Here we have a picture after the oiling was started. The lighter color is the color of the saddle on arrival. The greasy finger print shows what the final color will be.
The saddle adsorbed a LOT of baby oil. It was painted on with a brush slowly to prevent run off of the oil. Actually the leather absorbed it very fast. About an ounce of oil was used on the bottom side.
After the oil had set for an hour or so, the leather was pliable enough that my hands could just barely flex some of it. Several “tools” were used to work on flexing the leather to cut down on the riding time to “break it in”. Approximately four hours were spent last night working on this saddle. My thought was that it better be worth it!!!!!
Here the saddle is mounted on Sturdy Steed. You can see the dark areas where the oil has finished penetrating the leather. As the hours go by the rest of the saddle should turn the darker color also. The top of the saddle where it fits to your body is very hard surfaced and slick. What that would be like to ride was a question in my mind.This morning the new saddle was fitted to Sturdy Steed.
Some guess work adjustments were done and a test ride taken. The first thing that happened is my whole body nearly slid off the saddle to the back of the bike with the first peddle stroke. WOW that saddle is slick. During the next twenty minutes or so, several adjustments were made to the position, tilt and height of the new saddle. It has proven to be very sensitive to all the adjustments. After the saddle was fairly adjusted, a dowel was used to roll back and forth on the seating portion of the saddle to help soften it some more.Finally it was time to take “the rock” for a ride to return a library book. This is an eight mile round trip. Several things had to be adjusted as the ride moved along the highway. A few good points were noted. Being smaller over all is very good. Having a short thin snout is wonderful. My thigh size has always been large and this saddle does not rub the insides of my thighs. The slick seating surface allows me to turn to look behind me very easily. It also allows me to use my body movements to control the bike much better. Over all it is by far the best saddle that any of my bikes have ever had as far as controlling the bike is concerned.
Comfort wise it is already as good as any that has ever been under me. The leather certainly is a wonderful surface for a bike seat. By the time Sturdy was on the way back from the library, the saddle was feeling very good. It is not yet what could be called comfortable. However they difference in bike handling for equal comfort has made it a valuable asset in my opinion.
