Brooks Swallow or Finesse???

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, I am turning 49 next week, and DH is encouraging me to get a Brooks saddle for a b-day present. As I posted in the health section, I have been getting saddle sores from hell from my old trusty butterflys, so its time for a change. I read an article Mimi sent me, that makes me think I need a saddle with a sharp transition between the wide back part that supports your sit bones and the narrow front. I get two kinds of saddle sores, one between my labia majora and labia minora and one between my labia majora and thighs (which as DH put it is NOT very erotic!). I get the thigh rubbing when I sit back on my sit bones, and to avoid that I slide forward and then put too much pressure on my labia. I also think the cut-out sort of splays me all out. From the pics online it looks like the swallow is designed with a sharper transition to avoid thigh rub, and I think its wide enough for my sit bones. The finesse also looks nice, and is light and chepaer. Any swallow users or finesse users out there with an opinion? This isn't about money though, its about getting me that saddle that is gonna fit well and last a lifetime.

[KnottedYet]

What is your sit bone measurement?

(and don't forget to ask Bill and Diane at Wallingford what they think, too!)

I have a B67, so I'm not qualified to say anything about the swallow and finesse. But I love Brooks and Wallingford has the most amazing customer service! You really can't go wrong, if you don't like one you can send it back and get the other!

[Triskeliongirl]

I cannot for the life of me figure that out. I have x-rays of my pelvis which indicate its only 4" but that can't be right. Mimi sent me instructions for measuring but I just can't tell where to measure. But what I do know is my sit bones are well supported on the terry butterfly which is 6.1" wide, so I am thinking either of these saddle should be wide enough. I do plan to call Wallingford tomorrow and talk to them abou it. Does Diane also know saddles as well as Bill, might be easier to explain my problems to a girl.....

[KnottedYet]

Diane knows just as much as Bill. The two of them are Wallingford. If Bill answers the phone you can ask to talk to Diane. He understands.

Did you read the thread in Favorite Saddles about finding your measurements? Remember to measure outside of one bone to outside of the other.

4 inches does sound awfully small, but everyone is built differently. (I have the extra wide sit bones, which are a pain in the butt when looking for saddles!)

[Triskeliongirl]

I just tried to call Wallingford but no one answers. Still no luck measuring on my body, but when I looked at my x-rays again, I realized the 4" is from the points which I think is the pubic ramus not ischial tuberosity. If I measure from the widest points of the ischial tuberosity, I get measruments ranging from 5.6 to 5.9" (my hip is twisted due to fractures from a cycling accident, so the first measurement assuems it wasn't twisted and the second imagines the widest part when I might actually sit. The finesse is 6.7 wide so that is good, right? I do worry about chafing though if the nose is too wide. The finesses also appeals to me based on weight, since it is for a racing bike.

[mimitabby]

those numbers are making a lot more sense!
yes!!

[Triskeliongirl]

I just got off the phone with Diane at Wallbikes, and I am the proud
owner of a Brooks Finesse in black titanium. http://www.wallbike.com/finesse.html
It only weighs 3 oz more than
my butterfly! The expected delivery date is even my birthday! You
guys were right, calling her was the best. She thought the swallow would be too narrow and long for me, and that the finesse would suit my needs the
best. Damage, including care kit, $207. She also confirmed my suspicion that while a cutout can be important on a plastic based saddle, on a pure leather saddle since the saddle will mold to my anatomy I should be better off without one. In fact, she told me that is why many men use Brooks saddles.