Brooks saddles are hard for sure until you get them broke in.But once you do you have a great saddle to use.There should be little different;s if any the s is for the lady,s but there is a few guy,s that will use them too.Just get it and start breaking it in it want take as long as you think it will about two hundred miles and it should be done.Just take short trip,s a little at a time is better that one long ride.My butt could not do it that way either.Goo Luck to you too.