The brooks works in two ways for me, and I'll bet many normal, read wider, set bone people. The saddle leather is stiff so the set bones do not sink in. Maybe the larger issue is the saddle is actually wide enough so the set bones land on firmly on the saddle. When my brooks started to break in, I could clearly see the set bone impressions. Comparing my narrow racing saddles to the brooks impression clearly demonstrated that my set bones were impacting the very edge, or rounded off, edge of the racing saddles. It is my opinion racing saddles are made for the skinny racer. His belt size might be 28"? My belt size when pretty fit is 36". I don't believe our set bones are the same spacing nor do I believe the modern saddle companies care to make a saddle for my wide azz.