Advocacy & Safety - Another PR release by doctors who never saw anything short of a fat cruiser saddle.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1196254/Men-cycle-186-miles-week-face-fertility-risk.html

-Kurt

that seems like a particularly bad study. In summary, they tested 15 athletes and the ones that were riding their bikes moderate distances (for a racer) had sperm problems. There could be any number of other factors that influenced that problem. The pro peloton has many more miles per week than 186, and there doesn't seem to be any problem with them having children.

Precisely. Bad saddle positioning by a semi-rookie, I'd bet.

-Kurt

The relationship between low sperm counts and tight clothing is nothing new. There are also reported dietary and chemical/pesticide relationships.

tight clothing may be why this is a problem for triathletes and not pro cyclists. I've never had a pair of bike shorts that were particularly tight in the area of my reproductive system. Still doesn't excuse people publishing a study that looked at 15 people and came to such a sweeping conclusion. People have been riding bikes in their current form for over 100 years. If there was a problem like this, we would know.

Higher temps are a strong factor for reduced sperm quality. Pressure, blood flow are factors for ED.
Two different issues.

Tight fitting clothing, reduced airflow and high physical exertion will increase temps in the critical areas.

Improper saddle/bike fit may cause issues with pressure/blood flow.

Again two different issues, two different potential causes.

any heat-related problem with spermatogenesis is temporary, anyway. There is a reason they hang outside your body. High temps do result in temporary count drops, but there isn't any they wouldn't recover.

Just another example of the vast and powerful recumbent conspiracy. Or, perhaps, just half-vast.

just go the Lance Armstrong route and have your junk removed, problem solved!

If you can't figure out that your clothes are too tight, you have no business reproducing....

If you can't figure out that your clothes are too tight, you have no business reproducing....

Briefs are tight enough to effect sperm counts.

Are you sure it wasn't due to steroid use?

What's the big deal? It's not a permanent condition; the only permanent condition is death. If you're trying to have kids, you're OBLIGED to get off the bike for awhile, and get ON your wife! Nature will take its course, in its own time....

It's not published yet - it was a preliminary report presented at a conference. If if gets published we can critique it more thoroughly.

I'm unsure about testicular temperature being the problem here. Last semester I came across an article in my school library's data base about cycling and testicular temperature. It said there cycling did not cause any problems.

So I know I will have to back up my post so I will try to come back with the article.

I am pretty sure even without use of a thermocouple that when riding in 100, 110F likely even 90F temps that testicular temp is not going to be below 98.6F where it should be.

'special molecules' *snort*

Briefs are tight enough to effect sperm counts.

So is academic funding ;)

Cycling shorts do have a nice insulating pad right about in the area affected.

Sometimes the experts can be wrong. It's always a good idea to get a second opinion before you rush to judgement.




"My friend, Joe has been having pretty serious headaches everyday for the last 20 years. Joe finally goes to the doctor to find out what is going on.

The doctor says, "Joe, the good news is that I can cure your headaches. The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition, which causes your testicles to press on your spine and the
pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove your testicles."

Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything to live
for. He had no choice but to go under the knife. When he left the
hospital, he was finally without a headache...the first time in 20
years, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself. As
he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different
person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.

He saw a men's clothing store and thought, "That's what I need...a new
suit." He entered the shop and told the salesman, "I'd like a new suit."
The elderly tailor eyed him briefly and said, "Let's see...size 44
long." Joe laughed, "That's right, how did you know?" "Been in the
business 60 years!" the tailor said.

Joe tried on the suit...it fit perfectly. As Joe admired himself in
the mirror, the salesman asked, "How about a new shirt?" Joe thought for
a moment and then said, "Sure." The salesman eyed Joe and said, "Let's
see...34 sleeves and 16-1/2 neck." Joe was surprised, "That's right, how
did you know?" "Been in the business 60 years." Joe tried on the
shirt...it fit perfectly.

Joe walked comfortably around the shop, and the salesman asked, "How
about some new underwear?" Joe thought for a moment and said, "Sure".
The salesman said, "Let's see...size 36." Joe laughed, "Ah ha! I got
you, I've worn a size 34 since I was 18 years old."

The salesman shook his head, "You can't wear a size 34. A size 34 would
press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one
hell of a headache."

New suit - $400
New shirt - $36
New underwear - $6
Second opinion - PRICELESS"

Cycling shorts do have a nice insulating pad right about in the area affected.

Sometimes the experts can be wrong. It's always a good idea to get a second opinion before you rush to judgement.




"My friend, Joe has been having pretty serious headaches everyday for the last 20 years. Joe finally goes to the doctor to find out what is going on.

The doctor says, "Joe, the good news is that I can cure your headaches. The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition, which causes your testicles to press on your spine and the
pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove your testicles."

Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything to live
for. He had no choice but to go under the knife. When he left the
hospital, he was finally without a headache...the first time in 20
years, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself. As
he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different
person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.

He saw a men's clothing store and thought, "That's what I need...a new
suit." He entered the shop and told the salesman, "I'd like a new suit."
The elderly tailor eyed him briefly and said, "Let's see...size 44
long." Joe laughed, "That's right, how did you know?" "Been in the
business 60 years!" the tailor said.

Joe tried on the suit...it fit perfectly. As Joe admired himself in
the mirror, the salesman asked, "How about a new shirt?" Joe thought for
a moment and then said, "Sure." The salesman eyed Joe and said, "Let's
see...34 sleeves and 16-1/2 neck." Joe was surprised, "That's right, how
did you know?" "Been in the business 60 years." Joe tried on the
shirt...it fit perfectly.

Joe walked comfortably around the shop, and the salesman asked, "How
about some new underwear?" Joe thought for a moment and said, "Sure".
The salesman said, "Let's see...size 36." Joe laughed, "Ah ha! I got
you, I've worn a size 34 since I was 18 years old."

The salesman shook his head, "You can't wear a size 34. A size 34 would
press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one
hell of a headache."

New suit - $400
New shirt - $36
New underwear - $6
Second opinion - PRICELESS"

:B

Win