Brooks Owners

[Garz]

My birthday is approaching and my other half knows about these saddles and is impressed by their craftsmanship after watching some of a recent cycling program on how they were made.

I currently have a Boardman Comp which has a lovely razor-blade like saddle but is not that harsh until I start delving near or beyond the 100 mile region. I do want to keep the style similar (racy/ aggressive) and not after a sofa level of comfort. So my query firstly is to you jolly folk who may be able to help is, what is the differences between the:

Swallow (B15)
B17 Narrow
Team Pro
Swift



Price may not be an issue as its a special occasion and if it lasts a lifetime it is a justifiable purchase. Which one would be best suited?

TIA

 

[ASC1951]

You might be better asking Brooks, because no rider is likely to have all of those.

FWIW I have the Ti Swift to do exactly what you are after. 100+ miles aren't a problem (well, not from the saddle!) and I must have done at least 30,000 comfortable miles on it. GB Cycles did me a very good price on it at the time and I'm told Spa Cycles in Harrogate are very reasonable too.

 

[Baggy]

Chuffy also has a Swift and it looks completely at home on his road bike, they're a nice-looking, slimline saddle and the rails are hardly visible. He's ridden well beyond 100 miles without any posterior issues.

He's also got B17 Narrows on other bikes - they are nice looking saddles, but look bigger and heavier than the Swift. We've seen a Team Pro in the flesh and it didn't look as elegant as the Swift.

No idea about the Swallow!

 

[Chris James]

what is the differences between the:

Swallow (B15)
B17 Narrow
Team Pro
Swift



Price may not be an issue as its a special occasion and if it lasts a lifetime it is a justifiable purchase. Which one would be best suited?

TIA

I have a B17N on my audax bike. It is firm, very comfy, probably would look a bit out of place on a full on race bike though.

The Team Pro is similar with hand flattened, larger, rivets rather than the steel discs of the B17. I believe it also has a more rounded profile on top (the B17 is quite flat). The leather on the Team Pro is thicker I believe.

The Swift has less of a skirt than the Team Pro, so is a bit lighter. I would imagine the skirt provides at least some of the firmness a resistance to sagging in a leather saddle.

The Swallow has the skirt cut right back and the two sides connected togethe (tied) to prevent the resulting saddle being too spongy. I seem to recall the Swallow has longer rails too - setback can be an issue on Brooks.

Almost all of these have variants on rails (titanium, chromed, painted) and rivets (chromed steel or copper). The titanium rails are lighter (150g or so on the Swift) but quite a bit more expensive.

There are minor differences on width and length across the Brooks range, but the four models listed are simliar to one another, with, I believe, the Team Pro being the shortest and widest.

As far as selecting which model, if you like the big rivet look and prefer the cheaper option then Team Pro would be good. B17N is narrow and long for racier positioning and budget with steel rails (but fairly hefty). The Swift is a thing of beauty, hand finished, but geting quite expensive (depending on which rails you go for). The Swallow is eye waterngly expensive, looks the most like a racing saddle but probably a racing saddle from the 70s!

 

[Garz]

Excellent responses people (esp CJ) thanks for your input. On this basis I think I will go for a swift, I shall let you know how I get on if I'm lucky enough to get one!

 

[ASC1951]

Here you are. ££££s cheaper than Wiggle or Chain Reaction http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s144p0 and from a proper cycling shop.

[You can even get titanium rails separately http://www.xacd.com.cn/product.asp?rootcl=1&cls=10 although I'm not sure how you fit them.]

Not everyone gets on with Brooks saddles. I have a couple of Swifts, a B17 and a couple of old Professionals - including a Pro which my next door neighbour gave me in <cough> 1964 and which is probably good for another half century - and I really like using something which has more craftsmanship than the rest of my bike put together.