leathering up...

the flying hernia

Getting glossy new plastic bike soon with a smattering of Campag's finest (thanks to my bikie brother- in- law mounting a dawn raid on Italian ebay...).

To top things off, i've suddenly developed an urge to get a racery Brookes saddle...the Swift or Swallow.

I don't do big miles but will be doing one of them thar sporty rides in Italy in June.

Brother in law thinks I'm insane (but then he trims the ends of his cycle shoe velcro fasteners to save weight). I tried to explain how something old fashioned, hand-made, human etc would add individuality and counterpoint all the shiny carbon and aerospace tech. He replied with a phrase I couldn't find in my Collins English - Italian dictionary...

But is Gian right? Am I deluded? is this going to be a painful, expensive mistake - which goes limp in the rain?

Advice friends, please!

BTW - was reading a string about the Garmin Edge 305 being good kit. I agree. love mine.

Kafka\'s Doll

I hear that if you want to be comfortable in June then you should be breaking it in by now.

I had one on a Pashley -- a wide one, not a race one. It was great compared to the quite literal pain in the arse that I have now.

mrushton

best leather saddle you can get? Forget the Brooks, it's these guys


www.mcmwin.com

meagain

As with all saddles, an individual thing! Personally I'd as soon sit on a brick ("Brick") as on a Brooks. Can't abide 'em.

sean65

I treated myself to a Swallow on my latest bike a Condor Fratello in dark grey.

I chose a brown one. Not honey. Dark brown and was a bit apprehensive about how it would look.

When I collected the bike I was so chuffed and glad I didn't get boring black. It looks very classy.

Anyway, couple of hundred miles later and it's already starting to settle in. It's not just comfortable but also has a luxury kind of feel.

On a dark carbon frame the dark brown Brooks Swalow would look the dogs doo-daa's.

Go for it.

mercsport

I rode a Brooks Pro for several thou' miles on the continent .
I broke it in from new and tenderly applied the Brooks leather wax ever so often to tenderise it , but I have an idea that it maybe the reason I suffered the early onset of the ol'fella's problem of pissing weakly .
Y'know , it's only a supposition , but an enlarged prostrate may be the consequence of going for solid Brooks leather !!

EDIT : P.S. , a decade or so later I have to declare that I piss a lot better now , but that may be a consequence of riding a normal Selle Italia Pro-Link Gel saddle for the last few years .
I hasten to add that I'm not trying to usurp the greater know-how of urologists but , just voicing an instinctive thought re. Brooks saddles . Incidentally , I did find it comfy ,..eventually .

sean65

mercsport wrote:

I rode a Brooks Pro for several thou' miles on the continent .
I broke it in from new and tenderly applied the Brooks leather wax ever so often to tenderise it , but I have an idea that it maybe the reason I suffered the early onset of the ol'fella's problem of pissing weakly .
Y'know , it's only a supposition , but an enlarged prostrate may be the consequence of going for solid Brooks leather !!

EDIT : P.S. , a decade or so later I have to declare that I wee-wee a lot better now , but that may be a consequence of riding a normal Selle Italia Pro-Link Gel saddle for the last few years .
I hasten to add that I'm not trying to usurp the greater know-how of urologists but , just voicing an instinctive thought re. Brooks saddles . Incidentally , I did find it comfy ,..eventually .

I'll assume you don't work for the Brooks marketing team then. :shock:

That could have just been brought on by cycling in general and not relevant to any particular saddle.

Glad to hear you're better. I'll remember this post should I suffer the same condition and report back. :!:

geoff_ss

Saddles are very personal things and something I would never seek to advise anyone on. For me and my wife, Brooks rules - we've both pedalled from their comfort for many, many miles. Others may be as good but I don't see any point changing a known for an unknown.

We have a friend whose Brooks Professional looks nothing like it came out of the factory. It looks more like a hammock than a saddle. He's used it for racing and touring for probably 30 years. He has it on the front of a tandem now. His wife, on the other hand can't abide them. She has saddle problems that don't seem to go away even after a lifetime cycling. She's tried dozens - and that was just last year

What a saddle looks like is irrelevant. The only criterion is its comfort.

Geoff