Yep the number of people who have bought up the conversation (excuse the pun )
riding with what feels like a seat post and saddle designed by a sadistic proctologist is something
most of us can relate to at different times, and yes the old numb Erhmmm can be a bit off-putting.
Never had to consider these things while watching the Tour in the comfort of the lounge chair.
Now where was I, YES !
Saddles and their use and misuse, tho I must relate this story that happened today, a gentle man comes in complaining of the horrible saddle on his bike and how his mate rides a bike with the saddle from Hell pointing to a FIZIK comfort performance( Corr you can take that Saddle and fit it where the the sun don't shine) he say's. it was a bit hard to convince him that his mates saddle was probably very comfortable for him!!
As some of you may have seen we have a bike frame set up so that we can change the saddles to try different ones, first one we put on was the gents comfort saddle ( to much pressure at the front why does it stick up like that) Next the XC mtb saddle with cut-out section for relief of the perineum ( that's better he says) OK try this one, grabbing a Ladies comfort deluxe ( heck that's the best I've sat on yet) another happy rider.
OK what' the GO
Only this we are all built different his build was thin around the pelvis and his physical fitness was not quite as good as it had been some 50years or so previous his intended riding distance in the future was going to be about a kilometre to fish and a bit more to the club . he needed the width at the rear of the saddle to support him but the shorter nose at the front, the length of the gents saddle was causing him to sink in the middle making it feel like he was sitting on a 2 inch beam. He won't be risking his potency in the future.
I'm far from an expert on the human anatomy but I do have a bit of commonsense (can't spell for quid's tho)
Look if you are having trouble with a bit of numbness try these couple of things first
SEAT HEIGHT
FOR AND AFT POSITION
AND
HORIZONTAL POSITION
(eg is the nose of the saddle up or down )
If you need any help or advice why not drop in and see us, one last thing when a customer comes in for the first time to buy a bike we recommend a comfort seat, yep! to wide for distance riding but tell me would you still be riding 5000k later if you started on a performance saddle, muscle development takes time and when you are doing your 100k or more a week then you may-be ready for that saddle from hell.
(offcourse a bit of Gel or a cut away down the centre never hurt any one )
Cyclists risk impotence
Cycling can make men impotent, scientists warn.
Spending too long in the saddle blocks blood flow ,
causes numbness and can jeopardise riders sex
lives, according to research published in the US
journal of Sexual Medicine.
Long,narow saddles were cited as the main culprits.
"There are only two kinds of male cyclists.
Those who are impotent and those who will become
impotent, "said Irwin Goldstein, a Boston urologist.
-Daily Mail
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Aug. 25, 2005 -- Erectile dysfunction and bicycling are the topics of three new studies in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
The studies show that when erectile dysfunction is related to bicycling, it's linked to pressure on the perineum (the area between the anus and scrotum where nerves and arteries pass). The pressure, which comes from sitting on a bicycle seat with a nose extension, restricts blood flow to the penis, write the researchers.
But many men who bicycle will never have that problem, according to an editorial in the journal.
Two of the studies were done at the Institute for Sexual Medicine at the urology department of Boston University's medical school. The third study came from researchers in Italy.
Problem Doesn't Affect All Male Cyclists
The Italian study compared two different bike saddle designs. One of the designs is new; it has a saddle with a downward sloping nose-like front and a central cutout that can limit perineal pressure, which the researchers describe as looking like "the beak of an eagle." It showed less compression of the perineum than the other saddle, which is more often used by professional cyclists, write the researchers. They included N. Piazza, MD, of Giovanni and Paul Hospital's urology department in Venice, Italy.
In a journal editorial, Steven Schrader, PhD, notes that numbness in the urogenital area was associated with bicycle saddles as early as the 1890s and has been described in medical literature for the last 20 years.
"There continue to be endless testimonials about 'miles of cycling' and 'erections of steel,'" writes editorialist Steven Schrader, PhD. He works in the Reproductive Health Assessment area of the National Institute for Occupational Safety.
"Some of the testimonials have even appeared on scientific electronic bulletin boards, along with remarks regarding the proliferation of bicycle riders in China without erectile problems. They sound similar to the cigarette smoker proclaiming that they have smoked a pack a day for years without lung cancer," Schrader continues.
"One would not expect that every bicyclist would suffer from erectile dysfunction, any more than one would expect every smoker would get lung cancer," writes Schrader.
"The next steps are quite clear," writes Schrader. He calls for more research based on "sound ergonomics and physiological principles and testing" to come up with ways to lower the risk of erectile dysfunction from bicycling.
None of the studies make recommendations about what seats riders should use or determine the amount of cycling that might cause the problem.
A proper-fitting bicycle can help prevent these injuries, especially if the saddle is too high; appropriate frame size, handlebar height, and seat position are all important. A rider may consider changing the angle of the seat, which should be angled parallel to the ground or slightly forward, to help alleviate pressure on the perineum. Wider seats or those designed with a central cutout also help reduce perineal pressure and can help redistribute weight.
A change in riding style may help. Standing on the pedals during long rides can prevent pressure and help re-establish blood flow.
