[CR]cleaning leather saddles

(Example: Framebuilders:Dario Pegoretti)

From: <duncan.granger@comcast.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:13:05 +0000
Subject: [CR]cleaning leather saddles

>From Sheldon Browns' article on "Breaking in a leather saddle" (www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html):

"There are probably lots of other liquid oils that would work as well-RAAM pioneer Lon Haldeman uses SAE 30 motor oil, but his saddles tend to wear out after only 300,000 miles or so (according to Cyclist Magazine)."

I have personally used this technique (10W 30 Motor Oil) a number of times on old Brooks saddles that I could afford to do without if they disintegrated (none ever did).

I am still riding on some of them years later (none with 30k miles on them yet!)

Two words of caution if you decide to try this on a saddle: 1. use motor oil with no chemical additives 2. don't ever wear anything but black shorts when riding the saddle, as you will forever get a nice print on your butt whenever you ride it.

Sheldon, we miss you!

Duncan Granger
Mountville, PA