I tried breaking in a Brooks Professional that came with my 1969 Schwinn Paramount for over 30 years to know avail. Sold it to a collector for a premium price over 30 years later. I now own 3 B-17'S standards in various rivet combinations and colors - they all fit the day they came out of the box. Not all Brooks are the same - each fit just alittle different so I found out after 30 years of discomfort!!!!!!!!!!!!!