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Hi,
Because we all ride so much, what can we do to minimise chance of groin problems.
By groin problems i mean I have heard that cycling can cause impotence in men due to decreased blood flow to the groin. Say if your important parts go numb when riding.
Any experiences with this?
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if your parts get numb, ever, you need to adjust or replace your saddle and/or riding position. if not, it's not a problem. are you saying your parts go numb, or is this a hypothetical question?
i think most discussions of this subject come up in connection with sales opportunities for supposedly better saddles. it appears to me that most saddle problems result from saddle padding compressing up into tender tissue, trapping heat, and squishing around. the usual, tragic remedy is to get a saddle with even more padding, with or without some kind of hole in the middle. cycling usually stops a short period thereafter. skipping the padding in the first place with a "scary hard" supportive saddle (e.g., brooks) of the right shape is better.
yes, parts have gone numb on occasion.
I ride about 30 min at a time usually, then a couple of 90 minute rides also.
I have a seat with a slit down the middle. I ride using normal underwear and board shorts.
what can you recommend?
i, frankly, would recomend a high bar position and tensed abdoninal muscles. a strong adomen makes for a straight back, which is good for your junk. the high handlebars keep you from rolling too far forward onto your taint/vulva.
about 18 months ago, i had some serious issues and resorted to some retarded noseless saddle. not so great. i still have the issues if i ride on a regular saddle, so i use the Trico split rail. It's pretty darn awesome. I'm a bike messenger, so I ride close to fifty miles a day. Sometimes I ride about 150-200 miles, and even then I'm fine. So I would suggest a proper posture, proper bike set-up (check out rivendell bikes for that), and perhaps a cut-away if you feel you need it. DO NOT go for those super soft saddles. They will just pinch your junk.
If you haven't got issued yet, you probably will.
The Brooks are pretty nice, too.
Saddles can be adjusted in three dimensions.
First make sure your seat is level. Most riders are more comfortable with a level saddle. Make micro-adjustments in the saddle height, although this usually isn't the problem.
Especially work on adjusting the position of the saddle forward or back relative to the handlebars.
Finally, if this doesn't work, try making tiny adjustments off-level, tilting up or down.
Take your wrench with you and keep making one adjustment at a time until you get it perfect. This can take a long time to accomplish. To complicate matters, if you get it so your privates feel better, your butt might start to hurt, so you'll be back to square one.
If this doesn't help, go to the LBS and shop for a new saddle. Most people who ride a lot do not like padded saddles, as others have mentioned. But some riders do like padding, so keep it in mind for later. Also, try wearing padded cycling shorts if you don't already. They're a lot more comfortable for most riders.
Probably one of these steps will work. If not, you might be stuck with buying a new bike, but that isn't real likely. Once you have gone through this procedure once, the next time will be a lot easier.
the proper term is "crotchal area"
+1 for brooks
adjust saddle or get new one, if that doesn't work then adjust your riding postion.
Also, a pair of bikin shorts will help as well.
Basically need to take care of what is happening to your perineum, the part between the scrotum and rectum. This is the area where nerve channels and blood flow passes through to enter and exit genitalia.
A slight amont of pressure should cause no numbness or other difficulties but the perineum shouldn't be bearing your bodyweight.
As advised above, make sure that the angle of the saddle supports your body on your pelvic bones and is set at the correct height. If your going for one of those saddles that has a gap beneath your perineum, make sure it is one that suits your physionomy. If you're not one of the skinny whippet riders then go for something wider with a wider gap. A gap that is too narrow isn't much help.
Also, a pair of bikin shorts will help as well.
Read that as bikini shorts. Mental image, very wrong.
One final suggestion, and I'm only mentioning it because no-one else has, is to consider a recumbent...
If they ever make a fixed-gear, front-wheel drive recumbant upon which it is possible to trackstand, I'll ride it.
I have Down hill racing seats on all my bikes and they are a bit long and narrow but since switching to those I have had no problems in the groin area, I put a link below of one of the racing seats. http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/222.jpg
yes, parts have gone numb on occasion.
I ride about 30 min at a time usually, then a couple of 90 minute rides also.
I have a seat with a slit down the middle. I ride using normal underwear and board shorts.
I ride on a saddle with a slit down the middle. If I could return it, I would, because as it turns out I ride off-center on it. I'll go numb if I ride with myself directly over the middle, but with my "parts" off to one side or the other it works fine... which defeats the purpose. I don't ride with bike shorts, so I might like this saddle if I did.
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html
Above is a good background to this topic.
I opted for the noseless Easy Seat, which looks kind of strange, but I estimate that, without it, I would not be able to bike.
Hello! I am new to the forum and mostly reading the folding bike section. During a visit to bfold.com in NYC when I was looking into a Brompton, David, the owner of shop have a wide selection of seats recommended the ISM sport seat for any male who are worry about possible problem and pain regarding their important parts. He used the seat on his Brompton recently biking several hundred miles around Hawaii. I have used the ISM sport seat on my 16" wheel folding bike for the past 4 months almost daily and have no pain. I think you can read more about it at http://www.ismseat.com/ In my opinion, the touring seat is too big and the racing seat is to narrow, the sport seat is just right. The shape of the seat also allows it to be push up the stairs or good handle to carry the folding bike. Anyway! I hope this reply help and that it is not too late.
Steven
If they ever make a fixed-gear, front-wheel drive recumbant upon which it is possible to trackstand, I'll ride it.
Those have been around forever.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/Bikemiker/bigwheel.jpg
We used to race them at the county fair when I was a kid. Been riding ever since. :)
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