On Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 12:37:45 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 11/14/2018 9:08 AM, AMuzi wrote:
On 11/14/2018 1:06 AM, John B. slocomb wrote:

I find it a bit enlightening that those who have use a wax chain lube
all say it works, while those who apparently have never tried it say
it doesn't work :-)

A common phenomenon. See also the ridiculous abuse sometimes advised for
a new leather saddle, usually from a guy who doesn't ride one.

BTW, one thing I noticed during our recent trip to Europe: Europeans
seem to use leather saddles far more than Americans do.

I'm not saying leather was the majority, but here in America it's
unusual for me to see a leather saddle on a utility bike or even an
enthusiast's bike. Especially in Basel, Switzerland and in Amsterdam, I
was spotting them all the time. And Amsterdam is not a very dry place.

--
- Frank Krygowski

I think a lot of North Americans are scared away from leather saddles by all the marketing hype that they're uncomfortable until broken in which according to that hype is a long time. Plus the hype about all the care a leather saddle needs. It's like the dread H****T thing = marketing hype convinces people that only those will work for them.

I have a couple of really old WRIGHTS all leather saddles and they are very comfortable and only require a bit of care. I keep the undersides well coated with genuine Dubbin and that seems to work wonders keeping them from soaking up water from wet roads. Of course fenders also go a very long way to keeping water off the underside of any saddle. However, some bicycles just don't have room for fenders.

Cheers