(Comments, reviews, and essays are welcome and appreciated - especially by other cyclists that are considering one of these saddles.)
Greg Goode wrote this review of his Swallow.
"I've had my Swallow on my stationary trainer for about fifteen hours
of use now and want to say some good things about it. Number one, it has started
to break in and darken in a very personal mirror image. I think this is very
cool. Number two is that it is already comfortable. The shape and slick finish
let me move fore and aft more than other saddles. I tried three different
positions for the Swallow before I settled on what I think is best. For some
reason it
seems that very slightly nose up seems best. I've not done that with plastic
saddles. I look forward to roads clear of snow and ice so I can do some real
riding on it."
"I've used Brooks saddles since 1971 or so, and I'm a true believer. A note for info...the reason racers cut their Brooks saddles into the swallow shape was not only to look cool, which it does, it was also sure to draw comments from the uninitiated regarding the instrument of torture aspect. The real reason behind the swallow shape is the added flexibility imparted to the saddle top. Removing the outside rivet was another trick. Some said that the saddle wouldn't last as long. As long as you don't use weird potions to soften it and and avoid too much riding in the rain, I can tell you that a cut saddle will last 30 years or more. Simply wipe off water after riding in the rain and let it air dry. Proofhide once a year is plenty. I really do like the new Swift. It weighs about the same as the old Cinelli Unicanitor, and is a great ride."
Comments are excerpted from e-mail correspondence with customers and Brooks owners. I have tried to fairly represent the range of comments that I have received about these particular models and I have also tried to avoid taking comments out of context. Parenthetical italicized elements are editorial insertions. -Bill
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Updated, June, 2003
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