661-Pete wrote:.............I don't want to go direct to Brooks and give them a pasting. I do respect that they have a lasting and famous reputation, and I've probably done enough harm to it merely by posting here on a public forum (which they may be reading)! I think I've just been exceptionally unlucky - and I was feeling in a real meeeeaaaannnn mood yesterday...................I spent a fair amount on the Swift - but I expected it to last the rest of my life....
Pete.
Don't feel bad about what you've told us about the Brooks. You gave us the facts, and no insolence or abuse. One of the purposes of the Forum is for cyclists to share experiences and thereby warn each other of problems - like a group of friends chatting. If you trawl through past threads on the forum you will find that reports of deterioration of Brooks saddles are numerous indeed and so many of us, when we read threads about Brooks, repeat our experiences and opinions time after time. That includes me - I'm probably one of the worst offenders, if it's an offence.
I've said this so many times before, but I've had Brooks Pros that have lasted 30+ years (it's probably 5 years since I started saying this, so 35 is probably more accurate) - I have one of those on my "best" bike still, and there's no sign of having to take it off. Years of longevity are less of a reliable yardstick that miles in use, but it's done scores of thousands of miles. I've recently had a 30+ year old Pro split under me, but after 30+ years, I can't have a complaint - it owes me nothing, especially when for ten years of it's service it was on my work bike - 20 miles a day in all weathers + general winter riding. I have a B15 from the 1950s, and an original Colt (30 years?), both in good condition and eminently rideable.
A recent-ish Pro and two recent B17s have given quite different experiences; the Pro and one of the B17s had to be replaced after about 500-700 miles and the retailers had a bad time with Brooks in both cases. Having said that, the other B17 and the replacement B17 are both giving good service, and are eminently comfortable.
You're certainly not alone Pete - My experience is that Brooks are
no wot they used to woz, and people do return them. I'm not sure that you've simply been unlucky, and anyway, lucky or not, all you want is what you've paid for and you'd be right and certainly justified if you took it up with them.
They usually have a stand at the York Rally - I've twice spoken to their reps about their current saddles. I got nowhere with one rep - she simply said that they never get complaints (!), but the other guy explained problems with British and European leather since the BSE crisis lead to beasts being slaughtered at a younger age. What that has to do with rails and bolts breaking I'm not sure.
All these posts on the Forum do less harm to Brooks reputation than their product currently does. I'm writing this as an enthusiast of Brooks saddles for 50+ adult cycling years - until a few years ago I'd have recommended them to anyone and everyone. I could bore you even further with good experiences and good service with Brooks saddles - but recently it's been different.
I'd still say, however, that if you get a good'n, you do get a good'n.
Do they read these threads?..........if they do, they're not listening.
!
) but a bit over my budget I'm afraid. You see - I spent a fair amount on the Swift: this was when the price was still just about affordable, before it rocketed through the roof - but I expected it to last the rest of my life....
