Road Cycling - numbness and old seat

Gettin' back into it after a bit of a break (~500-600km/wk) and am getting a BAD case of not numb bum but that 'other' vital area. :( No chafing or saddle sores, just the numbness that if not relieved by standing every 20-30 minutes, can get SERIOUSLY painful.

The seat is a 3 year old Fizik Ti rail long narrow open rail with pretty broad rear, with the 'V' cutout at the rear. I've recovered it several times...don't believe I've lost any foam or the GEL that runs in a big wide strip down the middle.

I'm 6ft 156lbs. That's lighter than the 173 lbs I used to be when even then I could keep up with some pretty good riders in 120kms race over rolling terrain (OK, lots of drafting). My point is, as my butt/legs/body got a little smaller has my potential for squashing nerves in Perenium gotten worse??? Coz I don't recall having this problem so bad ever before.

I ride a 58cm (?) alloy Trek (the 57cm top tube) with NO spacer under a 140mm stem with very little (maybe 15 degrees) rise...point being that the Trek is a slightly compact frame with only 140 mm headtube.....Sooo, I'm pretty low at the front, but don't have any back trouble, or leg/knee trouble...occasionaly 'get on top of' the 53*11 when doing strength work on the flat ...so I feel the position is OK and 'working' for me, if it wasn't for the numbness that I'm starting to worry is turning into permanent nerve damage! :eek:

Seat post is old Trek Ti with front part of clamp in line with centre of post and seat pushed forward 10mm from most rearward position.

Any suggestions regarding different seats, simply getting a new seat (do they really 'sag' or otherwise with age???) or other physiological advice gratefully received.

Also add, have tilted seat marginally down at front, and am pretty conscious of trying to stay back on the seat and ON my sit bones. I *think* that even when on my sit bones and hanging onto the drops, I still have a little pressure on nerves. Yeah, my knees can just touch my chest/stomach, but I can still breath fine...not sure what to do.

I had a similar problem a few years back. I tried many different saddles, none of witch solved my problem. I went back to my old Flite. It cleared up for me after making slight adjustment to my position. I change my stem to give me a little more rise, change my bar to set of anatomical, and made very slight adjustments to my saddle height. I had ridden the same set up and position for about 8 years. I would start with raising the bars 1-2mm and see that doesn't help. If the pain is that bad please get checked by the doc.
Good luck
Dave

Thanks Dave. Your suggestion to see a Doc really made me sit up and think. I don't like to whinge, but past a certain point, you DO have to take action.

I still have a 5mm spacer sitting on top of the threadless stem...I didn't cut the steerer off for just this reason (so I could raise it a little, just in case) , tho I was more thinking it would be when/if I sold the bike. Anyway, even with a 5mm spacer, I'd be plenty low still...maybe I have simply gone a little too extreme.

I haven't actually owned a Flite before, odd as it seems considering they're so common. I had several Selle Italia Turbo models tho. I've just been cruising a Selle Italia range online in OZ...the "Trans-Am" models sound interesting....supposedly curved, with a kinda scoop for the front flesh area. I am cautiously curious....might just start another thread asking for any experiences with this range of seats.

Thanks again.

I tried one saddle that had the nose that flexed, I thick it was a Squarda. I didn't mean that you need a Flite, that was saddle that I started with and went back to. I went for a Turbo to the Flite. If you want to try different saddles I have a Flite gel and the Squarda still setting around. I tried the saddles with the cut outs and they didn;t work for me, they made my sit bone soar.
If you can see if you can get more rise out of stem by flipping it over. I would add the 5mm and see if it helps. If you ride on the hoods, try moving them up on the bars a little.

Don't worry, I'm not obsessing that I "must get a Flite". I had a Squadra once too...seems like a looong time ago now, but can only be about 5 years or so. :p I think I've tried 'em all.

Making sure the seat is wide enough for your sit bones is a good tip I've read. My present Fizik is pretty broad, but I think coz it is so flat, I'm still getting 'hung up' on middle bit. I'm sure I recall on some of my other seats in the past, being able to move back and UP to get my sit bones planted and get my perenium off the nose a bit. Something with a bit of curve, rather than being dead flat, might be solution, I think. That's not such a radical concept, and appears to be the thought behind the Selle Italia "Trans Am" models.

I don't know which I more loath to do: spend money needlessly trying seats out, or to compromise a perfectly workable low position which most cyclists strive for. I'll work it out either way...the Fizik dosn't owe me anything anyway, it's done a lot of miles and a few crashes and recovers. It's good to get some outside input tho...makes things a little clearer when you starting to wonder if you're just going soft. :p

If you go to Hetchins web pages (don't know the address, just search and you will find it) they say that bikes are made to small these days and that the riding position is critical to this type of problem, (really nice frames there aswell).