i finally broke down and bought a brooks saddle. i got it from wallingford because they have a 6 month return policy (my local shop doesn't carry brooks). i figured i couldn't go wrong. of course in trying to get it put on my bike i dropped it and took a chunk out of the leather. idiot.
my buddy has one of those. looks ridiculous yet it's the most comfortable hammock for your ass.
Tey can't expect a six month old saddle to be in perfect shape when returned. At a minimum, it will have started to get shaped to your arse by then and wouldn't work for anyone else.
If you decide you don't like it, I'd still go through the return process.
bought one in the early 80s; slathered it in mink oil and beat the shit out of it with a hammer and that sucker broke my ass before it broke in (in fact it never broke in). good luck skinny!
yeah, but i still feel bad about returning it if it doesn't work out. from everything i've read, i will love it. i'm thinking of getting my old tandy leather working kit from out of my mom's attic and doing some design work on it. maybe stamp my name on it.
You gonna' Beadazzle that saddle?
Oh, that does suck. I'm looking forward to getting some riding time on my new Brooks.
That's too bad, but I'm betting you won't have any interest in returning it. Glad to hear that you are dealing with Wallingford as they are good folks and know their Brooks saddles. I've bought several from them over the years and was always glad to see my money go to a good home.
The old Tandy leather kit sounds like a great idea. You chance to "personalize" the saddle.
But since returning it is likely no longer an option, go ahead and get started with the Proofhide routine, top and underneath surfaces, to get it all softened-up. Though they are good out of the box, these saddles do respond nicely to some "break-in" time, especially with the help of the Profhide.
I'm in a quandry as we "speak" over a saddle for the bike I'm converting from fixie to road bike for my son. It is currently outfit with a wondfully conditioned B17 Special that's been in place for several years. I'm going to keep it and outfit that bike with a Selle Italia Profile Max Flite that I've had kicking around for a few years. It'll be a come-down for him as he's riding a Brooks B-17 on his existing hybrid which he will want to keep in place. If he doesn't like it I suppose I might cave and send him the Brooks, but it'd be like parting with an old friend!
A few years ago I splurged on a new honey brown B-17 for my commuter bike. One of my kids apparently over-inflated their MTB tires. Unfortunately the tires had slime and when they blew, slime went all over the garage including several gobs on that saddle. That saddle still bears the stains from that slime, however it is a pretty nice saddle and the color ties in well with the handlebar tape which has been varnished to the same honey brown.
Back in the day, we swore by the Brooks Pro, you know the one with the copper rivets.
I oiled it, and gave it a 15 minute massage with a rubber mallet.
Then put in oven for 20 minutes at 250. Reoiled it and good to go.
It is all in the lube and smacking you give it.
If you want to sell it PM me, send me a foto, and we will negotiate price.
Brooks makes an awesome product.
I had one I got from Rivendell ($60) a number of years ago. For me, it was comfortable from the start, no massaging or hammering necessary. In my opinion, you don't want to soften it. Or at least try it first. I finally had to give mine up because the sitzbone dimples got too deep, thus the middle too sharp. And in spite of snugging the top with the bolt, the sides began to flare and chafe my thighs.
Why would they allow you to return a saddle that is damaged, more importantly why would anyone try to return something that they damaged. Weak.
i wonder if they send them back to brooks to get new leather?
It is a calculated risk. Cobb also has a 180 Day return policy, no questions asked. LL Bean has a lifetime return policy, no questions asked. Do some people abuse the policy? Of course, but they clearly feel they gain more customers that offset whatever returns they receive.Why would they allow you to return a saddle that is damaged, more importantly why would anyone try to return something that they damaged. Weak.
In THE SKINNY's case, I would not think it "weak" at all if he decided to return the saddle....but only if he determined it wasn't the right saddle for him. He would be using their return policy exactly for what it was intended...trying the saddle and seeing if it was the right choice. He didn't make up their return policy, they enacted it of their own free will.
Now, if he returned simply because of the tear in the leather that he caused, I would agree with your assessment. That is abusing their return policy, evne though it may be within the "letter of the law."
Good directions for breaking-in leather saddles. http://pactour.blogspot.com/2011/01/breaking-in-leather-saddle.html
winterale, still
"I dropped it and took a chunk out of the leather" That's so typical of something I would do...
Tried a Brooks Team Pro years ago. Very comfy but problems getting the saddle back far enough (should have tried a seatpost with more setback). It also looked sort of goofy on a Klein road bike.I've eyed the Brooks
Swift, but way too pricey for me to experiment with..I like the old San Marco Regal (ti) as it's it feels like it's custom made for my rear..those Regals are extremely durable also..gads don't get me thinking about saddles again...
I scuffed up my Team Pro when I laid my bike on it's side while changing a flat. Went to work with some black shoe polish and came out as good as new...
CK perhaps you didn't read his post. It's not a matter of the 180 day policy that's cool and you're right if people offer that then it is what it is. I think it's WEAK to damage something, he said he dropped it and took a chunk out of the leather, that's the part that is weak.
Is the return policy intended to take back damaged goods? I think not. Ya man break it then return it.
So you're saying LL Bean has a policy say where you splatter paint on your pants and you can return them for new ones?
Yeah, that is absolutely what Bean's policy is....lifetime, no questions asked. They built a fanatical following based on their return policy (especially since it was in place for decades before lenient mega-store return policies).
Decide you don't like the color in 5 years? You can return it. Get fat? Return it. Wear it out after years of faithful service and no complaints? Return it.
As for THE SKINNY, I think we are interpreting his post differently. To my eye, he is saying "I'm an idiot. I took a chunk out of the saddle and now I can't take advantage of their z6 mos. return policy 'cuz I don't think it would be right."
IMO, as long as he is returning it because it is not the right saddle for him, the chunk is immaterial. If he returns it simply to get a saddle w/o a scuff, then he is abusing the policy, although he may be within the "letter of the law."
Ya, I guess it would be pretty hard not to scuff a saddle in six months so I guess they know what they're getting into.
As for the LL Bean examples, I don't think those examples are in the spirit of their guarantee. But I am sure there are people who abuse it.
"It is all in the lube and smacking you give it."
Maybe one of the most win filled sentences ever posted on our beloved forum? LOL!!!
ck; yeah, returning it because it's not comfortable is still a possibility, it's just that the divot makes me hesitant to return it if it never gets perfectly comfortable. i bought the b17 narrow and i'm wondering if i should have gotten the b17 regular and maybe one with the cut out. it's not the end of the world though.
Proud owner of a Brooks Swift for over ten years. Had a Spanish brand called a Soufattie (sp) for almost 30 years. Love my Brooks and only oil it with Proofide a few times a year. Would never think of hitting my baby with a mallet or hamer. That's saddle abuse and the saddle will at some point seek revenge. And I'm not going to tell Lon H. anything about cycling but how did he come up with that process? Kinda like the first person who thought about licking those toads that get them high. "Hey, lets lick this toad behind his head and see what happens?"
Don't think you will be able to tool the leather. Unless you take it off the frame or can put something underneath it while you bang away. I would just put the saddle on your bike, oil it with Proofide, top and bottom, and ride away. You will know before long if it's what you want.
Here is another Brooks Pro secret. File the rivets. I like a coarse file, as it leaves an interesting pattern on the rivets.
As always, lube well and pound away.
Happy Valentines.
so far it's gotten less comfortable but i've only got maybe 3 hours on it. i'm in it for the long haul.
Competitive Cyclist has the same lifetime warranty now on everything they sell. You can in theory buy a race bike, race it to hell for a few years and then return it.
They started the policy last year. Wonder how long they will keep it and how many people will abuse the policy.
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