Saddle with cut-outs, yes or no?
07-27-08, 11:38 PM
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Saddle with cut-outs, yes or no?
I know it's an age-old issue, just wondering about longer term potential issues, and your thoughts. Are saddle cut-outs simply gimmicky, rather than necessary?
8. MYTH: Bicycle seats cause damage to the testicles.
FACT: Evidence regarding bicycle seats pertains to erection, not fertility. Bicycle riding has been linked to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and abnormal perineal sensations in male riders. A 2007 Boston University study examined digital three-dimensional (3D) models of a pelvis, pudendal arteries and bicycle seats to evaluate the potential sites of compression of the vessels. The study, published in the January 2007 British Journal of Urology International found that a grooved seat is better than a standard seat, but the rider's position is more important for reducing compression than seat design alone. An individual's anatomy, seat design and rider position can all increase the potential for penile hypoxia and erectile dysfunction and perineal numbness.
FACT: Evidence regarding bicycle seats pertains to erection, not fertility. Bicycle riding has been linked to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and abnormal perineal sensations in male riders. A 2007 Boston University study examined digital three-dimensional (3D) models of a pelvis, pudendal arteries and bicycle seats to evaluate the potential sites of compression of the vessels. The study, published in the January 2007 British Journal of Urology International found that a grooved seat is better than a standard seat, but the rider's position is more important for reducing compression than seat design alone. An individual's anatomy, seat design and rider position can all increase the potential for penile hypoxia and erectile dysfunction and perineal numbness.
07-28-08, 01:00 AM
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there was an ebay ad for a seat that had the cut outs and it would go perfect in here
https://cgi.ebay.com/SMP-Composit-Sel...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/SMP-Composit-Sel...QQcmdZViewItem
07-28-08, 02:51 AM
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i've seen more than a few legitimate sources (mostly doctor's opinions/research) that say saddles with cutouts are better for fertility...i actually rode one for a while (a comfort saddle that came with my bike) and i'd have to say that it is actually more comfortable, too...it takes pressure off exactly where you'd want there to be none.
however, racing saddles with them cost more than i was willing to pay (>$100), so i just settled for a saddle without one. if i could get any saddle though, i would seriously consider a Toupe...looks sharp, seems comfy because of the right amount of flex.
however, racing saddles with them cost more than i was willing to pay (>$100), so i just settled for a saddle without one. if i could get any saddle though, i would seriously consider a Toupe...looks sharp, seems comfy because of the right amount of flex.
07-28-08, 05:04 AM
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07-28-08, 06:12 AM
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07-28-08, 06:34 AM
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07-28-08, 01:44 PM
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the more horizontal (aero) your back is when riding, the more important cutouts become. tri saddles have gel at the front to combat this (as well as cutouts). lots of fg riders today use a more upright position (risers, tops of drops), which reduces the need for cutouts or gel. additionally, these bikes usually don't see trips longer than 15 miles or so, further reducing the need.
07-28-08, 01:49 PM
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I have both the Toupe and Phenom. Since buying the Phenom, the toupe stays only on my geared roadie. The Phenom is their Mtb version. It doesn't snag my knickers, BDU's, or baggy shorts, like the Toupe does.
07-28-08, 01:50 PM
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I had lots of pain with saddles. Musta gone through about 6 or 7 plastic style seats... some gel... some soft... some with cutouts... all friggin painful. Then I heard about Brooks seats, in particular - the B.17. And back when Wallingford Bicycles had a B.17 for $58 with a 6 month unconditional return policy, I thought - what did I have to lose? My first B.17 I was sold. I bought 3 more in the years after. It's not that seats need a cutout in the center for your nuts to hang free - they just need the right anatomical shape for your body. They do one thing really well that most seats don't: they support you right on your buttbones so that you're already taking pressure off your junk. And the leather is a bonus too, surprisingly it had more 'give' than the softest plastic seats.
07-28-08, 06:22 PM
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It's a read--https://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2008/07/sex-and-the-cyc.html
07-28-08, 11:17 PM
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I've had the Specialized Toupe for almost 2 years now and it's a great saddle. It's unique in that I mainly ride in non-cycling specific clothes and it is still really comfortable yet lightweight.
