Maintaining your Saddle will ensure that it becomes comfortable and durable. Proofide is the only substance that should be used to care for your leather saddle. Carefully formulated from special ingredients to condition, preserve and showerproof, helping protect the leather supple and to keep it supple. With regular use, your saddle will adapt to your body and retain its beauty, comfort and support. A new saddle should be treated at least once to help to assist the ‘breaking-in’ process and protect the saddle against the elements. Never apply Proofide to a wet saddle. Apply a small amount of Proofide to the finished top side of the leather, allowing it to permeate until dry. Polish off completely with a soft cloth to avoid getting any residual Proofide on your clothes. Also apply Proofide to the underside of the saddle. Leave this coating on to protect against dirt and moisture. Proofide may be used several times during the ‘breaking-in’ period and periodically thereafter. Do not overuse. After the break-in period, it is normal and proper to tension the saddle to retain its shape and comfort. To tension the leather top, turn the nose bolt nut clockwise, 90° at a time, checking after each turn until the desired tension is reached. You can use this tension spanner or an Allen key.

Which is the right Brooks saddle for me?

Our leather saddles come in different shapes and styles depending on what kind of bike or riding position. For example, a wider saddle with springs is ideal for an upright, 90-degree posture. Middle widths are often used for touring or commuting when the spinal angle of the rider is in a 45 to 60 degrees position. As a general rule, the more athletic the riding position, the narrower the saddle.

Why do I need to break in my leather saddle?

New leather is tough because of the numerous treatments of the tanning process, as well as the moulding process done at our factory. This leaves the fibres very strong, but also quite rigid. “Breaking in” is the process in which the saddle leather becomes supple and more flexible. Time, effort and care hold the key to bringing your leather saddle to its best condition. Primarily through riding, the leather will mould to the shape of your anatomy and become more flexible. Over time, the natural movement of the leather will act like a hammock whilst riding. But be careful to make sure that the leather does not sag too low, as this will cause it to contact the metal structure and could lead to saddle failure, not to mention being uncomfortable, as you could be sitting on the upper rails of some models or even the seat post itself.

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By registering your Leather Saddle on Brooks Website within 3 months from the date of purchase, you can extend the standard 2 years of guarantee to 10 years total.