Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Finally, I believe that you don't "break in" a Brooks saddle. The saddle remains as unyielding as ever. The saddle "breaks in" the rider. In fact the saddles that most people would call broken in are mostly broken in my experience because they have done a bunch of goofy treatments that damage the leather.
My partner used to tell me that if you wanted to break in a Brooks all you had to do was loan it to him for a week... he is a big guy and having his 250 pounds on that saddle put a little stretch in the leather.
My wife's saddles conform to her lovely rear and after riding other people's bikes with the same models of saddles can tell you that there is some subtle breaking in as they do not feel the same as my own.
I'll agree with not doing too much goofy stuff... my B17 Imperial has always been rather stiff, bears a few little divots, and all it gets is Proofhide to protect it from rain.