My family is from Miami, and that's where I was born. My grandfather rode his Brooks B-17 saddle for 30 years on his Rene Herse bicycle, and wow that saddle is super soft like a baseball glove. I have his bike along with that saddle now, and it is a fantastic ride. Of you're in Miami, head down to Mack Cycle. My grandfather shopped there regularly since it opened, and the current owner was best friends with my aunt when they were in high school. I also shop there when I'm in town, and riding with the local club. :)
from brooks: "proofide needs to be applied to the underside of the saddle and in this case it should be left on. apply very little proofide to the finished top side of the leather".
Very good informative video, I have the Brooks Champion Flyer. When applying the Proofide I just apply it with my fingers, leave until it gets dull as you say after about 20 minutes and then wipe off with a cloth. Brooks recommend you apply to the underside only once if you have mud guards on your wheels. I use an old toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies on the underneath. After the saddle is broken in you only need to apply once every six months.
For the underside at least, I would simply use my finger to apply the profide, a much more thorough job than using a cloth. Cloth is better for the top of course.
Why bother messing around with using a cloth/paper towel, just use your fingers? Proofide is not toxic and easily cleans up by just washing your hands with some soap.
Melt it in a small cup & brush it on the underside liberally. It works for the topside too. This will open the pores of the leather. When it's cooled, rub the top side to whatever shine you like. Occasionally, I would use a hair dryer to make sure it was penetrating... but only early in the saddles life.
i bought this my very first proofide it came watery did you have this same experience? I had to refrigerate it but the consistency wasn't solid like i see in most pictures so everytime i store it i have to store in friggerater
If the area you live in have warmer temperatures, you'll probably have to keep it in a cool and dry place. If anywhere you leave it it is still very watery and pasty, leave it in fridge is a good idea for when you need to apply it next time.
I don't know whether the terminology is different in your country but in the USA, what you call a "stem", we call a "seatpost". The "stem" is the short tube the extends forward from the steerer tube and attaches the handlebars. It is nowhere near the seat/saddle.
Leather saddles last much longer than synthetic saddles if care are taken to condition them regularly and tension them correctly, and to make sure they never get rained on.
As long as its genuine leather, but depending on thickness of the leather on Selle applying this might over soften the Selle if the leather on that saddle is thinner compared to Brooks
@@TheGizmoGarage "Real Leather" or "Natural Leather" might be a better catch-all term for "not fake leather". "Genuine Leather" is actually the lowest quality grade of leather, its what they use to make suede. There is no way brooks is using "Genuine Leather". Your saddle is probably Top-Grain or Full-Grain Leather, which is much higher quality.
@@shermantank I hear you man, I have recently got into leather working and I am making mostly with Veg Tan leather wallets, the quality of this leather will beat anything I can find in "luxury retail stores"
you are wasting the proofide with that super absorbent towel and only use it on the bottom, top doesn't absorb due to finish. use your fingers to apply
My family is from Miami, and that's where I was born. My grandfather rode his Brooks B-17 saddle for 30 years on his Rene Herse bicycle, and wow that saddle is super soft like a baseball glove. I have his bike along with that saddle now, and it is a fantastic ride. Of you're in Miami, head down to Mack Cycle. My grandfather shopped there regularly since it opened, and the current owner was best friends with my aunt when they were in high school. I also shop there when I'm in town, and riding with the local club. :)
Nice, thanks for sharing your story! I live not far from Mack Cycle and use them to ship my bikes :)
from brooks: "proofide needs to be applied to the underside of the saddle and in this case it should be left on. apply very little proofide to the finished top side of the leather".
Very good informative video, I have the Brooks Champion Flyer. When applying the Proofide I just apply it with my fingers, leave until it gets dull as you say after about 20 minutes and then wipe off with a cloth. Brooks recommend you apply to the underside only once if you have mud guards on your wheels. I use an old toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies on the underneath. After the saddle is broken in you only need to apply once every six months.
For the underside at least, I would simply use my finger to apply the profide, a much more thorough job than using a cloth. Cloth is better for the top of course.
Yes, I have started to use fingers, much easier
if you love your saddle or girlfriend, always use your fingers. they‘ll pay you back a million times ❤️👍
Why bother messing around with using a cloth/paper towel, just use your fingers? Proofide is not toxic and easily cleans up by just washing your hands with some soap.
Agreed. Apply with the fingers not a rag.
Melt it in a small cup & brush it on the underside liberally.
It works for the topside too.
This will open the pores of the leather.
When it's cooled, rub the top side to whatever shine you like.
Occasionally, I would use a hair dryer to make sure it was penetrating... but only early in the saddles life.
i bought this my very first proofide it came watery did you have this same experience? I had to refrigerate it but the consistency wasn't solid like i see in most pictures so everytime i store it i have to store in friggerater
If the area you live in have warmer temperatures, you'll probably have to keep it in a cool and dry place. If anywhere you leave it it is still very watery and pasty, leave it in fridge is a good idea for when you need to apply it next time.
Thank you!
I don't know whether the terminology is different in your country but in the USA, what you call a "stem", we call a "seatpost". The "stem" is the short tube the extends forward from the steerer tube and attaches the handlebars. It is nowhere near the seat/saddle.
Haha my bad, a "brain fart" moment, yes, seat post is what it attaches to!
not sure how long can this saddle last if I put some effort to taking care on it..
Leather saddles last much longer than synthetic saddles if care are taken to condition them regularly and tension them correctly, and to make sure they never get rained on.
Any reason not to use this on a Selle SMP leather saddle?
As long as its genuine leather, but depending on thickness of the leather on Selle applying this might over soften the Selle if the leather on that saddle is thinner compared to Brooks
@@TheGizmoGarage "Real Leather" or "Natural Leather" might be a better catch-all term for "not fake leather". "Genuine Leather" is actually the lowest quality grade of leather, its what they use to make suede. There is no way brooks is using "Genuine Leather". Your saddle is probably Top-Grain or Full-Grain Leather, which is much higher quality.
@@shermantank I hear you man, I have recently got into leather working and I am making mostly with Veg Tan leather wallets, the quality of this leather will beat anything I can find in "luxury retail stores"
@@shermantank the box says vegetable leather, just sounds all the more confusing
you are wasting the proofide with that super absorbent towel and only use it on the bottom, top doesn't absorb due to finish. use your fingers to apply
Yes sir, using fingers now days
Use a brush, much easier.
I am afraid a brush would apply too much of it on to the saddle
This not how to....