similar) onto it so it can soak in. But Brooks don’t recommend it as apparently it fills the pores of the leather stopping it breathing and can make them sag.
Has anyone restored a dried out old Brooks? I don’t even really know what neats foot oil is (I didn’t know neats had feet) and don’t want (my impatience) to ruin the original saddle which I think will restore very nicely if I do it right.
Any ideas?