ok time to stop neglecting this thread I started XD
@ Intrepid Wheelwoman
Have you run into any Issues with Brooks saddles? I hear you dont want them to get too wet because its not great for the leather.
And would you recommend a specific one of them? some of the places I ride seem to be mildly unkempt roadwise
Most of the Brooks saddles I have came to me attached to elderly bicycles in various states of disrepair so by and large they were well broken in. I'm not really sure what models they are or even if they are still current models. I also have a pre-war 'Onyx' leather saddle which is very nice, but could really do with some new springs and a French 'Ideal' leather saddle which is as hard as a board and only gets used for display purposes. Apparently this is normal for 'Ideal' saddles and it's not so much that one breaks an Ideal saddle, but that instead the rider is broken in to the Ideal saddle.
I also own a very nice Mixte Framed 'Morrison' ten speed (a Kiwi made bike from when we still had a bicycle industry) which has a Japanese made 'Air-bike' leather saddle which is nice and comfortable.
The most important thing is to not let the saddles get dried out so working them over regularly with a leather dressing is really important. Once the leather starts to shrink too much or begins to get deep cracks it's pretty much all over. Getting a leather saddle wet in the rain isn't much of a problem so long as it's been properly maintained. The most important thing is to not try and dry them out too quickly after they have been wet or else the leather will shrink, become hard and brittle and lose its shape.
Oh, I've just remembered that I do have a Brooks saddle I broke in from new. It's an Indian made 'Brooks Supreme' that came with the Indian built 'Hercules' bicycle I used as a basis for my tricycle build. A wonderful thing with a huge hairpin spring at the front and a pair of wonderful curly springs at the rear. This has proved to be an excellent saddle and I can well recommend it. I did replace the Indian made bolts holding it all together though as they were pretty poor quality.
My usual habit on getting any bicycle whether it be a parts bike or a 'keeper' is to throw away the saddle if it's any kind of padded vinyl or plastic thing. No exceptions, no tears. If it's leather it's a keeper, if it's not it's the bin. The sole exception to this rule are classic mattress sprung leatherette saddles by such makers as 'Middlemore', 'Wrights', 'Terry' & etc because they are a nice ride too. My 70 year old daily rider ladies Hercules has a 'Wrights' mattress saddle and it has proved to be so good I have no plans to replace it. The 'Terry' three spring mattress saddles are good too.
The Chinese are now making traditional style leather saddles by the way and I'm planning on getting one to try. The price is certainly right