Originally Posted by
lonesomesteve
The most important thing is that you shouldn't put too much stock in the "Brooks break in myth". The saddle should be comfortable for you from the beginning. If it's uncomfortable on the first ride, most likely hundreds of miles of break in won't make it comfortable. I suffered through about 1,000 miles with a Brooks Team Pro waiting for it to get comfortable and it never did. Then I tried a B-17 and it was comfortable from the first ride. Apparently the Team Pro just wasn't the right saddle for my butt.
I just want to repeat this and add to it:
I bought my first Brooks the day before a century, worried about the break-in thing, and found that it was the most comfortable I'd ever been at mile 90.
Just don't level it the same as a modern saddle. Ignore the nose and level the butt end. It'll look odd to a modern eye, but start with that and adjust as needed from there.