Spesh Toupe white saddle yellowing
planetzed
Posts: 36
I have a white Spesh. Toupe saddle on my new bike, which although fine has started to yellow after only 250 miles. Does anyone know how I can restore the whiteness or is this saddle destined to look antique for the next couple of years. 
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White isn't a viable colour for a saddle I reckon. Black much much better.0
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My white Toupe Team is almost two years old and still as white as the day I opened the box.
Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!0 -
I've never used a white saddle myself, but my brother swears that using white leather gym shoe cleaner works for cleaning his saddles. He uses the liquid type that comes with a sponge applicator and it apparently works pretty well.0
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Like hopper1 I have a white (& red) toupe team which is a year or two old with thousands of miles on it and it still scrubs up nice and white (although the red bits are starting to wear off slightly). Are you sure you don't just need to give it a clean? I just gently wipe mine with a damp scourer every now and again (being careful around the red bits), the same one I use to wash the dishes... (don't tell any prospective dinner guests...)0
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Never cleaned mine, yet Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!0
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Thanks to all who replied.
I have tried cleaning the saddle- the first few rides worth of grime easily washed off with Pizzeazy (cheapo Muc-Off) and I thought the same would apply after the 100 or so miles in dry conditions I did at the weekend, but no the stain still remains. Strange how the stain is a yucky yellow colour and only really on the wings of the saddle- I wear black Altura tights at this time of the year and can't see how black tights could stain a white saddle yellow.
I may just see what Specialized have to say!0 -
planetzed wrote:Thanks to all who replied.
I have tried cleaning the saddle- the first few rides worth of grime easily washed off with Pizzeazy (cheapo Muc-Off) and I thought the same would apply after the 100 or so miles in dry conditions I did at the weekend, but no the stain still remains. Strange how the stain is a yucky yellow colour and only really on the wings of the saddle- I wear black Altura tights at this time of the year and can't see how black tights could stain a white saddle yellow.
I may just see what Specialized have to say!
Pizzeasy maybe? 0 -
Have you tried using baby wipes to clean it?0
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Never buy a white saddle. Only ever buy a saddle that is black.0
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Berk Bonebonce wrote:Never buy a white saddle. Only ever buy a saddle that is black.
Why?Faster than a tent.......0 -
Do you get very sweaty down below :oops:
Sweat makes things stain....0 -
Rolf F wrote:Berk Bonebonce wrote:Never buy a white saddle. Only ever buy a saddle that is black.
Why?
A black saddle makes your bike lighter. Why do you think? A black saddle, just like black bar tape, doesn't get grubby and suffer from discoloration quite like a yellow one or ... a white one. Okay then, you stick to your white tights.0 -
I would guess that yellowing will be caused by three things:
road grime - washable,
staining from personal sweating of the nether regions - washable but likely to be deep stained,
UV degradation - not washable and permanent.
Is the bike stored where the sun can shine on it for long periods of time. You say 250 miles but if that is over 2 years and it is exposed to natural daylight when not being ridden.......0 -
It very much depends on the material - in fact most saddles (including the toupe) are covered with a tough lorica-like stuff that stays clean very easily. It's really not an issue in practice, the OP's problem is a bit of an anomaly!get grubby and suffer from discoloration quite like a yellow one or ... a white one.0 -
Berk Bonebonce wrote:Rolf F wrote:Berk Bonebonce wrote:Never buy a white saddle. Only ever buy a saddle that is black.
Why?
A black saddle makes your bike lighter. Why do you think? A black saddle, just like black bar tape, doesn't get grubby and suffer from discoloration quite like a yellow one or ... a white one. Okay then, you stick to your white tights.
Why do I ask the question? Because, like others here, I have no problem keeping a white saddle clean. So, on that basis, why say never buy a white saddle?
White bar tape maybe but even there, white Fizik bartape cleans up perfectly well - I have it on my old Dawes which gets used in all weathers. Choosing white saddles and bartape isn't particularly sensible but saying that for the sake of a bit of extra cleaning you should only buy a black saddle is misguided.
As it happens - white is the easiest colour to keep clean - but the hardest colour to keep looking clean. Big difference. Chances are, your black saddle and bar tape are actually grubbier than your white saddle and bar tape.Faster than a tent.......0 -
Navrig wrote:I would guess that yellowing will be caused by three things:
road grime - washable,
staining from personal sweating of the nether regions - washable but likely to be deep stained,
UV degradation - not washable and permanent.
Is the bike stored where the sun can shine on it for long periods of time. You say 250 miles but if that is over 2 years and it is exposed to natural daylight when not being ridden.......
Bike is new this January and garaged. Had thought about the sweating issue but tights over bibshorts probably provides an effective barrier to personal moisture-vis a vis the chamois cream. Road grime washes off easily. The saddle seems to be actually stained on the wings.
I will try the babywipes and then an organic bleach, maybe something with citric acid in it.
The white bar tape actually goes grey from my mitts but scrubs up nicely.
Thanks for all the posts.0 -
planetzed wrote:Navrig wrote:I would guess that yellowing will be caused by three things:
road grime - washable,
staining from personal sweating of the nether regions - washable but likely to be deep stained,
UV degradation - not washable and permanent.
Is the bike stored where the sun can shine on it for long periods of time. You say 250 miles but if that is over 2 years and it is exposed to natural daylight when not being ridden.......
Bike is new this January and garaged. Had thought about the sweating issue but tights over bibshorts probably provides an effective barrier to personal moisture-vis a vis the chamois cream. Road grime washes off easily. The saddle seems to be actually stained on the wings.
I will try the babywipes and then an organic bleach, maybe something with citric acid in it.
The white bar tape actually goes grey from my mitts but scrubs up nicely.
Thanks for all the posts.
In that case take it back as "faulty" and get a black one.0 -
Rolf F wrote:. Chances are, your black saddle and bar tape are actually grubbier than your white saddle and bar tape.
Exactly, but it is not something I notice.0 -
I had a white Romin SL which went yellow rode on it for less than a year. Tried cleaning it with Flash with bleach it helped a bit but didnt last. Baby wipes didnt work. Sold the saddle and got a black one. I read a test on the web for a Romin and his went brown in two weeks. Do a search you may find it.Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo0 -
Could it be you OVER cleaning it?
A wipe with a damp cloth after each ride should have been enough rather than flinging products at it and likely takng a coating of it ...
You wouldn't bleach or muc-off a pair of shoes ... Would you?0
