Zing!

TOUCHE'

+1

I managed to get a short road ride in today. 22+ miles. Rolling with some hills, and some good flats along the river. This was my first on road ride with the new saddle, and I really like it compared to my old Selle, and with my riding position on this bike I prefer it to my Team Pro. It was comfortable for the entire ride. I spent most of my time on the hoods, and got into the drops on the flats and in the wind. My pace was all over - I've been trying to keep my cadenece high and working on pedalling form. When I did get moving I was in the drops and had the head down - and I think with a minor adjustment to the tilt, I will continue to get more comfortable when riding like this.

My sit bones feel the saddle - but I haven't had any male numbness or hot seat. I hope it only gets better as I continue to break it in.

The weather is supposed to be sunny but a bit colder tomorrow - and I hope to get 50 miles in.

Fixer -
Could you please post more pics of the butcher job. Pics of underside too. Any procudures to recommend? Tools? That looks like an awesome job.

Thanks - Ridelots!

Well, my friend who owns a bike shop tried to order me a honey-colored swallow, but they said it will not be available until the end of February. Bummer! (I could get the black one now...but..)

bmike, I'm glad you are liking your new swallow! Thanks for posting the update.

I managed to get out for 48 miles today.
Saddle was comfortable - hard and firm.
No numbness. My behind is a bit sore... but that'll got away as I break it in.

There is a big difference from riding it on the trainer and on the road - road shock! I think that's where my sore sit bones are coming from. I know this will pass, as it did on the Team Pro.


Supporting your friend's shop is good (I try to give most of my bike money to my LBS). If you are in a hurry, try wallbike.com or other places online.


Oh - and I should have those Profile Aerobars sometime this week. It should be interesting to see how I can adapt to that position with the Swallow.

Thanks for keeping us posted. Let us know how it goes with the aerobars.

Ironwoman, have you considered antique brown?

have you seen the new Brooks bartape a forum-pal from another message board has some, it looks sweet and he said he doesn't feel the need to wear gloves with them

They must be in the same place as your saddle! I just found out they are backordered... and I can't get a ship date!

Why did this strike me as a porno related thread? Never mind. I'm from NJ.

I *heart* brooks saddles! Can't wait to see it on your bike.

I agree though, the presentation is part of it. I use my brooks box for keeping my (gardening) seed packets in because I just couldn't throw it out.

Antique brown? That might be nice, too! (but all I could get from my friend's bike shop at this time would be black). As for the bar tape, I saw that on the Wallbike site. That is some expensive tape! (I admit, I have pondered getting some, though)

I finally got my Swallow!!! Yes, I got the honey color. I also splurged and got the bar tape! (I will say, though, that my friend DID give me a very special deal on the saddle and bar tape! )

I LOVE THE SWALLOW!!!! It was comfortable right out of the box! I got some pictures, but will have to post them later. Of course, the new Swallow is not as comfortable as my 35 year old B15, but it will only get better and better as it breaks in and molds to my shape. I was amazed at how comfortable it is, though. It is more comfortable for me than the TEAM PRO that I tried. It seems to be flatter across the top than the TEAM PRO. For me, I think it is PERFECT! ...and it is 1/2 pound lighter than my old B15.

I haven't put the bar tape on the bike yet, but it feels soooooo soft! It is like fine leather. Correction: it is fine leather! Hmmmm. Wonder what a little rain, a little mud will do to it....????

Congrats! Glad it is comfy for you...
Mine continues to get better...

Bmike; Nice ride & nice seats. Makes me want to come North to ride a bit. Thanks for the posts. Bob

Some nice riding down your way, as well, I imagine.
Spent some time in Annapolis and across the bay... St. Michaels? I think.

Ok, here are some photos.

Here's the box the saddle came in (since bmike likes these kind of photos ):


Here's the box with the saddle.



Here's the box with the saddle from the side.



Here's the box with the saddle upside down with rain cover.


Here's the box with saddle upside down w/o rain cover.


Here's what's left in the box after I took the saddle out.


Here's the saddle and bar tape on my Calfee tri bike.


Here's the Calfee from the top view.


Here's the saddle on the TREK (my old bike)


And here's the TREK form the top view.



No, I don't have a picture of me ON the bike!
But, here's what I look like:

Nice! and what a nice Tri Bike!
That bar tape looks great with the saddle. I might have to do that on my tourer, with honey Team Pro.


Oh... and I went with the Syntace C2 aerobars and love em. First road ride was in the dark and rain - felt great - stable, comfy. It didn't take long to get used to them again. (I had an old Scott pair in '92)

What does the Swallow weigh, and how wide is it?

I have the Swift and sometimes wonder if I should be on something wider. IIRC, the Swift is 152mm wide and 375 grams.

According to the specs in the catalog, the swallow is:
Width 153 mm (as compared to 152 for Swift)
Length 287 (as compared to 280 for Swift)
Wt. 360 g (as compared to 370 g for Swift)

When I weighed my saddle, it weighed in at 354g.

The Swallow seems to be a little flatter across the back than the Team Pro that I tried. (bmike would be able to tell you for sure about that). I've not tried the Swift, so I can't tell you about that.

For me, the flatness across the top makes it feel wider, and my sit bones are not "falling off the edge" when I sit up. However, the saddle was intended to be ridden in the more agressive aero position. It is quite comfortable in that position.

The rails on the Swallow are longer, which I really like! It gives more fore/aft adjustability - especially aft.

The ti frame seems to be a little flexi and absorbs shock (but not so much that you compormise power transfer).

The Swallow is flatter across the top than my Team Pro. It has a subtle, yet different shape than most of the Brooks I've seen. Definitely for a more aggressive posture. My sit bones feel properly positioned on the Swallow or the Pro, but I too felt like I was rolling off the Pro when in the drops. (Now that I have aerobars, I'm glad I have the narrow and long Swallow) The Swallow is hard. I do feel it, but in the back side of my back side - my sit bone area was a little sore at the start... but this seems to come and go. Not anything I'm going to worry about, as I know, from my experience with the Team Pro, that this will pass.

I've noticed a tiny bit of flex in the Ti frame as well, and my seatpost is a bit flexy. All this is fine with me, as I have the bike set up for long rides, and comfort is key. If I were hammering hard, short rides I'd swap my seatpost.


My Swallow continues to be comfy. Firm on the sit bones, I've been out for 3+ hours and haven't encountered the male numbness and hot seat I had with the Selle. I've been riding the aerobars quite a bit on the trainer, and I'm still tweaking the tilt on the saddle. Trying to find the sweet spot for hoods and aero position. Scheduling a session next month with a sports physiologist(sp?) who does biomechanical bike fitting. Should be fun, and helpful.

The Swallow has about the same shape as my 1971 B15, though it is a little more narrow and not "dish-shaped." It has got the same rivets, the same flatness across the back, and the same length - and length of rails. I think it is just what the Dr. ordered for me! It is narrower, not "dish-shaped," and has the "cut-in" sides to accomodate riding in the aero position. I'm so glad I chose the Swallow.

That session with the sports physiologist sounds great! I think that is what I need. I'm still trying to dial in my position on my tri bike. The new saddle will help, but now I think I may need to shorten my stem and shorten my cranks.

Ha, Ha! Thanks for the pic. I recently got a pre-conditioned Brooks and it came with a cover. I could not figure out why it had a velcro strap on the back of it. Now I get it.

For anyone interested, after about 3 treatments of your B17 (starting with a pre-conditioned model) with mink oil, you can fold the wings past the frame fairly easily, roll'm, treat the top, put a couple thicknesses of a towel on the top for leverage, and hold the wings rolled under for a couple of days with an old toe-clip strap that is wrapped tightly around the seat. Then . . . you've got a Swallow.

Hmm.....pretty clever... I've got to try that. I know I've got a virgin B17 narrow stashed away somewhere in my garage....