Stubborn Brooks Saddle

[Lynn Haas]

I have a honey colored Brooks Imperial saddle that I bought in 2018. It has about 2,000 miles on it, and it looks and feels like new... in the worst possible way.

I've doused it in leather dressing, stored it in a hot garage for a summer, and put way more miles on it than I want to contemplate. It's had decent exposure to rain and more than enough heat and sweat. Today I'm going to swap back to an older Brooks that is nicely broken in, but that I don't want to use long term for multiple reasons.

What to do?

Lynn 

(just moved to Iowa - anyone in Cedar Rapids want to do a happy hour ride?)

[Brian Campbell]

Maybe this type of process would work?

https://pactour.blogspot.com/2011/01/breaking-in-leather-saddle.html

[Benjamin L. Kelley]

Curious what leather dressing you used?   I've only used neats foot oil and proofide and never failed.

I would think regardless of what you used, that the miles should have done it.

--ben in KC

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[Bill Lindsay]

It's got to be frustrating.  I just recently ponied up for my first ever >$300 saddle, a Berthoud Galibier.  I bought a used saddle of the identical shape (the steel-railed Soulor) to confirm the size and shape work for me before spending the big bucks.  The new Galibier is indeed 'hard as a rock' brand new, and I've ridden it 60 miles on two rides.  I see the spots where my sit-bones hit in the tan leather, so I feel like I'm in the process.  If I invest 2000 miles and still don't feel like things are good, I'll be pretty frustrated.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[lconley]

I think I rode the Brooks Professional on my 73 Paramount for 5 years before my rear conformed to the saddle. Mink oil, Neatsfoot oil, Proofhide, rain, nothing seemed to phase it. I was putting major miles on it into the late 90s, very comfortable for 20+ years. It is now 48 years old and has developed cracks in the surface and seems to attract mold.

Laing