I am reviving this as I have now spent three years on as many Brooks Swifts - yep, I liked the first Swift so much, straight out of the box, that I bought two more for my other bikes. Without question the best saddles for me I have ever ridden. I had to get used to the somewhat shorter length and wider flare of the center, which together with the slippery new leather surface kept me sliding forward. After about 25 miles and a proper tilt (nose up to be at same height as rear of saddle) I was in heaven. Still working on making firm sit bone impressions but that should only make them better.

I used no proofhide until the one on my commuter got a few rain drops, then I used a tiny bit. No touching the tension bolts.

A question - I just got a B17 narrow. the dimensions (width & length) are the same as the Swift but it definitely feels a bit different. The rear-most area for my sit bones feels fine, very similar to the Swifts but the area where the saddle transitions to the nose feels different - as in ouch. Looking at the top of the saddle towards the nose, there is a pronounced hump (longitudinally along the center line of the saddle, where the three holes line up and forward of them). This put some pressure in the 'between' area during a quick ride around the block (about one mile).

I tried a second test ride today with the nose lower (parallel to the ground) and this relieved about 90% of the pressure - still a bit aware of it, but no pain or discomfort after a ride of about 5-10 miles or so.

I ride with my handle bars about 1.5-2inches lower than my saddle (no drops-straight bar and bar ends).

Are all B17Ns shaped this way? will loosening the tension bolt lower this center 'hump'? Not sure if I should just stick with the swifts - I was hoping to use this on my commuter and save the Ti Swifts for the lighter bikes.