Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I have to stay off the bike for a while

I've been having some issues lately and went to the doctor today. Apparently I have some nerve damage in my perineum area. Basically my new Brooks was to hard and to high in the perineum area and cut off the blood supply and cuased some nerve damage. It could be months before the nerve damage repairs itself. I hate to retire a brand new Brooks, but it looks like I'm going to have to seach out a saddle that offers some relief in the perineum area. Or buy a recumbant and I sure don't have the money to do that.

This is such a bummer, my training was going so well:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

Ouch! How about making it a Brooks Selle Anatomica? A good leather guy should be able to mod your Brooks with a cut out....

Or, if you bought the Brooks through Wallbike, they have that 6 Mo return policy....

http://www.mcmwin.com/images/R0012552.jpg

I just did a seach and was looking at some info about cutting out my brooks(bought locally). I also have to adress some fit issues. I like my saddle slid way back, but on this bike I'm going to have to put on a shorter stem. I lean over the bike quite a bit and they may be part of the problem also.

I'm also considering "manualy" softening the perineum area of my B-17.

By the way Tom, do you ever sleep? It's the middle of the night and we should be sleeping.

I just did a seach and was looking at some info about cutting out my brooks(bought locally). I also have to adress some fit issues. I like my saddle slid way back, but on this bike I'm going to have to put on a shorter stem. I lean over the bike quite a bit and they may be part of the problem also.

I'm also considering "manualy" softening the perineum area of my B-17.

By the way Tom, do you ever sleep? It's the middle of the night and we should be sleeping.

I generally get an afternoon nap and am hitting the hay in a few minutes....

Heck, I did 50 miles this morning, been working on video editing, tabulating some database stuff today, all kind of things!:D

I generally get an afternoon nap and am hitting the hay in a few minutes....

Heck, I did 50 miles this morning, been working on video editing, tabulating some database stuff today, all kind of things!:D

You school kids...you never have any "real work" to do. Always playing. :rolleyes:

You school kids...you never have any "real work" to do. Always playing. :rolleyes:

The 2oth, I'm back at the grind and Summer is over! 18 credit hours this semester!:eek:

I just did a seach and was looking at some info about cutting out my brooks(bought locally). I also have to adress some fit issues. I like my saddle slid way back, but on this bike I'm going to have to put on a shorter stem. I lean over the bike quite a bit and they may be part of the problem also.

I'm also considering "manualy" softening the perineum area of my B-17.

By the way Tom, do you ever sleep? It's the middle of the night and we should be sleeping.

No, this* is the middle of the night and we should be sleeping. I just got woken up by a lovely storm, but midnight on a Friday night seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Seriously Caincando1, that is a bummer. Did the doctor say a cut-out saddle would be OK? I would think that would be a perfect solution. the nerve damage is temporary, right?

Biking is one of those things that's so much fun, and you make such quick advances, that it's easy to forget that--for most people--there are inherently painful things about it. Different problems show up at different milestones. I think it's really important to listen to minor pains. A lot of them in the beginning are our muscles getting used to being on a bike. After that it's usually because we need to change our form or add some skills. Then after that (or concurrently) it's getting the bike dialed in.

Then, after that, the specific issues are more optional. If you want to ride a century, apparently you will be dealing with some serious chafing, probably. Better to get a little chafing and explore solutions than to get infected wounds, at least in my opinion.

I've been having some issues lately and went to the doctor today. Apparently I have some nerve damage in my perineum area. Basically my new Brooks was to hard and to high in the perineum area and cut off the blood supply and cuased some nerve damage. It could be months before the nerve damage repairs itself. I hate to retire a brand new Brooks, but it looks like I'm going to have to seach out a saddle that offers some relief in the perineum area. Or buy a recumbant and I sure don't have the money to do that.

This is such a bummer, my training was going so well:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

OK, I have something to share with my fellow Navigator rider. I had this happen too. And I probably had it happen to a greater extent than you did since I'm both stubborn and clueless - riding 75 miles on a numb you-know isn't something a sensible man would do. In my defense I thought it was a right of passage for male cyclists.

What I did was:

- stay off the bike for a week.

- replace the saddle

- address the cause of the problem. In my case, the problem started when a bike instructor set my saddle too high, causing me to rock when pedaling. I also stopped wearing underwear under my bike shorts, and practiced standing up while riding.

After a week, the bulk of the nerve damage repaired itself. However, I wasn't completely back to normal for about three months. I rode a lot during those three months. That's because I didn't bring the problem to my doctor. After the bad experience I had with physical therapists giving me bad advice about cycling posture - "Imagine a string pulling you vertical, Neil. That's how you should sit in the saddle." - I wasn't about to have another medical authority tell me I couldn't ride. I suggest you speak to your doctor in a week or ten days or so and try to get cleared for limited riding.

Reply or PM me for more information. I'm riding 50 miles with Neil F. most of the day, so I may not be able to check this until this evening.

I've been having some issues lately and went to the doctor today. Apparently I have some nerve damage in my perineum area. Basically my new Brooks was to hard and to high in the perineum area and cut off the blood supply and cuased some nerve damage. It could be months before the nerve damage repairs itself.

OK, I have something to share with my fellow Navigator rider. I had this happen too. And I probably had it happen to a greater extent than you did since I'm both stubborn and clueless - riding 75 miles on a numb you-know isn't something a sensible man would do. In my defense I thought it was a right of passage for male cyclists.

After a week, the bulk of the nerve damage repaired itself. However, I wasn't completely back to normal for about three months. I rode a lot during those three months. That's because I didn't bring the problem to my doctor. After the bad experience I had with physical therapists giving me bad advice about cycling posture - "Imagine a string pulling you vertical, Neil. That's how you should sit in the saddle." - I wasn't about to have another medical authority tell me I couldn't ride. I suggest you speak to your doctor in a week or ten days or so and try to get cleared for limited riding.

To both of you, how did you know you had nerve damage? Was it obviously very painful? Did you have to get checked by a doctor? Can a regular person tell if they are doing damage like this and prevent this from happening? thanks

Perhaps I've just been lucky (??), but I've never had any problems like this in all of my biking life.

Maybe I just don't do long enough trips...

And does it help to not wear underwear when biking? I've considered it myself... just for rash reasons...

To both of you, how did you know you had nerve damage? Was it obviously very painful? Did you have to get checked by a doctor? Can a regular person tell if they are doing damage like this and prevent this from happening? thanks

If you have parts of you body that are numb and stay that way for days/weeks/months, you have nerve damage.

Prevention, keep the blood flowing in the perineum regions and if things do go numb while riding, don't let it stay that way. Get up or off the bike and get the blood flowing again.

OK, I have something to share with my fellow Navigator rider. I had this happen too. And I probably had it happen to a greater extent than you did since I'm both stubborn and clueless - riding 75 miles on a numb you-know isn't something a sensible man would do. In my defense I thought it was a right of passage for male cyclists.

What I did was:

- stay off the bike for a week.

- replace the saddle

- address the cause of the problem. In my case, the problem started when a bike instructor set my saddle too high, causing me to rock when pedaling. I also stopped wearing underwear under my bike shorts, and practiced standing up while riding.

After a week, the bulk of the nerve damage repaired itself. However, I wasn't completely back to normal for about three months. I rode a lot during those three months. That's because I didn't bring the problem to my doctor. After the bad experience I had with physical therapists giving me bad advice about cycling posture - "Imagine a string pulling you vertical, Neil. That's how you should sit in the saddle." - I wasn't about to have another medical authority tell me I couldn't ride. I suggest you speak to your doctor in a week or ten days or so and try to get cleared for limited riding.

Reply or PM me for more information. I'm riding 50 miles with Neil F. most of the day, so I may not be able to check this until this evening.


Pretty much the same story here, I thought that area would toughen up. Nope.;) I did experience some perineum pain and numbness while riding my Navigator, but nothing damaging. The damage that I now have came while riding my Pilot. Being a road bike, I was leaning forward more which transfered more weight to the front of the saddle. The bike is new and I've been working on the fit with saddle adjustments and stem length. I was pretty sure the stem was to long, but I wanted to get the saddle perfect before I changed out the stem. In hind sight, the longer stem, stretched me out even further and this also put more weight on the front of my saddle.

What saddle did you go with? I'm not sure if the Brooks is a total loss, or I might need to take it easy(instead of riding hours at a time without getting out of the saddle) till I have it broke in and the bike fitting right. I've also been reading that the "cut outs" may not be the way to go, some suggest a saddle with a wide nose to spread out the weight.


Live and learn, and yes the damage isn't perminent... at least I hope not.:eek::p

I figured this wasn't an uncommon thing amound cyclist, but a personal issues so it probably doesn't get discussed a whole lot. I figure it I shared my experience, other could learn from it.

And does it help to not wear underwear when biking? I've considered it myself... just for rash reasons...

If your wearing lycra shorts is does. I start out by wearing all cotton, shorts, shirt and underwear and everything would be super soaked and weigh a lot when I was finished. The worst was when I got caught in the rain and I was not close to home. Then I tried lycra shorts and I never looked back. Commando is the only way to go.

Oh and just one more thing to add. When people tell you the Brooks are comfy, they aren't lying. Even brand new and hard a brick, the Brooks was far more comfy that the other saddles I've used. That was probably half the problem, it felt so good I didn't even realize that my junk was numb.

Sorry that I keep adding post to this thread. I just want to share my mistakes so other can learn from me.

I think I might be sitting to far forward on my saddle. I went out and manualy softened the Brooks and tiped the nose down a mm or two and rode up and down the drive way. I wanted to see if my sit bones where really in the right place on the saddle. I don't think they are. I sat on the saddle like I usually do and slid back till I felt like my sit bones where on the rail. I kept sliding back and low and behold I wasn't at the back of the saddle yet. So I slid my sit bones off the back of the rail. Moves forward till the they just raised up onto the rail, then skid forward about and inch or so which put them where they should be on the saddle. Sure enough, I was probably and inch or better towards the rear than I normally ride at. The nose of the saddle used to stop at the base of the "man bag" and now would extend under and almost in front of the "man bag". So before the hard nose was riding right in the front of the perineum area. Now it would be in front of it and my parineum area would be over the middle of the saddle. So I'm thinking I've been sitting on the nose of the saddle for the last couple hundred miles. It's raining now so I can't even go for a short ride to experiment riding farther back on the saddle.

I'll keep everyone updated.

When I bought a woman's B-17, I asked my LBS guy why the nose was so much shorter. He said the long nose on the male saddle was to support and seperate "the boys".

When I bought a woman's B-17, I asked my LBS guy why the nose was so much shorter. He said the long nose on the male saddle was to support and seperate "the boys".

Good to know, I've been letting the boys hang hang off the front.

The 2oth, I'm back at the grind and Summer is over! 18 credit hours this semester!:eek:

Good luck.

Purdue isn't interesting until your load goes over 23 hrs and working midnight to 7, 7 days a week. I'm still not right after that, 9 years ago. Best grades I ever made, though.

The 2oth, I'm back at the grind and Summer is over! 18 credit hours this semester!:eek:


Must be nice to have summers off. :D:D I work full time plus attend college and put in 15 credits a semester and we go year round.:(:(

Must be nice to have summers off. :D:D I work full time plus attend college and put in 15 credits a semester and we go year round.:(:(

25+ years of trucking.....then College, what can I say?;)

25+ years of trucking.....then College, what can I say?;)

11 year of shipping... then college so I know where you are coming from.:):) Good for you! It will open up a whole new world to you.

I have a Brooks (B17), and havent' come to terms with it yet. I have WTB RocketV SE on all of my road bikes, and since they are usually around $29 street, I have a few extra on the shelf. Try one, I don't know if it will work with your anatomy, but it may be worth a try.

NEVER skimp on the 'contact points' (hands, arse, feet). If any of them are not comfortable, the ride will suck, guaranteed.

Jim

Pretty much the same story here, I thought that area would toughen up. Nope.;) I did experience some perineum pain and numbness while riding my Navigator, but nothing damaging. The damage that I now have came while riding my Pilot. Being a road bike, I was leaning forward more which transfered more weight to the front of the saddle. The bike is new and I've been working on the fit with saddle adjustments and stem length. I was pretty sure the stem was to long, but I wanted to get the saddle perfect before I changed out the stem. In hind sight, the longer stem, stretched me out even further and this also put more weight on the front of my saddle.

What saddle did you go with? I'm not sure if the Brooks is a total loss, or I might need to take it easy(instead of riding hours at a time without getting out of the saddle) till I have it broke in and the bike fitting right. I've also been reading that the "cut outs" may not be the way to go, some suggest a saddle with a wide nose to spread out the weight.


Live and learn, and yes the damage isn't perminent... at least I hope not.:eek::p

I figured this wasn't an uncommon thing amound cyclist, but a personal issues so it probably doesn't get discussed a whole lot. I figure it I shared my experience, other could learn from it.

The brand of saddle wasn't an issue for me. I probably could have stayed with my stock Navigator saddle, but I didn't want to take any risks, so I went with a wider Serfas padded saddle. But more importantly, I had the saddle height adjusted, stopped wearing underwear under my bike shorts, and stood up while riding.

The main culprit was a saddle set too high, which caused me to rock while riding. My left leg doesn't extend fully, so I need to be careful with setting a saddle height.

As for how long it took to recover, I was approximately 75% better after the first week, with slight improvement from week to week afterwards. It took about three months, give or take a couple of weeks, to get back to normal. PM me for more specifics.

I think I might be sitting to far forward on my saddle.


+1 on too far forward. Everyone always told me to be on my sit bones and I thought I was. I could go about 10 miles or so but anything over that was excruciating. Not a numbness or pain while riding issue. It was when I would stand up on the pedals. The pain when I would initially remove my weight from the seat was horrible. One day I did what you did. I just kept scooting farther and farther back on the seat until my sit bones actually slid off the back. I couldn't believe how much more room I had and how much more comfortable the seat was. Thirty miles is no problem at all. I have NO pain and all I did was move back a inch or two.

I sure hope all the damage repairs itself. I rode my motorcycle about 1700 miles over 3 days and it took 2 months to get all the feeling back in my thumb on the throttle hand. I can't imaging that feeling (or lack of) with "the boys."

Joe

I can offer no suggestions as I ride a recumbent and don't have any of those "pains" anymore. I can commiserate with you though from my days on a DF. I hope you get better soon and find that perfect fit for your sit bones. Its no fun to ride when it hurts:(

If your wearing lycra shorts is does. I start out by wearing all cotton, shorts, shirt and underwear and everything would be super soaked and weigh a lot when I was finished. The worst was when I got caught in the rain and I was not close to home. Then I tried lycra shorts and I never looked back. Commando is the only way to go.

Word!
On long trips over 25 miles underwear drops to the floor and creme goes on and out the door onto the saddle.
Soaked underwear in sweat sucks, it rubs big time.

I've been having some issues lately and went to the doctor today. Apparently I have some nerve damage in my perineum area. Basically my new Brooks was to hard and to high in the perineum area and cut off the blood supply and cuased some nerve damage. It could be months before the nerve damage repairs itself. I hate to retire a brand new Brooks, but it looks like I'm going to have to seach out a saddle that offers some relief in the perineum area. Or buy a recumbant and I sure don't have the money to do that.

This is such a bummer, my training was going so well:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

I don't have a brooks but I have heard that an easy way to break it in is to ride it while wet so that it can soften up and conform to you... you might try that at small amounts when allowed so that you don't do any more damage...

jesus rumpshaking christ! How can I make sure I'm not killing my wiener???

Do those weird ergonomic seats prevent this? http://www.hobsonseats.com/images/prohubx2/5_mid.jpg
I'm scared.

I have a hobson easy seat II. I find it works great for a hybrid style of bike (didn't need bike shorts for a 14 mile ride) but I found that I prefer a "normal" saddle for a road bike...

Do those weird ergonomic seats prevent this? http://www.hobsonseats.com/images/prohubx2/5_mid.jpg
I'm scared.

Standing up from time to time while riding and having a properly fitted bike takes care of the danger for most men. And nerve damage repairs itself in time.

jesus rumpshaking christ! How can I make sure I'm not killing my wiener???

Do those weird ergonomic seats prevent this? http://www.hobsonseats.com/images/prohubx2/5_mid.jpg
I'm scared.

With this saddle, you do NOT want to anger your bicycle.;)

Actually, I've tried these and they aren't for me, personally, because on tricky road or trail conditions, I stand the pedals and use the saddle nose as a balance reference point.

Just went for a 50 miler on a well broken in Brooks (600+ miles) yesterday. I just tightened the tensioner bolt about 3/4 turn to get it back to proper because I was starting to get some hammocking going on with it, and was pitching forward in the saddle due to that.
It was very comfortable again, but it is necessary every once in a while to stand up and allow some unrestricted circulation to your dangly bits. Not just with a leather saddle, either... do it on any ride of longer distance, because you can lose some circulation even with a padded cut-out saddle.

So, what should I watch out for?
My commute is about ten miles and I haven't noticed any weird things-- can I ride ten miles safely without standing up? Should I stop half-way there and rest?

My bike probably doesn't fit all that well, because its just a piece of junk I bought used and adjusted to fit as well as possible. I guess my next bike should be from a reputable bike shop, huh?

A friend has been using a Selle SMP and I bought one this last weekend, you should take a look at them. As like everything, it will depend on your butts liking.... Did you ever get your bike fitted? I paid for a fitting and believe me it was well worth it. I will keep my Brooks b-17 in my everyday bike.. but on my road bike I will try the Selle SMP. Do a search in google... you might like it... I will post my experience with it in due time...
best of luck....

So, what should I watch out for?
My commute is about ten miles and I haven't noticed any weird things-- can I ride ten miles safely without standing up? Should I stop half-way there and rest?

My bike probably doesn't fit all that well, because its just a piece of junk I bought used and adjusted to fit as well as possible. I guess my next bike should be from a reputable bike shop, huh?


Is you junk going numb? If not, then peddle on my brother. If it is, then stand and get some blood flowing to the soft tissue area.

My other saddles where very uncomfortable and I'd stand every mile or two. The Brooks was so damn comfy I forgot to stand up, hense the prolonged lack of blood flow and my current problem.

I'm conficent that I can work on saddle position and find a remidy.

Naw, my junk seems ok so far... Also, I find that as long as I'm pedaling aggressively my weight is kind of supported by my legs and like on my tailbone rather than the perineal area. This morning I tilted my seat forward to see if that felt safer and I realized that when I coast to a stop light or something, I do kind of stand on one pedal and take my weight off the seat because its narrow and hard and not comfortable to sit on for even a few seconds. I'm still kind of sitting, but the weight is almost totally on the bottom pedal-leg and my arms. Maybe the horrible traffic in the city is actually saving my groin!

I hope your nerves heal up soon! thanks for the info

I've been having the exact same issue on my new Brooks. It's funny that it feels fine when you are riding. I've done a 40 miler on it, and a number of 25 milers. Not to mention about 3-4 weeks of commuting. It feels fine when riding, but afterward my junk is numb. I was hoping it would go away until I read this thread.

Now I'm taking 2 weeks off. I didn't ride last weekend. I have only a partial week this week (which I'm not commuting) and then off to FL for a week starting Friday. That will give me about 2 solid weeks off the bike.

If I'm still having issues when I get back, I think I may have to drop the Brooks and go back to my old saddle or at least something similar. I like the little bit more width the B-17 has (about 170mm vs. 150mm) so I may look for a regular padded saddle with a wider width than the previous one.

I've been having the exact same issue on my new Brooks. It's funny that it feels fine when you are riding. I've done a 40 miler on it, and a number of 25 milers. Not to mention about 3-4 weeks of commuting. It feels fine when riding, but afterward my junk is numb. I was hoping it would go away until I read this thread.

Now I'm taking 2 weeks off. I didn't ride last weekend. I have only a partial week this week (which I'm not commuting) and then off to FL for a week starting Friday. That will give me about 2 solid weeks off the bike.

If I'm still having issues when I get back, I think I may have to drop the Brooks and go back to my old saddle or at least something similar. I like the little bit more width the B-17 has (about 170mm vs. 150mm) so I may look for a regular padded saddle with a wider width than the previous one.


Take Ibuprofen twice a day to help relieve the swelling. Per doctors orders.

I'm a little worried that I'm going to have to abandon a brand new brooks as well. I'm going to try some short ride with week and see how it feels. I only have 60 miles on mine so it's not even broke in yet. I'm not sure if the problem will get better once it's broke in or not.

Take Ibuprofen twice a day to help relieve the swelling. Per doctors orders.

I'm a little worried that I'm going to have to abandon a brand new brooks as well. I'm going to try some short ride with week and see how it feels. I only have 60 miles on mine so it's not even broke in yet. I'm not sure if the problem will get better once it's broke in or not.

Well, I just kept riding mine, thinking it would be temporary. I've got about 200-250 miles on mine.

I have worked to soften mine up some more with neatsfoot oil. Though, I decided just a few coats and not a submersion job. I'll probably move seat a little forward on rails again (to help force me on the larger part of the seat more). I've already had it the nose straight since the first week's worth of adjusting every day.

Ouch! How about making it a Brooks Selle Anatomica? A good leather guy should be able to mod your Brooks with a cut out....

Or, if you bought the Brooks through Wallbike, they have that 6 Mo return policy....

http://www.mcmwin.com/images/R0012552.jpg

Or you can send in your Brooks to have it converted to a Selle Anatomica...details on their website.

So, what should I watch out for?
My commute is about ten miles and I haven't noticed any weird things-- can I ride ten miles safely without standing up? Should I stop half-way there and rest?

My bike probably doesn't fit all that well, because its just a piece of junk I bought used and adjusted to fit as well as possible. I guess my next bike should be from a reputable bike shop, huh?

Just like other people have said; If you're not having problems, then pedal on. You'll know if you're having any sort of pressure problems down below.
Having something that you've adjusted to fit "as well as possible" usually works just fine. Tweak the fit until it's comfortable for you, (which it sounds like you've done) and you should be able to ride your self-proclaimed "piece of junk" until it falls apart underneath you. You don't have to get a fit-kit and spend $1000 to get a good, solid, dependable bike that fits well. Knowing how to make the necessary adjustments to your saddle and handlebar positioning are really the key elements to fitting a bike, as long as you have the frame size correct. The biggest difference really becomes apparent when putting massive miles on the bike. At 10 miles, you might not notice that you're a little bit forward and leaning on your bars too much (or whatever fit issue there might be.) At 30 miles, your wrists might ache a little because of it. After 100 miles, you might have some numbness or harsh pain from it.
Unless your bike is causing you pain, you're probably fitted pretty well to it.