yendor28

Hi,

What should I wear on my lower half when cycling?

I usually just wear underwear and shorts or pants over the top. However, I have heard that cyclists can have problems with impotence and sterilization. Perhaps this is an urban myth?

Regardless, my lower regions have gone numb a couple of times on longer rides.

What are my best options for my health?

* please show pictures and price if you can

** I am in Perth, Australia

Thank you!

Eggplant Jeff

Well, it's really more a matter of what NOT to wear... and the answer would be condoms.

Seriously though, get a nice firm bike seat that supports you by your butt bones instead of by your s and you'll be fine. Numbness is a sign of a problem, it's most likely NOT what you're wearing but instead the bike seat.

Underwear Nazi will tell you not to wear underwear, but I think he's more concerned with saddle sores than damage to your genitalia.

ItsJustMe

Urban legend. But do get a good saddle and read up on how to adjust it properly.
Do try to avoid the "gel" saddles. They seem more comfortable but on long runs they cause trouble. Your "sit bones" sink down into the gel, and that allows the middle part to come in more solid contact with the horn. This is not good. What you want is for the sit bones to be properly supported.
There are some saddles with grooves down the center but IMHO they're mostly a gimmick and are unnecessary if the saddl efits you correctly in the first place.

jyossarian

Use a recumbent bike and boxers. Or freeze some sperm today.

yendor28

I have a good seat with the groove down the middle. I have heard of padded pants and the like. I assume that are unnecessary considering no one has mentioned them?

*edited typo of goo seat when I meant to write good seat

marqueemoon

Wear something attractive.

cooker

The clothes are not so much the problem. The problem is pressure on the pudendal nerve and on arteries in the perineum (crotch) due to too much pressure from the front of the seat.

The fix might involve changing the height or tilt of your seat, or moving it forward or back on it's rails, changing to a different seat, or even moving your handlebars.

In each case, it's not always obvious which way to go. For example, tilting the nose of the saddle down a bit might relieve the pressure, or it might make you slide forward onto the narrower part and make the situation worse, as well as putting more pressure on your hands as you constantly have to push yourself back. Tipping the nose of the saddle up might increase the pressure, or it may slide you back onto the wider part of the saddle, and help the problem. And so on.

It should certainly be possible for you to find a comfortable arrangement. Here's an article on this topic by Sheldon Brown, something of a revered cycling guru: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

cooker

The goo and groove might actually be part of the problem. As your ischial bones sink into the goo, the sharp edges of the groove might be digging into your vital tissues. A firm seat might actually be better.

"Padded" shorts doesn't necessarily mean they are thick like a diaper. It means they have a panel of soft, fuzzy synthetic material in the crotch (in past years it was soft chamois leather) that provides softness and some relief of chafing. You wear them next to your skin with no underwear, and ideally with no outerwear either. They are considered essential for serious cycling, and may prevent saddle sores, but probably don't prevent numbness.

mac

I swear by my Brooks Pro Saddle. Tough, firm, leather to support your "sit bones" and removes pressure from your pubic area. As for clothing, I wear bike shorts / tights both with and without padding.

Having your penis go numb is very bad. You are putting pressure right down the middle of your bottom.

MichaelW

You also have to examine your overall riding position.
Is your saddle the correct height and layback from the pedals.
Are you bars at at suitable drop from the level of your saddle.
Is the reach to the bars OK.
If your basic position is bad then no amount of faffing around with different saddles will help.

The most important aspect of saddle comfort is the shape. It must match your own rear-end configuration and support you on your sit bones. Sit on a wooden bench and introduce yourself to these two friends then see if your saddle supports them.
As stated, firmness is better than squishyness.
Brooks leather saddles are the only tyre to adapt to your shape. They are a bit heavier and require some care but are very comfortable.
In hot climates, look for some ventelation holes in the middle section.

WhiteRabbit

I like my saddle with a groove, I can really notice the blood flows much better than on my old one. Also, though I didn't believe it at first, the tight lycra shorts really do help hold you up off the saddle, making the ride more comfortable.

ken cummings

Let us try some lateral thinking. have you tried babysiting a couple of diaper and bottle aged kids non-stop by yourself for several days? No? Then try it before you decide you want kids. A good bike fit, firm saddle, and changing body position often solves the erectile dysfunction problem for me.

thdave

I'm 46 and about 5 years ago definitely noticed a decline in that area.

I wondered if it was from cycling and asked the doctor at my physical. He assured me it was natural and just an aging thing. He asked if I got numb while riding and I rarely ever do.

On to the seat. I definitely notice less stress on my rump since I got my new bike that has a suspension seat post. What a huge difference. I love it. And, it doesn't slow me down. I haven't been numb all winter riding with this seat.

geog_dash

Concur on the need for a good saddle. Make sure you sit with your sit bones on the wide part. Saddle should be close to level. Sometimes beginners fear the horn so they angle the saddle down "to get it out of the way." Then they slide forward onto it. Start with level saddle and make small adjustments from there.

Avoid heavy work clothes with thick seams, i.e. jeans. Cotton may be comfortable when dry, but it clings when it gets sweaty, and you'll end up wriggling and fighting it. Thick clothes get folds and wrinkles in all the wrong places. Synthetic fabrics and blends are best for both pants and underwear. Look for "wicking" fabrics and tight, unintrusive seams. Surprisingly, you want something smooth and slippery so that you can move easily to a comfortable position, and also have a feel for the bike.

If you go the padding route, look for something minimal. You don't want a big, sweaty cushion between you and the bike.

recursive

I was having some "issues", so I switched up my saddle to a Specialized Body Geometry. The "issues" cleared up within a month. I ride about 10 to 15 hours a week, but if you rid less than 5, the saddle might not matter that much.

cooker has it right.

threephi

Not an urban legend, unfortunately. It's widely acknowledged in the medical community that repeated, habitual periods of numbness down there can lead to impotence, and that numbness can be caused by extended time on an improperly shaped or fitted bicycle seat.

Roody

Gosh. I can't believe nobody mentioned the greatest invention of all time--cycling shorts with a good chamois. Everybody wears them, don't they? I get numb on long rides if I don't wear them, and just plain uncomfortable on short rides.

OOps. sorry cooker, I just noticed you mentioned them, and mac too. Good post!

catatonic

1) a good seat.

Specialized is in my opinion, the best in this regards...they even have an "ass-ometer" the store guys use to size you to specific saddle widths (yes, their saddle models come in multiple widths). Go find them and try them out. The Indie is a nice soft saddle, and very comfy. The Alias is a hard, but still painless saddle (you need shorts to be truly comfy).

2) shorts

Shorts work in unioson with many asddles...the padding adds to comfort, while the tightness of teh material allows you to keep your "boys" away from the "pinch zone" near the nose of the saddle....trust me, nothing hurts more than getting pinched...plus it tends to be a repeated occurance once it starts

You don't necessarily need shorts, but it does come in handy. I do not commute in shorts just because I have nowhere to hcange out of them...however on the weekends I am in shorts, even if clothing is worn over them. Just never wear underwear under the shorts...that defeats the purpose of the anti-chafing designs put into them as well as the moisture wicking designs.

RonH

Where's the Underwear Nazi when we need him?

Just wear regular cycling shorts. If you MUST wear underwear, wear cycling specific underwear. Something like this. The seam in regular underwear is VERY uncomfortable on the "lower regions".

breadbox

Anyone gotten a numb penis that lasted for more than a few days? I frantically need to know :-0

Patriot

The Terry Mens Fly Ti saddle has a substantial cutout in the center to prevent possible damage to the genital region. I know I really love mine. Also, I wear cycling shorts and no underwear when riding. It is much better than regular shorts.

RonH

Urban myth.


The seam in the underwear may be causing the problem. That's why MOST cyclists DO NOT wear underwear. Or if they do (don't know why) it's cycling specific -- like these or these.
Bike shorts (lycra or mtn style) are padded to protect the "land down under" from numbness, saddle sores, and to make riding more comfortable. Give them a try.

Saddle style and padding are also part of the solution.
My saddles are Terry Fly on my commuter and Selle Italia on my road bike. The cutout definitely helps.

DataJunkie

Cycling shorts! Purchase a nice pair and go commando.

I ride quite a bit each week (roughly 200 miles give or take a few). Trust me, I do not have any issues. Actually, maybe one issue..... the opposite of what you call impotence.

LittleBigMan

Try lowering the seat a tiny fraction of an inch.

cooker

I've read in some biking magazines of it lasting weeks (ghaah!). If so, it is a sign of very bad seat position. Keep your...um...hopes up!