garethzbarker

My wife just started riding with me a few months ago. I'm really happy. Not long ago the news here issued a warning to female cyclists that riding a bike will cause genital problems. She's really worried and always thinking about it. I know about men's problems but not really women. For me I always make sure I can feel my sit bones and I make sure I have lots of airflow to my private area so it doesn't heat up too much. What do women do to protect themselves? What do I need to know to help her avoid problems so she can relax and enjoy the ride? She's really off to a decent start and I'd hate to see her quit now.

CbadRider

Women can get numbness or pain if there is too much pressure on nerves, just like men. If she has discomfort or numbness, she should check that her bike is fitted correctly. If the fit is good and she's still having issues, she needs a different saddle.

I have a saddle with a center cutout and it's comfortable for 100+ mile rides.

ben4345

If I remember correctly, it's really the same concepts that men use. Women may need wider saddle though.

Doohickie

Also, wearing women's cycling pants can help (or so my wife says).

TurbineBlade

My wife does fine with padded shorts and a brooks b67. She needs to have it tilted downward more than I do for mine, but whatever keeps her on the bike!

fietsbob

And the setup, so pelvis rotation forward is minimized, will help.

Don't make the reach to the bars.. too far ..

stevebiker

I guarantee this thread will set an all-time record for views, very quickly.

Nightshade

If I remember correctly BF used to have a women's only forums that one had to ask for admission to keeping the freaks out so women could discuss their concerns/issue freely.

Ask Admin Tom Stormcrowe about the women's forum................

ahsposo 

Uh, huh.

Sure.

SlimRider

Now that was absolutely uncalled for!

Condorita

Only women are allowed in the women's forum (except for the occasional token male mod, of course). I believe the invitation comes after the profile is filled out with gender info.

JanMM

I got invited to the women's forum but respectfully declined.

Jan the Man

Machka 

Some tips:

-- Make sure the bicycle is set up correctly for her.

-- Make sure the saddle is wide enough for her, but not too wide.

-- Make sure the saddle is not too soft (gel saddles can be a problem).

-- She will be more comfortable if she develops a strong core.

-- Developing a strong core will help her sit on her sitbones, rather than putting pressure anywhere else.

-- Tucking the pelvis under helps. Sit up straight on a hard chair and suck your abs in. You'll notice that the front part of your "sitting area" lifts up. That's good. That's what you want when you're sitting on a bicycle. But that's hard to maintain if you don't have a strong core.

-- The right pair of cycling shorts can help. For me, those are cycling shorts with very thin, smooth padding. The newer styles of shorts with all the lumpy padding in them are terrible ... very uncomfortable ... too much pressure in all the wrong spots.

-- Move and stretch - stand up on the bicycle now and then. If the ride is long, get off the bicycle and walk around and stretch once every couple hours.


I've logged over 140,000 km in the past 20+ years, including four 1200K randonnees and all sorts of shorter (but long) rides leading up to those, and I rarely have any sitting area issues of any sort.

garethzbarker

Thanks so much Machka, it sounds very similar to what I've said to her but
she will probably feel better hearing it from you
We want to have a baby in the next couple of years so she is nervous. I personally do take measure to ensure pressure and too much heat away from my privates (sitting on the sit bones only, not too much padding, knees straight rather than in to allow air flow, ect). I've never had my sperm count measured but I feel safe that I'm causing less heat and friction biking than power walking. Also, I think cycling could make her healthier which could make pregnancy easier on her.

garethzbarker

I have a lot of female friends that complain about pressure in the vagina area, I try to explain that's not good. I think the problem is for men testicle pressure is unbearable. But women tend to grin and bare it; this causes problems. I rode with two girls last weekend complaining about it but they didn't seem to be planning to fix it. I know a girl that actually bleeds from riding but refuses to get a new saddle. I think she likes the way her current saddle looks.

Machka 

Cycling does not need to be that uncomfortable!

chaadster

I bet it does, you randy bastard!

Really, this thread is too much! First the OP says he ventilates his junk to keep it from overheating on the bike, and now this?!

Really...stop it...you're killing me!

Beachgrad05

Im a woman and have not seen any women's forum...

garethzbarker

I'm glad my nads entertain you so much Chaad but this isn't a new topic or a joke. There has been a lot of debate on cycling and men's sexual health for a long time. but a recent study at Yale concluded cycling decreases women’s sexual sensation. It's an actual problem... I 'ventilate my junk' for the same reason I wear a helmet or a baseball catcher wears a mask, for protection.

Machka 

You're only new here. You have to be here several months before the female mods will contact you about it.

a1penguin

Now THAT is down right scary. Pain, yes. Numbness, yes. Bleeding? See a doctor.

I'm not sure padded shorts help, but moving around, standing, etc do help. I generally don't have any issues for the first 20 miles.

TurbineBlade

It's pretty pathetic that women have to have their own forum to ask questions because many males are such idiots that they'd "locust" all of the threads with stupid comments. That's really pretty sad, and I'm a male.

Machka 

Yes, but some women just feel uncomfortable talking about women-specific cycling-related issues in a mixed forum. Some of our issues can get pretty personal.

chaadster

Alright, never minding your humorless state, aside from doing what you can to ensure your wife's bike is properly setup, that she has good equipment, and that she's exercising best-practices while on the bike (e.g. varying her seated position, standing, changing hand position, etc.), you might want to consider some professional therapy for her, because she should not be "really worried" or thinking about it "all the time" as you say she is. That's the real problem.

garethzbarker

awww come on. We aren't going to go wife bashing are we haha? She just doesn't know about bikes and believes what she reads in the paper. Also her vag is more important to her than cycling . She was happy to read Machka's post though. I think she doubts my knowledge on the matter a bit.

If I seemed humorless sorry, I'm usually quite loose.