Length: 285 mm
Width: 153 mm
Height: 62 mm Weight: 490 g Frame: Chromium Plated Steel
The Swallow Classic reproduces the timeless design of the daddy of all modern racing saddles, first in production in 1937. It is available in 2 versions, one featuring the orginal chromium plated steel metalwork and one featuring a much lighter titanium metalwork. The tensioning plate on the underside still bears the original patenting information retaining the word DEPOSÉ, as the patent for this model was first registered in Paris. Back then many of Brooks saddles in fact were exported to the continent for the use of racers in the tours.
MADE IN ENGLAND
*Cost excludes shipping
I've been riding on a Brooks saddle since I appropriated my dad's (an expat-Englishman) bike as a teenager over thirty years ago. Our aluminium touring tandem has always been equipped with a Brooks B17 up front and my 26 year old Miyata touring single now sports a brand new Team Pro copper saddle. Both are great saddles and I've found both comfortable right from the start, even the much stiffer Team Pro on my now much older posterior. A firm saddle is the best present you can give to your sit bones.
I wrestled with the idea of trying a Brooks for a long time, I should have gotten one a long time ago. It has been the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden at every mile after mile #1. The most difficult part of breaking in a Brooks saddle is openning the tin of Proofide!
My Brooks Professional was a bit of a splurge for me in 1970 when I was a college student -- if memory serves, it was about $40 then, which was the same price I had paid for my first (used) 10-speed. Forty years later I'm still using it, currently on our tandem. Its finish has worn to a soft satin, but the leather is in excellent condition despite having been exposed to all types of weather for decades and receiving only intermittent care in the form of whatever leather treatment was available at the time, usually olive oil and boot polish. The rails are in like-new condition with no pitting, the rivets brighten right up with a little metal polish, and -- most important -- it continues to be the most comfortable saddle I own. When I built up my next bicycle, it absolutely will be equipped with another Brooks, which I fully expect will last for the rest of my life.
First day on my new Team Pro, and I have to say, this is THE BEST SADDLE I have ever ridden. I think a lot of the stories that put people off from purchasing a saddle like this come from folks 150 lbs and under, because my 200 lbs put this saddle in it's place immediately. 20 miles and I can already see visual clues of break in. For years, fashion has been dictating saddle design, and I was following it. While there is certainly not a saddle out there that can satisfy everyone, I would have to say that, odds are good there's something in the Brooks lineup for about 90% of riders out there. Sure, it's not the lightest saddle in town. Who cares?!? Are you going to sit around and look at your bike, or ride it? If you plan to ride it, then get a Brooks.
Having employed the B15 Swallow Titanium on my 1963 Legnano Gran Premio for four years now, I can attest to the quality, durability and comfort, for rides long and short, fast or leisurely. For my anatomy, it is as perfect while wearing jeans as in "cycling shorts" - no chamois is required. Thank you!
I was given No.50 Green Swallow BFF Ltd. Ed. for my 50th birthday by my partner. It looks stunning on my 2008 model Flying Gate and rides suberbly. Its just about worn in after a couple of hundred miles (this is my "high days and holidays only" machine) and wild horses won't part me from it now. We have several bicycles including a tandem and only use Brooks saddles on them, nothing else compares.
As a 'born again weekend warrior', the new carbon fibre bike with all the latest technology was a revelation, but unfortunately the issue of the saddle was a problem. Technology had not produced the equivalent in saddle design. No less than ten saddles later I have now found nirvana. It is strange that I have had to go back to 1937 and use a design from that date. You may have read that Brooks saddles need a break-in period when the saddle moulds to your posterior. Well I can tell you that the Swallow saddle was superb from day one. A slight flex in the leather and metal frame soaked up the bumps. No pain or discomfort, simply the most comfortable saddle known to my 'tender rear'. We are all different, but for my 90 kilo weight, this saddle is simply the best saddle for long distances and I mean my first ride was over three hours. I have now joined the famous 'I'm a Brooks man' club and that is a life long membership. By the way, I do not work for Brooks or own the company! Steve
I previous had split saddles for my racing bike. I built a new bike, but with a flair for "old School" styling (i.e. - polished aluminum metal work, gumwall sew-up tires, etc.) I was therefore looking for the appropriate saddle. I first tried an imitation Brooks that was a split saddle, like my previous modern saddles. It stretched after 1,000 miles to the point I could not adjust it. (the company did replace it for free). I purchased a Swallow and from the first ride it fit great and was very comfortable. I have about 500 miles on it and three races and it only gets better. I still have not unwrapped the replacement saddle I received from your competior. It looks great with the matching bar tape. Thanks for a great product.
My whole bike changed, the way I ride, the way I sit, the way I look. Thanks, this is a wonderful product, the bar tape is amazing too. Thanks from Paris!
COMMENT > Your description contains the following sentence: "The tensioning plate on the underside still bares [sic] the original patenting information retaining the word DEPOSÉ, as the patent for this model was first registered in Paris." My understanding is that, under the Queen's English, the correct spelling is "bears." Otherwise, great saddle, and congratulations on the revised website.
REPLY > Thanks, for pointing it out. The mistake has been corrected.
Fantastic, simply fantastic! My first Brooks and most comfortable saddle ever. Thanks for such a great product.
I've had my Brooks Ti B15 for a couple of years and could never seem to give it a chance to break in. After a couple of rides, I would always swap back to my light racing saddle. I stuck the B15 on the wall and forgot about it. Then I purchased a single speed and needed a saddle. My first ride was a muddy race in rain and it seemed to do the trick. Now its the most comportable saddle I have ever used. I'm going to order one for each bike!
During the first ride my new Swallow feels so comfortable so i just wonder, how smooth it will be when it`s ridden in?
unbelieveable.... this saddle very comfortable, even at day 1 and off road tour. Edwin, Indonesia
I own three Ti Swallows which are amazingly comfortable. The first one I bought tortured me for a brief time and since my butt knew what to expect the other two felt awesome right from the box. I also have one of the Limted Edition Sprinters which is much narrower and can only use it on my fixed gear bike for relatively short rides. I don't think it will ever break in because my sit bones are on top of the frame edges and not on the leather inside the frame. Looks great though. Now i just need one more for my 40s/50s French road bike and I'll be good to go.
I've just got back into cycling after a long break and the two definites for my new bike were a Reynolds frame and a Brooks saddle. My old Holdsworth Professional has a Brooks saddle, so LeMond had to follow. The B15 Ti is not only fantastic to ride on with the R853 frame, but is a work of art and there should be a display in the Tate!
A fabulous saddle! It looks great even on a racing bike and is more comfortable than any of the high tech modern saddles. Unbeatable! Philippe Demay, Belgium
Brooks Swallow - do you break in a Brooks saddle or does it break you in? Either way, they're among the most comfortable seats - eventually!
COMMENT > A lot more comfortable than the Arione but still, after 2000+ kms, not in that famous "forgettable" state. I would really like to see more advice on set-up and how to angle the saddle in the optimum way on your website. For example, how do you set it up "level" when it isn´t flat? There must be tons of "Brooks knowledge" in your possession. Please share.
REPLY > Fortunately BROOKS Saddles are so personal, that any advice can be nothing more than a subjective opinion. Nevertheless your advice is precious and we will be working o a series of videos to show some of the most common techniques to get the saddle "right". This is what we wrote in the leaflet we send out with every saddle:
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The rider’s comfort will depend to a much greater extent than is generally imagined, upon the correct adjustment of the saddle on the machine. The great thing to bear in mind is that, to obtain comfort and immunity from injurious pressure, the weight must be carried by the broad part of the saddle. The peak should carry as little weight as possible. The nose is mainly intended to ensure a steady and secure seat, which a peakless saddle would not do. By attention to the following hints the correct position should be readily attained.
The saddle should be placed:
1. just sufficiently behind the crank-axle to allow the rider to sit upon the broad part of the saddle, while riding, without being pulled forward on to the peak by the onward thrust of the leg;
2. with the peak positioned just high enough to prevent the rider from slipping forward; this is normally attained when the surface of the saddle is parallel to the ground;
3. just low enough to enable the rider to reach the pedals comfortably all round, without even a suspicion of stretching after them.
This is a general guideline, but I have personally experienced that different saddles need different adjustments. Here are my examples:
-the Swallow on my road bike is perfectly parallel to the ground
-the B17 Imperial on my mountain bike is more comfortable if the nose is slightly higher than the back
-the B17 Special on my Brompton folding bike feels perfect when parallel
-the B33 on my city bike is more comfortable if the nose is facing quite a bit upwards
I'm sure my experience is different than someone else's, that's why I thought of publishing comments from different Brooks Cyclists!
Andrea Meneghelli
Marketing Manager
BROOKS ENGLAND LTD.
Q > not a comment but a question: I own a b17 imperial, and am quite satisfied with it, using it on my "urban" bicycle. For my road bike, I'm thinking of getting a racing brooks saddle, in fact a B15 swallow, because modern saddles don't fit me on long ridings (I've tried 4 of them, fi:zik, san marco, smp, ...) so my question is: is it possible to get a b15, but with the "registered cutting" which I appreciate so much on my B17? what makes me think it might be possible is that there is a B17 narrow with it, and that the B15 is about as narrow as the B17 "narrow". So thank you by advance for telling me if my wish can be realised, and if so, what would be the price for such a saddle (in the chrome version)
A > Unfortunately the B15 Swallow cannot be made with the Imperial "registered cutting" because the structure of the saddle would not be strong enough. The Swallow in fact has no flaps which provide the necessary structure for a saddle to bear the central cut. The only other sports saddle which could be done with the Imperial "registered cutting" is the Team Pro, but we have not planned to make it yet. I suggest you to go for the B17 Narrow.
I received my new Brooks Professional saddle recently. Back in my youth (mid 60s), my first "good" bike came with a leather saddle. Comfortable, rode in cutoff jean shorts with no problems. About 12 years ago I returned to cycling. And, with most, was caught up with bicycle weight, so no leather saddle. Instead, I went through a succession of high tech, low weight, etc. saddles. Recently, my 4 yr old reputable Italian manufactured saddle was increasingly uncomfortable. I e-mailed the maker, and the reply said that, essentially, their saddles are good for about 10,000 km, and then the foam breaks down. So I ordered a Brooks. Comfortable right out of the box (first ride with it was 42 miles), and getting better each consecutive ride. And, it will probably last forever. Now, after my experience, one of my riding partners is gearing up to order himself a B17 (he's a bit larger and wider than me, 6'-2", 200 lbs vs my 5'-8", 150 lbs). And yes, while my Brooks weighs 500 grams vs 200 grams, with the additional comfort, I can ride longer and am sure I will drop more than that weight from myself in no time. I should probably be in the 135 - 140 lb range. So, keep up the good work, I'll keep promoting your saddles. You may want to talk with the boys in the pro peloton. With the drop in bicycle weights, where they actually are adding weight to their bicycles to meet the UCI minimums, some smart professionals may want a more comfortable, i.e. Brooks, saddle. After all, your products were good enough for Eddy Merckx, and he wasn't a bad cyclist!
COMMENT > Received my #39 Green Swallow BFF Ltd Edition. Love it. However after a long ride, the seat seems sunken in especially on the rear right side. That normal? I've only proofide it once. Otherwise it's the most comfortable seat ever. Thanks
REPLY > The Swallow is the most elastic of our saddles, so if you tend to be asymmetrical in your ride, the saddle will shape asymmetically.To a certain degree it is normal. If it shapes too much, you should probably go for a stiffer saddle, like the Team Pro or B17 Narrow. The Swift is somewhere inbetween.
This is the first Brooks I got. Splendid. Followed by a B17N, and a Flyer to come.
I like this saddle but found the B17N version to be difficult to set up properly, however once dialed in it is well worth the time and effort. This is not my first Brooks saddle but it was one of the more difficult ones to dial in. I think the B17N has a flatter profile than either my B17 Standard, or Swallow which is my reference saddle. When the saddle is dialed in correctly it is absolutely forgettable, that is I don't notice it. When it wasn't dialed in properly I found myself constantly fidgeting, repositioning myself in a vain effort to find that sweet spot where the saddle disappears. All in all I would say I am favourably impressed with the saddle, I initially had some doubts about the longevity of the saddle with the cut out but these have been dismissed as the saddle hasn't lost it's shape or required numerous adjustments due to sagging leather.
Q > Just curious about the B15 Swallow name as names I have also heard are 'Swallow', 'B17 Swallow', 'B58 Swallow', are these re-namings of the same saddle or are there physical differences? Thanks.
A > When we introduced the Swallow we looked at the old catalogues where it had been featured. We had a hard time telling the differences between the B15 Swallow and the B17 Swallow. It seems that the B15 Swallow had no stitching, as the current one. The earliest Swallow produced in 1937 was actually stitched like the Ltd Edition we launched in 2005 and 2007.
i have riden on a lot of saddles in the last 25 years from many manufacturers who all promise comfort and durability, there is only one who can truly live up to that promise, and thats Brooks ,
Q > Hi! Could we now in this Ipod age have White saddles in a range of models (and not just for the very exclusive few!), please.
A > White BROOKS Saddles are much more difficult to make. It takes us more than triple the time than any other colour and lots of leather is wasted in the process. These are the reasons why we can't offer them in the standard range.
Q > I have a b15 it's berry worn is it possible to get the cowhide replaced on my saddle I wana keep the life of my beauty going and how much would it be
A > It is possible, but please ask to my colleague at the customer service using the contact forms in the GETTING IN TOUCH section.
Q > I have a B15 Swallow Chrome on order for my new 29'er mountain bike. Are all the models under Road & MTB suitable for mountain bikes?
A > Yes, that's what other people say, even though most mtbikers prefer the B17 Standard.
Q > I want to get a Brooks racing saddle, and am looking at the Swallow, Swift or Team Pro. I see from your site that the Swallow is the most elastic, the Team Pro the stiffest and the Swift in between. Are these differences a result of the leather you use, or the metal structure underneath? And why is the Swallow so much more expensive than the others? Hope you can help.
R > The stiffness of the saddles is a result of the shape of the leather top. The different metal structures don't influence the stiffness.
Q > I want to buy a Brooks saddle for my Brompton M2L. I know the B 17 could be the best choice but i'd like to have something a little bit more sportive; can you suggest me wich is the best solution among Swallow, Team Pro and the Swift?
A > Brooks range of racing saddles includes a variety of models for gents and ladies: -the B15 Swallow: our most elastic saddle -the Swift: a slightly stiffer saddle, featuring partially cut-away flaps -the Team Professional and the B17 Narrow, our stiffest saddles -the Team Pro S and its titanium version, the Finesse, for ladies
Ron Bucci - I am intending to purchase a Swallow Titan & I would like to know if there is any weight restrictions that are applied to this product? I am a large cyclist in that I weigh 100 kilograms & am wondering if your product would be suitable to carry this weight. I look forward to hearing from you. BROOKS - I weigh 100 kg and I use a Swallow on my road bike. So far no problems. Andrea (the marketing manager)
simply beautiful to see and perfect to ride with
Hi, I was always very content with my Brooks which I bought from a friend about ten Years ago until this morning on my way to work through a snowstorm the Metal under the leather cover broke. Can you repair it?
answer - All Brooks saddles may be repaired, please visit the Getting in Touch section of this website!
Spanning more than a century of history we have preserved some models which are unique in their construction. Each saddle in this range needs a different workmanship or frame construction which is specific to that particular model, making it Unique. Most of the models have a double or triple rail construction, like the B66, our most popular model in the Brooks Unique range, dating back as early as 1927. The Swallow has single rails, but a very peculiar construction of the leather top.