Ed in GA

What do you do with your boys/package when riding?

Push all to the left or right? Or, try and keep everything on top of the saddle?

Retro Grouch 

I never paid any attention and I've always been comfortable that way. Any saddle discomfort that I've ever had came from the rear of the seat.

maddmaxx 

Something I learned this year while learning to ride a TT bike in the extreme lay down position.
With Spandex (see there are other features), pull upwards as far as possible all parts and parcels and

Edit: For those with insufficient vision........replace the following word pin with restrain............

pin in place with the shorts. Thus when down in the drops or on the aerobars, the problem is somewhat removed from conflict.

This was actual advice from folks who do this for a living.

solveg

maddmaxx 

reference red shorts picture for details.

BluesDawg

Never a problem unless the shorts are too loose to hold the package in place (up and out of the way).

Ed in GA

I asked the question because I am getting some numbness. Could be that I have too soft of a seat on my bike.

stevesurf

Try rotating the seat a tiny amount clockwise, ride, check the effect. Keep doing this and try also moving the seat forward as well, but make only one adjustment at a time.

jim p

Somebody has to make a joke of this so I say duct tape everything out of the way.

Retro Grouch 

You might try one of the "anatomical" saddles with the groove down the center. I used Specialized Body Geometry saddles for several years. They were clearly superior to the saddles that I had been using previously but didn't completely relieve my "numb manhood". Since switching to Brooks saddles I haven't experienced any penile numbness.

cyclinfool

Sounds like you guys have too much junk in the trunk - for me, I have trouble finding things after a few hours of riding, particularly in the cold.

CACycling

^^^ +1/2 ^^^

maddmaxx 

My first option concerning placement is more intended for crushing pain, not numbness. The later is probably caused by pressure somewhat more aft. For example, if your saddle is pointed too far up, you are more likely to find it painful to ride in the drops. If the saddle is pointed too far down, you may slide forward all the time and end up sitting on the nose of the saddle too much. This is one cause of numbness.

Velo Fellow

Truly dedicated cyclists have chosen to have their packages removed. Weight weenies (poor choice of terms) can save anywhere from a few ounces to perhaps a pound or two. Numbness no longer an issue, and a more aero, forward position is possible. YMMV.

Metric Man

+1 on the Specialized saddle, very nice. I have this one and all my saddle issues went away.

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=40399

Tom Bombadil

I'm not sure I get it. Is there an instruction video available, say from Youtube?

10 Wheels

I use an extra large safety pin;
Can't seem to get the picture loaded?

The Weak Link

My package shrinks up into my abdomen, safely out of the way.

Spokes man

PIN????!!!!

solveg

Yeah. I know. They need to use a different word.

VROD

I just throw it over my shoulder and strap it down with my hydration pack

gcottay

(Since no saddle-related thread would be complete without a mention.)

Recumbent.

Spokes man

On a (slightly) more serious note, this is a case where lycra cycling shorts that fit correctly are functional, as BluesDawg points out.

*Still trying to clear my mind free of that "pin" verb used earlier in this thread.*

BCRider

There's a couple of posts here that tended to make my eyes sweat. "Pin" was a REALLY bad choice...

There's only been that one reference to tilting the saddle I see. Numbness doesn't come from the package being pinched, it comes from the area just behind and between having too much pressure on it. The bit just in front of the lower end of the crack. I'm sure there's a medical term for it.

The idea is to feel most of your weight on the two lower points of the pelvic bone. When you sit on the saddle you'll feel this. Lower the front a little at a time until you feel by far most of your weight on these two boney points and far less on that soft bit "inbetween". For some, like me, this means my saddle ends up with a good 5 to 6 degree nose down slope. A very odd angle to most folks here but it's what I need and it's based on how I'm built. If I had to ride laid over in a TT position it would end up more like 8 degrees and I'd be sliding off the darn thing all the time. Just another reason to avoid such serious riding I suppose...

A soft cushy saddle will definetly add to the problem. The seriously soft cushy saddles belong on beach cruisers where you're sitting totally upright. Any sort of agressive riding with a bit of leaning forward should have a firm but still somewhat compliant saddle to avoid very much sinking into it. If you have a softer saddle that squishes easily start with finding a harder one that deforms only under very firm but not quite painful thumb pressure. Many of these will have a center depression so you'll likely fix two issues with one alteration.... And I'm not reffering to the surgical option that some sicko above mentioned.....

X-LinkedRider

I don't think in ANY circumstance in life you are trying to sit on them, so I guess choose a side. Or get a seat that doesn't interfere. I ride on my tailbone and crotch no so much my groin, so they are never in the way.