Saddlery and other things.

One problem which I had envisaged with this bike was the Brooks leather saddle. I wasn't worried about the comfort, I have a friend with one on her tourer which she says is like heaven. I was more worried about weatherproofing it. As a commuter, it would be left outside for prolonged periods in the English winter, and I have seen the condition of my friends deteriorating.

The model attached to mine is the original 1960's B17 narrow (early model with holes to allow lacing up at the bottom) as such it is already slightly damaged , cracked and faded, but within just a week the old leather has shaped to fit my posterior, or as some would have it, vice versa. I have fallen in love with it, but I still want to preserve it for those long painful tours. (my advice, buy a second hand Brooks saddle, the older the better, they are far softer and mould quicker, though this is only personal experience)

So today I headed out to my LBS and delved into the bargain bin. (if your shop has one, don't ignore it, rich people get rid of good stuff all the time and the shop get rid of it for them) I emerged triumphantly with a Botranger Race, presumably stripped from someones bike for an upgrade. I secured it for only £5, it fits perfectly and it looks like a very retro 1980's addition, as it is now somewhat faded after use. One other benefit was the similarity in size, no adjustment was needed to the seat-post height, so the two are very interchangeable.

Getting the old Brooks off was a bit of a challenge, the thread holding the sat stays on were quite rusty, so I put on a lot of lubricant and de ruster, the carefully, but forcefully pulled the nuts over the rusty end tips. Fortunately, the threads survived, though at some point the post will need much more cleaning. The new one went on a charm. I cannot stress enough that getting the saddle right is important. the tip should be behind the bottom bracket, but not so you have to reach too far and it should be level, at least for intermediate riders, sloping forward will hurt you 'vitals' less, but it will put you at risk of leg injury as you slide forward into a bad position.

While I was down at the LBS I also inquired about some toe clips to add a bit more power to my peddling, allowing me to spin instead of step. I want to fit metal ones which will suit the character of the bike (I think clip-less will be too modern, though I may eventually have some for more serious riding). These only cost a tiny bit more, but will make a huge aesthetic difference especially with leather toe straps. They didn't have any in, the assistant even had a rummage in their workshop, then rang around some other stores one of which has now agreed to hold a pair for me. Don't be afraid to ask in the store, they may not have all their older stock on display, some will be hidden away, they are there to be helpful and will find somewhere that has the stuff you want. This is their way of building loyalty, and it has worked on me.