BikeNewbie

Hi,
I was riding today, on my usual 60min ride, approx 16 miles/25km, which I do about 3 times a week.
The last few weeks I noticed a "tingling" sensation in Mr. Willie while riding, over the past month. When I "adjust" him, he gets tingly like I almost have to pee. It happened again toay after about 20 min of riding, anyways to make a long story short, in the 50th minute i happened to brush Big Willie and there was no feeling at all, he was completely asleep, I raised up out of the seat and about 30 seconds later, after blood flow, there was feeling along with the tingling, which went away shortly after.
I am a little concerned. I am not sure if he was asllep on previous rides, as I never "felt" him while riding before. However as mentinoed above the few times over the past few weeks that I did adjust him, there was tingling about 20-30min into my 60 min rides.
I ride a Kona Fire Mountain. Since the handlebars on these bikes are non-adjustable and my seat is much higher than the handlebars - I lean forward. I am about 6'1, 220 lbs. I have been riding for about 4 years, about 5-6 months a year, about 45 -60 miles/week.

What should I do********** Help!

BikeNewbie

Eggplant Jeff

Tilt the nose of the saddle down more, and/or sit further back on the saddle (so your weight is resting on your sit bones instead of the soft tissue in the middle) and/or get a different saddle and/or raise the handlebars. What do you mean by "non-adjustable"? Are they threadless stems? You can get a stem extender, that is what I did on my Giant.

BTW: Don't hold back on the thread title . Get it right out there in the open.

aerodave

I was having problems with numbness in that area. After 40 minutes or so, if i'd stop for a breather, I would notice that my scrotum had fallen asleep. What an odd feeling...gives a more literal meaning to "numbnuts."

I remedied it very easily by adjusting my saddle. Turns out it was a little bit nose-up, and I moved it to perfectly level. Never happened again...which is good, because it's disturbing as hell.

foehn

Well what do you want--" Willie won't stay awake!" or "Mr. Happy rested in peace"? lol!

BikeNewbie

Hi,
Well this has never happened before so I am a little concerned. Yes, you cannot raise the Kona handle bars. My seat ios pretty high, as I am about 6'1 which means I do a lot of leaning forward. My bicycle seat is pretty much straight but I will try to lower it. I tried sitting back in my seat but it is impossible due to the reach I need for the handlebars, plus Kona makes the reach longer on their bikes I have found.
What about those seats I heard about that are supposed to be "male friendly", do they stop this numbness. I have heard that riding while numb increases the chance of impotence, and my hand would not like that too much (no gf right now).
Any help appreciated.
BikeNewbie
P.S. I cannot really lower the seat-level as it is at the right height for my height and whenever i do lower it, my knees take more of the load and begin aching!

DannoXYZ 

I've found that the saddles with the cut-outs don't work that well. The sharp-edge of the cut-out ends up digging into me. What's happening is, in order to make up for the long-reach, you're scooting forwards on the seat gradually and end up cutting off your circulation because the pressure's no longer on the wide sit bones back. Personally, I would try adjusting your saddle as far forward as you can and aim the tip downards 1-2 clicks. Then try getting a shorter wider saddle.

[edited by moderators]

DannoXYZ 

"P.S. I cannot really lower the seat-level as it is at the right height for my height and whenever i do lower it, my knees take more of the load and begin aching!"

Correct, don't lower the seat to make up for some other issue. You may also want to look into getting a taller stem with shorter extension as well.

Are your bars perfectly straight? If they're angled at all, you can rotate them so that they angle backwards to reduce the reach.

TexasGuy

<3 the title

Savas

They should make a saddle with two deep depressions for your nut sack.

Walkafire

Tis an "ART" to adjusting everything perfectly...

Saddle Height, Angle/Tilt, forward/back...etc.

Took me a couple weeks, but once ya get it...woohoo... your package will be normal again LMAO

boyze

Let the poor fellow sleep. He's apparently tired

Boise_Pedaler

Dear Bike Newbie, I once read a book on teenage promiscuity so Im somewhat of an expert in this field. Therefore I've delved into your message a little deeper than most and think I have struck upon your problem. You are obviously playing with [Moderator removed]

slagjumper

I hope at least, Mr. B. Willie still comes out to play at night while you are sleeping. Really though this is nothing to joke about. I would consider a new seat. I have a friend who swears by the 2 pad and no nose seat. I like to ride but I still have to take care of business. I hear some women's woo hoos can fall asleep too. The seat should not be tilted back any further that level with the street, a bit down is ok too.

jakemoffatt

Still laughing at the thread title, 30 minutes later...

TexasGuy

I had to take a peek and reread the comments

KeithA

Mine fell off...twice, but each time my wife sewed it back on for me.

foehn

I'm still laughing at the euphemisims used: Big Willie, Mr. B. Willie, whoo hoos, goody canal--I'm rolling. . .!

javna_golina

You people are so immature sometimes

I would check your fit. I had this problem (well I kind of did, it was more my taint that would go completely numb then when i get off the saddle it would get really sore). Thought it was the saddle, that didn't work. Realised i was leaning too far forward to reach the bars and I was all my weight was on one area of my anatomy...not nice.

So if you have any stems lying around, experiment with those.

Savas

Get [Moderator removed]. That's the solution.

michaelnel

I don't worry much when mine goes to sleep, but the snoring bothers me. I didn't think they were supposed to make noise.

ratdog

I recommend you get an [Moderator removed ] Operation, that'll get rid of all these problems.

scarry

Ride a recumbent bike, I assume you are riding a "wedgie" or "ass hatchet".

This will also relieve neck problems, hand and wrist problems, and going too slow problems.

FarHorizon

The bent is a good recommendation, but if you don't have the $$$, here are alternative suggestions:

1. Ride a saddle that puts the majority of your weight on the sit bones
2. Ride a saddle with a perenial cut out (really releives pressure)
3. Take a break every 30 minutes or so - get out of the saddle & stay there about 3 minutes.

Good luck!

JBar

My wife administers regular tests for saddle/ Willie interface problems. Her opinon is that cycling has been good for Mr. Johnson.
Try wearing loud shorts. That ought to keep the little fellow awake.

Albany-12303

I find that after a long ride in cool weather, I get extreme shrinkage (to about 1/10 full erect size!!!)

A bit of numbness, but I blame that on the cold.