Are these parts considered retro?

[rheicel]

And here she is today:

[rheicel]

Velo13, here is your art work (will take more pictures later)

[rheicel]

servicimo, your handlebar is just as good as the frame, thanks again!



The Quill needs some more work, more job for the AutoSol and Dremel...

[Dan]

Looks fab. I know saddles are a personal choice and thus not always about the aesthetic, however a nice white concor or turbo would be RAD there.

[rheicel]

Looks fab. I know saddles are a personal choice and thus not always about the aesthetic, however a nice white concor or turbo would be RAD there.

Thanks Dan. I am leaning towards brown saddle now. I found one on fleaBay and its on the way now. I personally want it in Brown with matching brown handlebar tape too. I have gone broke on this one

Here is what it looks like. I am not sure what the seller will send me, I am happy to get either Brown or honey. As these are real leather, there will no guarantee if the HandleBar tape and and saddle will have exactly the same shade.

[Velo13]

Thanks for the shots. Looks great!

[rheicel]

This retro look (debatable) bike seems to have lots of potential. I just smashed one of my PB on my way home today. Ride on the new XLR8 wheelset is also comfortable compared to the reynolds.

[Velo13]

Rheicel, it certainly looks pretty retro to me. Sounds like it rides well also. The best of both worlds.

Remember, you can go tubeless on those rims as well (just to add ultra-modern into the mix!).

[rheicel]

Rheicel, it certainly looks pretty retro to me. Sounds like it rides well also. The best of both worlds.

Remember, you can go tubeless on those rims as well (just to add ultra-modern into the mix!).

Thanks Velo13. Tubeless is certainly an option in the future.

[rheicel]

Wheeew, received the brown parts today. Saddle is 550 grams But I was impressed how well it was made.

[Mulger bill]

Oh yummy!

Did you pick up a tin of leather grease for the saddle and tape?

[rheicel]

Oh yummy!

Did you pick up a tin of leather grease for the saddle and tape?

I am going to Mulger bill.
Any suggestion of brand or type? Is the Bear (brand) good?

[QuangVuong]

Or you can grab some from me next time. I got this from Paul who got it from Velo Orange. Most people seem to use Proofide from Brookes, which is like $10 off wiggle.

That was quick getting the saddle and tape. But they look red. Is it brown in real life?

[rheicel]

Or you can grab some from me next time. I got this from Paul who got it from Velogear. Proofide from Brookes is like $10 off wiggle. Or Neatsfoot oil was a suggestion from Paul as well.

That was quick getting the saddle and tape. But they look red. Is it brown in real life?

Thanks Quang, yes, they are brown, the colour on all of them are actually very close, it was a surprise how they turn out like that.

This is what I am using in my home leather sofa, I am not sure if this will be OK for bike leather use.

[Dan]

Is your lounge leather?
Is your saddle leather?
Is leather leather?

[rheicel]

Is your lounge leather?
Is your saddle leather?
Is leather leather?

Yes to all Dan

[Mulger bill]

An old brickie I once knew swore by mutton fat for his workboots, I think they were leather...

[rheicel]

Just realise this is not a good idea for my commuting - leather hates water?

[ldrcycles]

Sort of. It's not the end of the world if it gets wet so long as it's dried properly but you can get a waterproof saddle cover from Brooks or just use a plastic bag.

[Mulger bill]

Proofide or whatever will help lots.
Search and buy a saddle cover or a plastic shopping bag, mudguards or a decent saddlebag will protect the underside pretty well.

EDIT, beaten to it.

[rheicel]

Thanks guys, I will make sure that I have a shopping bag in my tool bag all the time. I guess I need 3 shopping bags to cover the handlebars too. Looks like Proofide was sold to me now and that will be next on the list.

[Clydesdale Scot]

Is your lounge leather?
Is your saddle leather?
Is leather leather?

the best way to ruin a tensioned leather saddle is to
- nourish it with leather conditioner
- overtreat it with Proofide
- ride it when the leather is wet
- tension the bolt excessively
Here is the sound advice I suggest you print it off and keep it with your Proofide.
feel free to use other methods; and then give us a report on how crap a leather saddle is.

The saddle leather is vegetable tanned leather (like the old shoe SOLE leather). Lounge, shoe upper, car interior, clothes etc leather is chrome tanned. Two different types requiring two different treatments.

as far as treating the underside, Tony Colegrave offered the following

Gentlemen,

I'd strongly suggest that 'a properly cared-for' saddle would most certainly not 'have its underside......waterproofed....etc.'. Anyone with significant experience of these things will know that one of the cardinal virtues of a suspension-type leather saddle is that it's NOT waterproof - if you want a waterproof saddle, you need to be riding a synthetic one, IMO. In this moist little country of ours, at any rate, anyone who's not prepared to risk the occasional wet saddle isn't going to spend much time on a leather-saddled bike.

If you're going to concern yourself about wetting the underside of your saddle (and you'll understand that I don't think you should be) there must be better ways of preventing this than by smothering it with Proofide?

An occasional light dressing of Proofide to the topside will do no harm, and may well be beneficial, but it shouldn't be so heavy as to leave a residue to 'get all over...'. The warmth of one's finger should be sufficient to 'emulsify' the paste, and use of hairdryers, ovens (yikes!) etc, should be avoided - any surplus, after the dressing has been applied (say, overnight), should be polished off before riding. The fact that attention is being given to the condition of the saddle is quite probably just as important as any benefit derived from the Proofide itself.

Regards, Tony Colegrave.

[rheicel]

Thank you Scot. Still a lot to learn, that is why I am here for.

I like the last Q&A:

Q13 I cannot tension the saddle as I have used all the adjustment on the tension bolt and the top still sags. What can I do?

If a Brooks leather saddle has reached this stage there is only one course of action to take. Retire the saddle gracefully and purchase a new Brooks leather saddle.

[Clydesdale Scot]

or you buy a longer tension bolt

[rheicel]

or you buy a longer tension bolt

Thanks. Just noticed that they sell titanium parts to make Brooks saddle light.