joeya28

so I'm new to cycling and I've been doing a lot of it lately, every time someone finds out about my new hobby the first thing they said is that I'm going to have problems (down stairs) later in life. I was wondering how true this is I've read different things on the wed so i figured id ask BF for help. Will one type of saddle be better then the next, firm, soft, those goofy split ones? does the angle of the seat matter?

DJF

******************************????
ME TOO!!!!!!!!!
NOthing like newbies worried about their Johnson and friends

joeya28

its a topic that has me very concerned haha. what type a bike do you have, i red a CAAD9 R6 the saddle is very firm.

diziet

So let me get this straight. People who never ride are telling you that you're going to have problems, or old grizzled veterans of cycling are telling you you're going to have problems?

joeya28

people who virtual know nothing about cycling naturally I blew it off but when I found mixed answers on the web it raised an eyebrow. So I though it best to ask the people who would know.

cooker

The vast majority of people do not develope cycling related sexual problems, but it can sometimes happen. If you get numbness after riding you are doing it wrong. Make sure the saddle height and angle are right. If your saddle is too high it gives you a "wedgie", but if it's too low it hurts your knees. The saddle should be level or a very tiny bit higher at the front, as that keeps your butt back on the wide part. Your weight should be largely on your "sit bones" (or ischial tuberosities), not your "taint" (or perineum). Arch your back a bit to facilitate that. Stand up on the pedals for a bit if you feel you are getting numb. Use a fairly hard saddle - a spongy gel seat actually chokes the blood flow and can cause problems. Keep pedalling and share your body weight among your butt, feet and hands, rather than letting your dead weight rest on the saddle. Some people prefer saddles with a groove or cutout in the middle, others find that increases chafing. Some recommend "noseless" saddles, but they may cause you to put too much weight on your hands, or to have a little less control of the bike in rough terrain. Those are a few ideas.

DJF

Outside the sport the perception is that we will damage ourselves riding this style of seat.(I have a trek 2.3)The perception is so ingrained my entire family is more concerned about my prostate than the possibility of being creamed by a car!!!!