flippinwet

Ok, I'm sure there have been many a discussion on this subject but I thought I'd start a fresh one.

So do get to the long and short of it (as it were) what is the affect of cycling on your manhood?

I have been cycling for almost a year now, mainly commuting 7 miles each way to work on a cross-breed mountain/road bike. I completed my first few triathlons last year and started venturing into longer cycles on the weekends. I recently bought one of those sadles that allows extra blood flow for your "bits". I also wear cycling shorts too.....

I am planning on moving over to a proper road bike this year (I have no idea how I'm going to chose one of those with all the thousands of different models out there - I think I'll be back on soon for advice about that too!!) So I was just wondering if there is anything I should know that can definitely prevent any problems.

I have had the odd twinge here and there, nothing to worry about and no problems but as many men do at the first sign of a twinge I fear the worst and really would like to start a family at some point without any hicups.

Your thoughts/advice would be most welcome......

Davet

If you were to ride long enough to affect your "manhood" you would know it! Pain, extreme numbness and more pain would let you know.

On a more serious note, from what you have stated, it doesn't appear that any 'family' problems will be caused by bicycle riding.

2manybikes

The cut out saddle is a repeat of a fad from the 1800's. It's not needed. The effect you get from cycling is strong legs and good endurance.

hi565

for other things

scarry

No effect whatsoever if you ride a recumbent.

jeff williams

GO PUT SOME CLOTHES ON IF YOUR TYPING ON B.F!

jeff williams

No it hasn't affected my 'performance'.


But my bike makes me hot 'n bothered.

Problem is.... know how you name boats, bikes, girls names.
Well my bike already has a name, Ritchey.
It's a boy, I checked..has a little 'thinger' behind the chainring.

I'm feeling ...confused.

2manybikes

Chuvak

they're probably got swollen.....

soda

You'll be interested in this recent 2002 study:

Southorn, T.; (2002) Great balls of fire and the vicious cycle: a study of the effects of cycling on male fertility. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 28(4):211-3

Here is the abstract:
Over the past few years we have been bombarded with publicity telling us to do more exercise in order to reduce our risk of developing heart disease. Also, as commuter traffic increases and petrol prices rise, workers are constantly looking for quicker, cheaper and greener ways of travelling short distances. As a result of this, bicycle sales have risen exponentially. However, as the popularity of cycling increases, so do the fears that spending hours in the saddle every day may not be as beneficial as first thought. For many years now reports in the literature have suggested that exercise in general, and cycling specifically, may actually increase an individual's risk of developing problems in the male reproductive system. In this report I will review the evidence available in the literature, paying special attention to cycling and the risks of developing testicular cancer, secondary impotence and, most importantly, the effects on male fertility.

The full article in pdf format can be found here:
https://miranda.ingentaselect.com/vl=...v28n4/s18/p211

You'll be interested in the references section since it lists other articles on the subject. You might be able click the links within the reference section to view those articles.

alanbikehouston

Traditional cyclists never had anything to worry about. The typical bike rider from 1890 to around 1990 rode on a saddle as wide as his rear, with his hands higher than the saddle, and most of his weight on his sit bones. Photo of the Tour de France from the 1960's showed even Pro's riding most of the time with their hands on the higher part of the bar, and the bar more or less level with the seat. Often on on nice Brooks saddles, carefully calibrated to the width of the rider's rear.

Then, Greg LeMond won the Tour with his bars sit two or three inches lower than his ultra-narrow seat. Lance has done the same. And, today, the majority of road bike riders ride with their hands several inches lower than their seat, and on seats too narrow to fully support their sit bones. The "Be Like Lance" thing has guys riding to Starbucks hunched forward with their weight on their crotches in a position that a Pro would use for only the last thirty seconds of a eight hour ride.

There is no doubt, that riding ten or twenty hours a week, month after month, in a forward position, with one's weight on the crotch rather than the sit bones is going to cause problems. For most guys, just an hour or two of numbness. But, for an unlucky few...

But, don't buy a saddle a wide as your rear, or raise your bars up higher than your seat. It will make you look "like an old lady", and add several unnecessary seconds to your best time getting from your house to Starbucks.

cyclezealot

About the effects of cycling on sex..Out couple hours seeing the opposite sex in lycra, plus escaping from lycra- parts are ready to breath....My wife is more than welcome to join me in the shower..
Anyone else share in that feeling...
But first maybe a power shake is in order,should the ride have been a strenous one...Any one else get annoyed when walking about the house in bike shorts and the spouse keeps snapping stuff...Most of the time such actions are welcome, however...
As Alan says..Sit on the sit bones and you will be ok...
I say attempting to stay in shape causes for a more active sex life.

DanO220

moderately wide, cutout saddles and a sensible bar position saved cycling for me - period. DanO

slvoid

Effects are good, I have the stamina to keep going for hours at a time. Keep riding folks!
Plus, if you sway side to side a little while you're doing it, like you're climbing, it's more pleasurable.

Ack! Forum police! *DUCKS!*

soda

Are you using one of those saddles with the cutouts?

Roody

If you're talking about having children--they almost always have hiccups when they're little.

slvoid

I meant with a woman! Arg, I should've been more clear with the innuendo...

slvoid

No, it feels pretty good with a woman.
You'll know what I mean when you get one.

soda

LOL.... classic misunderstanding. I dared not imagine the saddle thing. *cringe* Yes, yes, a woman. Gotta find me one that can give me kids that don't have hiccups though I'm just now finding out from Roody that there really is no guarantee that I'll get a kid without hiccups.

soda

the woman, the seat or you?

cyclezealot

Not sure what that fetish would be called..

my58vw

I do not think that the saddle messes with my manliness... of course I have never tried so I would not know. Most people ask me if wearing lycra and shaving my legs ruins my manliness... I do not think so... manliness is a function of your feeling and nothing else...

XzEn54321

If you lose a lot of weight (through biking of course) less fat in the groin area makes things look bigger!

'nother

Heh, only to oneself because now you can see without all of that fat in the way! ("you" used figuratively. I can only speak for myself. Hey! Mr. Johnson! Nice to see you after all these years!)

oldspark

The worst seat is the one with too much padding, after about 15 mins. of riding the junk got numb and stayed that way for the whole ride. After going back to a harder (he said harder) saddle the problem went away.
Exercise helps with blood flow so you know where I'm going with this-no viagra for us bikers!