Brooks England has announced a collaboration with the New
York City Bicycle Film Festival with the release of a limited edition Swallow saddle. Just 100 special Swallow models, manufactured with British Racing Green-coloured leather and each bearing a serial number of authenticity, will be made available to the public.
Proceeds from sales will benefit the 8th annual Bicycle Film Festival, which runs from May 28th to June 1st 2008.
This BFF Limited Edition Green Swallow features the original steel metalwork design and bears a tensioning plate on the underside of the saddle, which still retains the word DEPOSÉ, meaning REGISTERED in French. This was originally added because many of the saddles were exported to the Continent for the use of racers and tourists alike.
The original Brooks Swallow was patented on August 20th 1936, a time when all Tour de France riders used Brooks saddles. Legends such as Girardengo, Bottecchia, Bartali, Coppi and Anquetil all rode Brooks saddles to victory and the coveted yellow jersey. The handcrafted Swallow was heralded as revolutionary as it was the first 'cut away' saddle design, giving greater freedom of leg movement to the sportive cyclist.
In 2007, over 100,000 people from around the world attended the Bicycle Film Festival. The festival has been credited with pushing bicycle culture forward throughout the world. New York has therefore been recognized as sparking a the bicycle film festival phenomenon.
After being struck by a bus in New York City in 2000, cyclist Brendt Barbur was compelled to turn his negative experience into something positive. The festival, now celebrated in 17 cities, has gained international recognition as the torchbearer of one of the
largest cultural movements of this decade.
The Bicycle Film Festival and the bike community that hold it up are working to show that not only does bicycle riding bring people together, but it offers an environmentally sound form of transportation - the festival advocates the bikes ability to transport us in many ways - ultimately, it's all about having a good time.
For more information
on the Bicycle Film Festival please email Brook Frye
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