Annoying bicycle defect of the day
Over the last couple of long rides, my bicycle seat (an ancient Brooks Team Professional saddle that I got cheaply (US$30) on ebay) has been riding in a sort of funny fashion. I was guessing that I was simply coming down sick, because it wasn’t just my bottom that’s been feeling achy, but this might not be the case. Why? Because today, when I was doing one of my irregular bike cleanups (including dumping preservative into the saddle) I discovered, to my intense dismay, that the leather at the front of the saddle has developed a rip which has worked its way almost all the way up to one of the side front rivets in the thing.
Well, damn, that’s annoying. I didn’t really expect that this saddle would last forever, but it’s only been about 1000 miles since I put it onto the bicycle, and now I’ve got to punch some unsightly holes in the nose so I can suture the tear back together before it runs wild and rips the saddle in half. And, yes, I’m going to need to replace it with another Brooks saddle (and then spend two months in mortal combat with that saddle before it breaks in) because this Brooks saddle is comfy, even when I’m riding in jeans, and I’m not willing to play saddle roulette with the only bicycle I’ve got.
At least I’ve got a large pile of leather scraps that I can cut laces from. They aren’t rawhide, but if I soak the laces in water they should snuggle up nice and tightly when they dry, and that should be enough to hold the tear closed until I finish hawking enough stuff on ebay to get a replacement.
(Goodbye, Eye-Fi card! Your sacrifice will not be in vain!)
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My old but seldom ridden Black Brooks B 72 made around 1972 (orig. wife’s bike) is also ripping at the front three rivets and makes my jeans black from rub off. You would think Brooks could make a black saddle that does not bleed and rub off since 1866 they have made saddles. I was hoping to recover the frame which is chromed and perfect but the factory in England does not return e mails from this side of the Atlantic it seems. good luck Ed with old Raleighs and Brooks saddles.