Question for you that own Brooks leather saddles. Do they make a saddle cover for them to protect them from the rain. Do they work? What all have you tried to protect your saddle other than proof hide?
I'll tie a plastic bag over my Brooks saddles if I have to let it sit in the rain. I generally don't worry about riding in the rain as I'm on top of it to divert most of the water. I have had my saddle get fairly soaked a few times when I've been caught in heavy rain on a long ride. In those cases I try to not use the saddle again for a few days while it completely dries out. My saddles have been unharmed when I did this. I once had to ride in hard rain a few days in a row on a Brooks B17 during a weeklong ride. The saddle did stretch a good bit that time and I retired the saddle for several months. I was able to use it again later and it came back to its old shape after several rides.
Good ideas thus far but my "two cents" Z-man. I have Brooks or Velo Orange leather on most my bikes. I've commuted in some heavy to strong rains a few times and used either the Brooks rubberized nylon or the Aardvark brand covers to good effect. One other consideration for very rainy weather is the use of fenders or mudguards to protect the underside of the saddle. Also, making sure to do the recommended saddle treatments; which I do annually, helps to keep the natural oils in the leather. I understand this helps delay leather aging and cracking but it is not exactly a water proofiing. Enjoy those saddles. -Doc
While riding, your ass should keep most rain off the saddle; while parked, you should use the rain cover that comes with most Brooks saddles (or is a cheap additional purchase).
Also, use the Proofide regularly, and remember to use it on the underside of the saddle, too.
I have been caught out in the rain on a Brooks saddle...No big deal.
I had a somewhat different experience with Brooks saddles (Pro and Team Pro) back when was riding them. Getting caught in a single soaking rain can ruin the saddle if it's not protected, as it will stretch and spread, and like all leather, it will never return to its original shape once it's stretched out. I had to resort to putting copper rivets through the side flaps and bending them around the rails to try to maintain the shape (the holes in the sides of some Brooks saddles are for lacing the sides to the rails for the same purpose, if necessary). Between that and the extra pound that a Brooks adds to the weight of a bike, I gave up on them and have never looked back. Admittedly, it took some time to find plastic-base saddles that fit comfortably, but it was worth the effort.
FWIW, I still use Proofide on all of my leather covered saddles. It does a good job of protecting them and I love the smell!
At my end I have tried taping up grocery bags to the seats. Since I guess I didn't get the bags taped up underneath the seats they accumulate water anyhow making this system pretty much useless.
