Conditioning a new Brooks saddle with Neatsfoot Oil.

When I got Ruby for the wife I also picked her up a Ladies's B17 Brooks from MWC. Carlos recommended conditioning a new Brooks with Neatsfoot Oil. It worked well and softened the leather. Brooks doesn't recommend using Neatsfoot Oil, instead they want you to use several applications of their Proofide.

I used Proofide on my B17 and wanted to see if Neatsfoot Oil would be quicker. I think it is, and am happy with how it turned out.

Here's how Carlos recommended to condition a Brooks and I followed it to the letter. I bought a gallon at The Fort for $19, dumped it all in a 5 gallon bucket and submerged the saddle in it for 48 hours, then took it out without drying it off I tied it in a black garbage bag and left it to cook in the sun for another 48 hours. Then took it out, toweled it off with a dry cloth and had her ride it right away.

I saved the leftover oil. She's been riding on it since getting her Ruby and is liking the Brooks more and more with every mile. I'll let you know if ever her saddle has problems, or if the Neatsfoot Oil caused any problems in the long run. But as for now, I'd recommend it as a quick way to make breaking in a new Brooks faster and easier. Everyone has their own method, I just wanted to share the success I had with Neatsfoot oil.

It pays to be a good dad!

Today we had a severe storm roll though this morning the same time as I needed to ride to work so I ended up driving. After a few hours at the office I got a call that our finished basement had standing water in it. I rushed home to clean it up.

It was bad enough that my commute got rained/hailed out, but now my basement was flooded. We vacuumed and mopped up 195 gallons of water as the sump pump tried to catch up.

But, things took a turn for the better later when we went to pick up my Fathers Day gifts from Bike Pedalers. I was given a new Brooks B17 Special saddle for Trusty Rusty and new road tires since I'd wore my factory rubber down to the fabric. I was also given a set of wider tires with a bit of tread for riding on gravel from my wife & kids. After Seward's 4th of July ride I'll switch them out and ride more gravel.

What great fathers day gifts! Even though I don't go for all that mushy stuff, and am known to pronounce 'I love you' to sound more like; "Lets go for a (bike) ride" or "Do you want to go fishing with me" somehow my kids must understand my poor speech and know what I'm really trying to say. I feel very loved.

Tomorrow we Nacho Ride, then, first thing Wednesday it's off to the Tour De Nebraska!!! Whoo Hoo!!!