Neil_B

Isn't there something called "recumbent butt?"

Neil_B

I went through it my first winter. Second winter I was adjusted to it.

BTW, there are some amusing photos of a well-known poster suffering in the cold. I told you so Sayre. :-)

Neil_B

Even if he stood while coasting, that should be enough to allow blood to flow into the region.

BTW, the OP's recovery could be interesting. Mine took about a month, during which I didn't ride. Only curious side effect was that the increased blood flow to the region during the repair of the nerves led to some odd moments - I routinely awoke erect, for instance.

I suggest the OP ignore your advice about massage. A deaf cyclist is one thing. A blind one is another.

Neil_B

Ditch the thermals. Get insulated tights. You have too much compression and probably some bunching of the thermals.

The book Bike For Life has an entire chapter on 'the numbness problem.' Their suggestions for overcoming it include:

1. Stand more.

2. Stand when crossing railroad tracks, curbs, etc.

3. Stretch your hamstrings.

4. Ride using your glutes more.

5. Alter your riding position on long rides.

6. Make sure your saddle is fitted properly - right height, etc.

iforgotmename

This may be an over simplified approach but I would just go back to my old saddle.

phlydude

It is like a cold numb...it doesn't tingle and hurt like when you sleep on your arm and it goes to sleep...it almost feels numb like it has been used too much and is chaffed (but it isn't sore).

Weird feeling that still persists but is getting slightly better

phlydude

I only stood up on that last hill we took...most of the other ride was flat.
I think I stayed in the saddle more to avoid any wind resistance otherwise I would have stood more - on my Trek, I get out of the saddle often...but that bike I am more stable on it and used to being more mountain bike like than road bike...plus that saddle is a stock gel comfort saddle that hurts after a little while (haven't used padded shorts on it yet)

phlydude

I didn't do it alone...I had gastric bypass surgery last February. Lost over 130 pounds from that alone. The other 70 was really watching what I ate and doing a lot more physical activity than I was used to doing. Its amazing how much energy your body needs to maintain 500 lbs - 3000+ calories a day just to maintain. When you drop that to 1000-1200, your body sheds weight super quickly until it catches up with what you are doing.
1/2 the plate should be green or red veggies (peas are a no-no), 1/4 of the plate a protein (3-4 oz) and 1/4 the plate a carb (1/4-1/2 cup). No dessert, no eating after 7:30 PM
Weigh your food and measure it...it is amazing what a "single" serving is compared to what you are normally used to eating.

phlydude

I am going back to the stock saddle - the bike is back in the shop for its 1st tuning after this ride - shifting wasn't smooth and brakes getting sorted out

I am taking the replacement saddle back today @ lunch time...when I got it, I wasn't sure - my sit bones measured 153mm and they told me the 155mm saddle was the right one. I was hesitant but the LBS guy told me that this was the right one (coincidentally, this is the same guy that tried to talk me into a carbon frame when I was looking at aluminum and told me "you will be back in 6 mos. begging for a carbon frame") - I honestly feel, without seeing the fitting guide that Specialized publishes, that the saddle should have been at least 165mm based on the 153mm measurement.

Once the bike is back, I am taking it in for a proper fitting and paying the $$$ to have it done...this numb/deadness feeling has at least scared me into that.
I didn't buy tights because at the rate I am losing weight, I didn't want to spend the money to not have them fit next fall...being cheap but it is something I have to consider. It was tough enough to convince myself to buy bib shorts (ended up with Love2Pedal's 2 for $55 deal on Falconi bibs)

The new saddle was shorter than the OEM one and seemed a little narrower with more roundness to the back.
I am going to try a Brooks B17 though and going to get it from Wallbike.com because of the return policy. $111 plus proofide and shipping isn't a terrible deal given the 6 month return policy.

And I do need to stand more...

iforgotmename

I love my Brooks B17...good choice

Neil_B

So is this going to be a blog, with daily status updates on your member? :-)

Glad to read about the progress. Three cheers for your knob! :-)

Sayre Kulp 

It's true. I've been miserable all winter because of the cold. Happily, it's like spring out here right now!

Spoonrobot 

This is definitely the biggest factor. The Specialized saddles all have a downward curve in the rear that reduces the effective width that you can place your sitbones. Example; a saddle listed as 143mm wide actually has a usable sitbone area of 133mm. Get something wide and flat and your issue should go away with time.

The B17 looks to be @170mm wide so it will definitely help.

tony_merlino

To me, standing up and letting the circulation come back every couple of minutes or so is more important than what kind of saddle you have, or what kind of shorts you're wearing. Been there, done that with the numbness. It does go away after not too long. But you're right in getting it checked out if it hasn't gone away in a couple of days.

chandltp

I'm pretty sure he screwed up. I got my sit bones measured and they almost told me I needed X size saddle, which was really narrow. Then he realized he had to add sometime like 20 mm to the measurement for the right size saddle.

I didn't get it because they had no satisfaction guarantee though, even with the ass-o-meter (IIRC the correct name)

sstorkel

My local dealer covers saddle purchases under their standard 30-day return policy. You can return it within that window as long as it looks reasonably new. A wrap of electrical tape around the rails keeps them from getting scratched. I can tell within a ride or two whether a saddle is a loser or not. I've bought and return 3-4 different Specialized saddles; didn't like any of them. WTB, Selle SMP and ISM seem to work well for me. Luckily, I can find all of them locally...

gyozadude

I've been doing lots of rides during this winter in California - great weather. Most rides are 30 miles or more and I'm 280 lbs. I haven't had issues with numbness but then again, I think every rider is different. You may have other issues. But for me, I will tend to agree with others about not believing it's clothing/shorts related. I ride to scout out a route for my Boy Scouts - I am the current Troop Merit Badge Counselor for Cycling. And so I do lots of rides, most around 25 - 35 miles. On each ride, I rotate bikes. Some days a SS/Fixie, some days an old beater road bike, some days, a fat slick commuter, some days a flat bar. Different saddle on each, and a slightly different frame geometry. My backside has been toughened over time for sure, but I'm not immune to getting numb. The key for me is tilt and seat position relative to handlebars and hbar height. If I'm tilting too far down and forward on the seat, I will ache in the arms and shoulders because it's like trying to push back on my body weight sliding forward. If the nose is tilted too far up, though, I go numb. I also realize that at my age, I'm growing bigger prostate. So I level the seat sort of, ride around the block and then slide the seat forward and back to get that adjustment. It's usually when the seat is too far back and I ride on the nose of the saddle that I get numb. If I slide the seat forward a cm or two, it can improve the ride. But by changing saddles and bikes and riding styles, I stay flexible with my seating and I don't seem to suffer any numbness after the ride.

phlydude

Took the seat back at lunch today...tried to tell me to come back because they were "cash poor"...fancy bike shop with all kinds of Specialized and Felt bikes and the latest in fitting equipment and they don't have cash...because the place is more on my way home from work than close to my house, I just told him to put it back on one of my debit cards. Let's see if he can get that right...

So I can't buy my Brooks until this $$$ hits my account so I wait...

Spoonrobot 

The only reason it says "155mm and wider" is because that's the widest saddle Specialized makes.

phlydude

They do make recreational saddles like the Milano Sports Gel in 175mm
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=64286

Homeyba

I guess, since you already returned the saddle it a mute point but, I wouldn't have been so quick to toss the saddle. There could be a lot of reasons that it caused you to go numb. Did you get a fitting with the bike? Who positioned the saddle? You could very well have the same issue with the brooks if it's not positioned properly. Either way good luck with the new saddle. With the proper saddle/position you should be able to ride a thousand miles without going numb.

Sayre Kulp 

You need to get one of these!



I've been free of NPS (Numb Pud Syndrome) ever since!

chandltp

If they told me I had 30 days I would have walked out with one, but he said the saddle sales were final. Granted I may have gotten bad information. My local saddle selection is limited, but I'm looking at a recumbent for my long distance rides anyway.

chandltp

I wish you luck. I really wanted a Brooks to work, but I just couldn't get it to work. Even bought the VO long setback seat post (which thankfully I was able to sell).

Mongoeric

I've tried quite a few saddles in my quest for perfection. (Maybe not perfection but simply 'better')

I tried the B-17 and though it was comfortable from the start the numbness did not go away. I thought I was going to have to give up cycling.

My wife found an article by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) on saddles related to bike messengers and bicycle police. They recommended noseless saddles and I think named a few.

After looking and researching I tried the ISM Adamo saddle. It took a while for my sits bones to adjust but the numbness went away immediately. I recommend it highly. I'm sure there are other saddles that work, but that is where I landed.

Good luck