phlydude

Went out on a 31 mile ride with a couple folks from here (ChefIsaac and Green427) and a couple not on here on Saturday. Was the 1st long ride on my new bike and I had upgraded the saddle to a Specialized Romin Comp Evo Gel. Well, imagine my surprise when I got home and showered and realized that I wasn't just numb from the cool air and wind, that the saddle had actually made me numb.

Now it is Tuesday and it is still numb...if it doesn't start improving, the urologist will be getting a call by Friday.

Was on the saddle for about 3 hours total and tried to get off when we took breaks and such but didn't take the time to stand up because the terrain was pretty flat and the wind was just enough that if you tried to take a break and coast a little, it would slow you down. Need to stay within eye sight of the stronger riders in the group!

Those with numbing of the penile tissue, how long did it last?

BTW - the saddle is off the bike and being returned - I am getting a Brooks B17 Imperial - no more monkeying around with LBS bullsh!+ with no real experience fitting a clyde rider to the right equipment (despite doing the specialized sit-bone measurement).

Neil_B

OK, first of all, calm down. Feeling will come back. Take it from me. Before I knew better I was wearing underwear under my bike shorts. Combine that with a 'helpful' rider who raised my saddle to the 'proper' height - for my longer leg - and I wound up riding a 75 mile week with rocking hips and a numb organ of increase. It took a couple of weeks, but function was unharmed (for urination at least - being single has drawbacks) and there were no long term problems.

To avoid a recurrence of the problem, think about what you could do to avoid it. Do you wear bike shorts? Is your saddle the right height? Are you standing at some point in the ride? While the saddle could be contributing to the problem, it's often bike fit or some other factor that's important, IMO.

phlydude

Bike shorts - yes (but was wearing thermal underwear and another pair of shorts over the bike shorts)
I am thinking the saddle is a little low - getting some pain on the inside of my knees
Trying where I can - the more experienced riders were picking up the pace a bit and it being my 1st long ride in a little while, I was dropping back - I stayed in the saddle to keep pedaling

The saddle is a bit shorter than the one it replaced and I have a strong feeling that the nose was digging in too far back opposed to where it should have been.

Thankfully, the wife isn't interested in my machismo this weekend...

Neil_B

It's nerve damage. It's not unlike the nerve damage you can get in your hand if you handle a telephone all day. (I had that too.) If you stop damaging them, they will repair.

As for your wife, since they are sensory nerves, things might feel a little funny, but you should be able to rise to any occasion.

(Oh, this thread is going to be fun for all the double-entendre!)

Mr. Beanz

I'd be upset too! Any LBS that said thermals and another pair of shorts over cycling shorts was the right equipment doesn't know what they are doing.

mprelaw

I've been comfortable in temps down to the mid-teens this winter, in unlined tights over bike shorts. There really is no need for thermals.

Oh, and I probably don't have as much natural insulation as most in this forum at 6'2" and 155 lbs.

nkfrench 

Glad that works for you.
"Natural insulation" works both ways. Yes, core temperatures are better protected. It's not that bone-chilling pain or hypothermia.
But surface blood vessels constrict and skin can be too insulated from muscles/heat sources on the most padded areas.
I've finished hard rides in mid 45F weather with red/purple blotches on torso/upper legs/butt that sting and burn like crazy when rewarming.

phlydude

I have lost over 200 pounds in the last 1.5 years or so and the temps are COLD when it is 50 or below...I would be out in shorts and a t-shirt when it was in the 30s before I lost the weight, now I wear a hat in the house when it is 68 in there.

The LBS guy did NOT tell me either way about wearing thermals over the bike shorts. I did that to keep my legs warm...I have venous insufficiency and varicose veins on the surface of my legs - they swell and can get cold very easily now with so much blood so close to the surface in those varicose veins (different from spider veins).
It was 45 and breezy (I'd say 10MPH or so pretty constant) so I wanted to keep my legs warm - I stripped the layers up top as I rode but didn't feel the need to go down to the padded shorts.

Really, when I compared the saddle to the one that came with the bike and I had rode a couple 10 mile trips on with no padded bike shorts, it was shorter in length and more curved at the back - I think the positioning of my butt and the up-curve then the drop of the nose being a little closer to the front didn't help.

youcoming

There is nothing wrong with wearing thermals over bike shorts, I do it all the time. Now camera angles can play tricks but to my eye it looks as if the saddle is not level and it's set way to far ahead on the rails, you might want to consider bringing saddle ahead a few milimeters. I'm not a professional though.

chefisaac

It was a great ride though. You did wonderful!

A few things:

- The picture shows that the seat should have been pointed down a little more.
- When you are on a ride, dont feel bad if you have to ask everyone to stop for a break. I did it a lot when I first started and still do. Neil taught me that riding should be FUN not a shore. And he is right.
- If you are EVER in pain, you need to stop and ask for help from others you are riding with. We can help you.
- Get the b-17 standard. You cant go wrong. If you dont like it, return it or I will buy it off you. I think you will really like it.
- I know there are other places but I would suggest going into a bike shop in philly (will have to look up the name) and talk with them abotu the brooks saddles. I did the same thing and they walked me through it all. It was great. Then you can buy it from them or somewhere else as you please.
- Saturday was windy. Try to draft off someone. It will help.
- Also practice with your cadence. It will take the pressure off your knees.

jethro56 

I've talked to a few other people that lost a lot of weight and their experience matched my own. 75 degrees feels chilly that first winter. This winter 70 is comfortable. It'll get better.

P.S. Is that seatpost infinitely adjustable. If so what is it? My Madone has that type and I really like it.

phlydude

Camera angles do play tricks - the level was brought out and it was leveled in the correct spot.

It was in a similar position on the rails as the one I took off - it might have been able to come ahead about 2-3mm

phlydude

It is infinitely adjustable
It is a:
Felt UHC Performance Carbon Fiber Design, Forged Aluminum Head, Twin Side Clamp Bolts, Ø27.2mm, 330mm

phlydude

The funny thing is that I wasn't in pain (aside from sit bones hurting a little) - in fact, it still doesn't hurt - just feels numb - like when your fingers get too cold - you know they are there and can feel pressure and such but the surface is numbed

DaHaMac

I have been freezing this year here in Gawga and we haven't even had a winter! Of course I've dropped 150lbs since last winter. I am relieved to hear of others with this same experience. I really hope that it means that summer will not be as miserable as in the past!

BTW, when I saw the picture of the saddle on the bike I thought it looked like a Camel's nose. I mean that it appears to have a hump in the wrong place or the right place if you want Mr. Happy to be numb. I have found that for me as I have lost weight that I have had to nose the front my saddle down just lower than level. I have dropped the nose on the saddle down a little since this picure was taken in mid December.

himespau 

So is it like a tingle like it's fallen asleep, or like a deadened lack of feeling? I've found that when I get tired I tend to slide more forward on my saddle and that ends up leading to a sort of tingling feeling. Goes away after a bit, but kind of scary nonetheless.

green427

Did you try massaging your penile tissue to see if the feeling came back?

I've had some numbness in certain areas, but it was always temporary. The numbness was present during my first few long rides. One thing I noticed was you did not stand up while pedaling on steep hills, do you think you could practice doing that? It should help keep your circulation going.

sstorkel

There's no guarantee that a B17 will cure your issues. The two worst saddles I've ever tried were a Specialized Toupe Gel... and a Brooks B17. Both get rave reviews all over the place, but they didn't work for me. The B17 felt like it would only work if you had a very upright riding position. If you're set on ordering a B17, I would suggest buying from Wall Bike; they have a very liberal return policy in the even that the saddle doesn't end up working for you.

Personally, I think it makes more sense to buy saddles locally; easier to return them if they don't work out.

paisan

Phly, I would see about setting the saddle fore/aft in the correct spot first. You have it slammed all the way back and there's a good possibility that you may have been sitting on the more forward part of the seat as you were pedaling. Here's a link to another recent thread where I explained to another poster how to check the fore/aft position.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...th-my-Fitting!

magohn

You've lost 200 lbs in 1.5 yrs! Wow - first of all congrats! Any tips?

I did back to back centuries last summer and I literally had numbness in two of my toes for 4 months. Due to lack of decent medical coverage, I decided ot wait it out. All back to normal now but I was a little worried for awhile. Perhaps if my numbness was in your numbed area Id be more motivated for a quick-fix

green427

It is a trade secret......

goldfinch

I am one of the weight losers that also feels the cold like never before. I'm so glad that I am not up north this year or I would be wrapped in a wool package, unwilling to move.

Good luck on resolving the saddle issues. I've heard (probably on this forum) that it is a mistake to go for a long ride when you first have a new saddle and it takes a bit to adapt to the change, plus you might have to fuss with the saddle placement, which is difficult to do on long rides. I recently started using my clipless pedals. The first ride was really miserable. My knee hurt and I was sliding off my seat. I went for a couple more shorter rides and without changing anything (except wearing less slippery shorts) all is fine. I had adapted to my replacement pedals and I needed to re-adapt to to the clipless.

So, whatever saddle you use I would do a series of shorter rides with it as you dial it in and as your butt gets used to it.

Mr. Beanz

The OP is complaining that the LBS did not fit him to proper equipment. Proper equipment would be cycling tights not thermals and other shorts. I'm pretty sure other shorts have seams.

CraigB

If it's the usual malady, there's no tingling involved, the feeling in the area just disappears. I always likened it to having someone take a giant art gum eraser and wiping out that part of your anatomy. It's just gone, for all sensory intents and purposes. It has happened to me on occasion, usually more often when riding a trainer than on the road, presumably because I never got out of the saddle when on a trainer. On the road I'm up and around and changing positions. But whenever it has happened, the feeling has always come back within a few seconds.

dave5339

After reading this, I think I like my recumbent more and more!

Just another reason to come to the dark side of cycling! No numbness!

Semper Fi