BigMo59

I bought myself a new Surly Disc Trucker a couple weeks ago and a Brooks B17 standard at the same time. The seat felt good on the test ride but on my first 21 mile ride I noticed genital numbness, something I'd never experienced. I stayed off the bike a day and got some bike shorts and tried it again. I rode 21 miles that morning and 20 miles that evening and the numbness returned. I really want to love this but don't know if it's a matter of "break-in" or wrong saddle. I've ridden a comfort bike for 2k miles in the last year so I know I'm sitting different now. Sore butt, I can put up with but this problem ain't gonna work. I appreciate any insight from the more experienced clydes. If I'm being a whimp, just tell me

JerrySTL

I'd look at the saddle adjustment. Nose up too far? Do you find yourself sliding forward on the nose of the saddle? Seat too high?

BigMo59

tried several different adjustments. If I get the nose down a little, I feel like I'm sliding forward all the time. Yesterday I moved the seat forward and that seemed to help a little but I could still feel the numbness.

gandrimp

My B17 has around 750 miles and is just now getting comfortable. I have a velo-orange with around 400 miles that's very comfortable. Tough it out.

Black wallnut 

Try a different saddle, numbness is nothing to mess with.

UpstateSCBiker

I know this is basic, but are you positioned on it properly? Are your sit bones where they need to be or are you too far forward because you don't want to hang off the back?

I tend to stand a little while riding to make sure the blood flows where it needs to.

BigMo59

I'm gonna try riding to the rear of the saddle, problem is unless I have the horn pointed up slightly, I drift forward or put too much stress on my arms ( I think). I've tried several sitting and seat positions and haven't came up with a comfortable place yet.

ColonelSanders

I had the exact same problem as you(maybe even worse than you) with my B190 and for now I have changed seats, but soon I'll be revamping my bike and considerably raising the stem/threadset height, which should fix the sliding forward problem, so will try out the B190 once again.

If the height of your handlebars is too low and you need to lean forward a bit, then sliding is a real problem.

Hopefully once my handlebars are a lot higher, all my problems will be sorted out.

MAK

I think that Colonel Sanders found the problem. I have a B-17 Narrow on a ss/fixie and the handlebar is fairly low so sliding is a problem and the seat isn't as comfortable as I'd like. When I put a regular B-17 on my Trek 520, I also raised the handlebars so they are maybe 1" higher than the seat. The seat is perfectly level and I couldn't be happier. Two weeks after installation, I did a seven day 450 mile tour and the whole ride was perfectly comfortable.

Everyone is different but for me, a somewhat upright position on my touring bike makes all the difference.

Good luck.

bassjones

That saddle is best with a fairly upright position. If you're in a lean forward position, the B17 narrow is usually a better option and if you're experiencing numbness, the Imperial version of either (has the cutout). Or the Selle Anatomica. Genital numbness is not something to tough out though. At least not if you like having a sex life...

JerrySTL

That all makes sense. I put a B-17 Imperial on my road bike with aerobars. It's didn't go well. However I put the same saddle on my upright touring bike and it is a pleasure to ride on (once I got about 500 miles on it).

Mithrandir

I love my B17.

I've found that the claims of a "break-in period" are overstated in my experience. All of mine have been instantly comfortable and I've never needed a break-in period.

Numbness would indicate some sort of a fit issue, so I would play around with that at first. But I wouldn't recommend "toughing it out" where numbness is concerned. The goal of cycling is to enjoy the sport, not to punish ourselves. Especially as clydes, we owe it to ourselves to enjoy this sport as much as possible, lest we get dispirited and quit.

BigMo59

Thanks a bunch for all the input. I'm gonna start by installing an adjustable stem to raise the handlebars and play around with the seat tilt some more. Thanks again to everyone

gjhsu

Don't let it get too bad. Numbness, as has been mentioned, is no bueno.

I thought I could get used to the Fizik Arione that came on my bike. In all respects, it's a fantastic saddle. But for me, it was a taint-wrecker, so now I'm trying the Antares VSX with the deep channel. Hopefully it works out!

Don't be afraid to try other saddles, even if that one is one you had your heart set on... best of luck finding the right fit!

alfonsejr

Same here, no break in and very comfortable. Numbness isn't something to tough out. A sore butt you can tough out for a week or so but numb privates, I would say, means you need a different saddle. I set mine up with nose slightly up to keep from sliding. Good luck!

BigMo59

I think I've figured out what's going on. I think my belly area is putting to much pressure where it shouldn't when I'm riding in the more road like position.
The only way I know how to fix the problem immediately is to raise the handlebars until some more belly goes away. I'm down to 265 from 350 so hopefully I can keep this going and take the riser off at some point. That's the only thing I can think of at the moment. I thought about buying a saddle with anatomical relief but I don't know if that would help or not. Does this make sense to anybody?

CycleryNorth81

Life is too short to break in an uncomfortable saddle.

ColonelSanders

I think you have totally nailed the issues that have been troubling you and are now absolutely doing the right thing.