To Brooks or not to Brooks

^point of my earlier post was that i felt the Swift was too soft and didn't take too long to break in, IMO.

This^

prancer nothing's wrong with anything. I just said the smart money's on the Team Pro. Meaning: pound for pound, the Team Pro is a saddle for life. The cutaway styles are great straight out of the box, as are B17s. Team Pros are the ones that take forever to break. The new release of Colts are still around and worth picking up, if you like that long-skirted tourer look. Thicker hide on these two styles I believe.

Ben

do you have proofhide? cant find mine at home

how did the stamping go?

I agree on the point about the Swift. I mine was as soft as a child's knackerbag in no time. I sort of felt a bit cheated, in a way.

now my B17 - that took some real work, but that saddle has paid me back time and again. It's s supple, firm perch, and is incredible supporting. With good shorts, a B17 will be a friend for life.

James - don't sweat about your new Swallow. there are hundreds of them gracing noble steeds all over the country, from as far back as the fourties and fifties. With care and cautious tensioning that saddle will last longer than you will.

And probably experience a few more arses than you will, just.

Lolz.

Ive got one of them sprung brooks, unused. Brand new. If your interested, will be cheaper than shops/ebay if you want to buy it off me.

dibs one of the springs

I've never had a Brooks, always rode a San Marco Rolls or a Concor, get yourself one of those if you can't find a Brooks you want

I had the same issue as Danwentskiing, the shiny slippery bs, plus I have no meat on my ass and it hurt my bones, not sure which ones, the ones that hurt when you sit on a saddle made out of fucking fermented cow and rivets probably. I'm not feeling the Brooks, I understand why they are good, I tried to like them but they don't work for me so I passed.

been using the sprung one (champion flyer) for over a year now.. never need padded shorts since then.

Buy a second hand one for £30 from the Jumble Sale in Kidderminster on Saturday like I did last year. Already broken in for you! ;)

Its for my Faux track conversion... So would need to be a narrow non sprung jobby to look like i havent borrewed my Grans saddle for the day.... But my bucket on but looks a bit gash to be honest.... Selle royale?
Looked on ebay not much cheaper.. in fact old ones seem to go for more than new ones!!!

Another vote for the team pro. I've got an old team pro, and it's the only saddle I feel comfy on racing on the track in lycra or riding around town in jeans.

I can bring it to next beers/food ride I go on if you want to have a look ?

I will never be parted from my B17. I've tried other saddles and they just don't cut the mustard. For some reason I managed to break mine in fairly quickly, maybe I've got a fat ass but it wasn't too uncomfortable after a couple of weeks. I did have an issue with the slippiness initially but I think once it's moulded it's fine. I'm wondering if my bum will manage the 900 miles to Berlin though!

Agreed - Team Pro, proofide at least once a week, get about 300 miles on it and it's pretty comfy. Looks good as it ages too. Sheldon (as I expect you already know) has tips on speeding up the break-in - things like wrapping in an a oil-soaked rag. Never tried it, but...

I had a team pro but couldn't get on with it. Just wasn't enough flat area between the rivets and where it narrows towards the front. So I sold that and got a Swift, which I have been very happy with for the last 3 and a half months. Until last night that was.

I was half way home and the back end of the saddle started feeling really spongy all of a sudden. I stopped to have a look what was up and noticed a dark line on one of the rails. So I undid the clamp to take the saddle off to have a closer look and the front half of the rails completely fell off.

Warranty claim here I come.

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You must have one fat ass! Time for Ti methinks...

Team Pro for what my opinions worth.

There was an album called 'Time for Ti(me)thinks' by the 70s prog-punk band Hairy Jelly Region*

*not really

I have to say the swallow fits my arse with no need to wear it in

put one on yesterday for the tweed run, it is noticeably more forgiving than my specialised toupe in terms of road buzz and londons famous potholes

brand new, straight from the box (apart from the skully customisation of UTFB emossing)

Yikes!

+1. Made a big difference for me when couriering. Unlike other saddles they get better with age.
Though some people just can't get on with them.

Same here. Mine's still going strong and it's been on it's back more than Jordan.

You can get dubber or a Brooks kit for it or something to soften it and you're meant to tension it every so often. I've done neither and it's still mint.

I got mine for £35 which seems a bit crazy when i see the prices now.

One word of advice is to get a bigger one rather than the thinner one as one bloke I know saw mine and said he wished he'd gone for that instead of the smaller one he got because he thought it was more 'sporty.'

Dunno but I know what I mean.

I got mine for £35 which seems a bit crazy when i see the prices now.

Well, it seems insane how cheap they were about three years ago, TBH. Brooks are a long term investor in their workforce, a skilled and well treated staff, in a place that's seen a lot of industry diasppear, Birmingham. I think their prices are pretty reasonable, when compared to Fizik or Selle Italia or what have you.

I have a B17 commuting in the rain is by far the best way to break them in, moulded like a peach now :-)

Maybe a little off-topic, but somewhat related:

I'm considering making my own saddle from wood. I think you could fix the metal rods pretty firmly, and then slowly shave/sand the wood into a perfect shape for your ass. What does anyone think? Idiotic, or worth a shot?

wear a kidney belt