BROOKS DEBATE: Swift or Swallow??
 

Ok guys I am going for a Brooks saddle this summer. Gonna be my big purchase for the summer. I can't decide between the Swallow and Swift. Quite a few people I know swear by the B17, but I am leaning to the slimmer more road style saddle. The width and length are about the same on both.

So from personal experience or stories is there a big difference or noticeable difference in the two of them?

Also, is titanium worth it? I think I might be able to get it at cost if that makes a difference...

haha, swallow.

Swallow has the more slimmer look you are going for but it expose quite a lot of rails on the bottom; Swift has that little "flaps" that cover the rails.

If I could afford the Swallow, I would have one. I do love my Swift, though. The way I understand it, if you have a lot of saddle-to-bar drop, the Swallow is what you want. If you have moderate s-t-b drop, then you'll probably like the Swift. If you have just a little drop, then the Team Pro. Even-ish is right for the regular B-17. Or something like that. I would be hella paranoid leaving a titanium Swallow locked up, though.

I just love my titanium Swallow. Much lighter than the steel framed version.

Sounds about right. B17 narrow works alright with medium s-t-b drop. Think it depends on the rider's arse though. I just hated the Team Pro so much. B17N was okay, although it wasn't perfect for my new build. I still long for a swallow (zing). Maybe a velo-orange swallow clone in the meantime ha.

Team Pro and the Swift look more appealing to me. Who wants to drop 5 bills on a saddle anyway?

i found the swift to be way more comfortable than the swallow on rides over 30 miles. I actually sold the only swallow I had to replace with another swift.

I mildly trimmed my Swift at the sides and back. It's a very comfortable saddle, as well as my Pro and Team Pro saddles, all trimmed as well.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...an/Swift01.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...an/Swift02.jpg

What tools did you use to it that nice roadfix?

I'm debating this as well, and leaning toward the Swift...

But question about the trimming... is done for fit, or just for looks? If for fit, is it to reduce the amount of material the rails have to stretch? (And not sure how this would affect the fit.) Or is it because the lower edges rub on your legs?

One seriously butchered Swallow recently sold on ebay for $75, and it looked like a danged thong bikini, it was so severely trimmed.

I used a cut-off disc on the dremel.

All my Brooks trimmings are done just for looks, and nothing else...

If anyone's going after the Swallow look, you can do that with the B-17 Narrow which can be radically butchered as I did several years ago and pics posted on the Wallingford site.

I thought the title of the thread was spit or swallow...

What's considered lots, moderate, little, with respect to drop? (And yeah, leaving a $500 seat would make me super nervous!)

Classy AND original. Can't beat that.

It sounds like the swift is more what I am looking for considering my s-t-b drop. That helps a lot. I am wanting one for my '92 trek carbon and one for my fixed. maybe I'll get one of each.

I want a Brooks Swallow, but all I have is a Green Brooks Pro. :(

I don't know. I consider 8" to be a lot, 4" to be moderate, 2" to be a little. Different people will have different opinions on that, I reckon.

8" would be a lot!

(All things in moderation, I say.)

neither.

get a team pro or a b17 narrow.

any reason why??

any reason why??

I have both. They are very comfy. The swallow is a bit for comfy right out of the box due to thinner leather and allows for a little more leg room than the Swift. There is a definite difference in how each one feels though due to the cut. I prefer the swallow a bit more due to how it supports me bum along with the leg room (this differs for everyone though). The Swift has a firmer feel, but is still comfy regardless.

One quirk about the Swallow is that the piece that holds the leather under it makes clicking sounds, when used with a Thomson seatpost, so that can get annoying and is something to consider.

I was able to get a new Titanium Swallow for $230 because of a good exchange rate when ordering from UK a while back. I would not pay full price for that saddle. If you do get the swift, then get a Chrome railed. I also got the Titanium Swift for $160 brand new from some deal shopping and again I would not pay full price for it. Get the chrome rail (for either saddle you choose) because you're not saving that much weight to justify to price hike for the "upgrade" and after a while you really won't notice the weight on the bike because your bum will be so happy. Getting a saddle that your bum is happy with is so much more important than having a light saddle.

thanks for the help gyeswho. really makes a difference hearing a comparison from someone who has ridden both.

comfort is entirely subjective -- keep in mind. I hated my previous swift but love my team pro.

I prefer the team pro & b17 narrow because they're comfortable to me and fit my riding style. swift/swallow -- not for me. too expensive, anyway.

Agreed. My ass is fine with a B17N but hates a Team pro.