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Saddle crushing family jewels

Old 05-05-02, 01:22 PM
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Saddle crushing family jewels

This may have been covered before but I couldn't find it. I have a problem after about 15mi of getting pain in my nads. My sit bones are fine and get no pain in my butt. I have checked and my LBS has fitted me which made it better. The bike I am riding is a Specialized Sirrus with their BG saddle and like I said up until about 15 miles it is ok. I have only had this bike a short time so the saddle and my body may not be broke in. Any advice would be appreciated by me and my jewels.
Thanks...
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Old 05-05-02, 01:33 PM
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Unless you are attempting to squeeze either or both nad-units through the slit in the saddle, I can't see why; perhaps the saddle is tilted too far back?

I've a similar bike (Crossroads) and the same saddle (the Body Geometry that's really lousy for rides longer than 100 miles), and I've never run into the same problem.
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Old 05-05-02, 04:20 PM
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I have it set completely level and no I am not trying to squeeze them through the slot. The pain is more toward the front of the saddle. You say you have ridden yours on long distances without problems?
Thanks...
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Old 05-05-02, 04:26 PM
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Completely level is way too high in the front for me. Try tilting the front down a few clicks.
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Old 05-05-02, 05:47 PM
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How low are your bars compared to the level of your saddle ?
Riding down low can sometimes do that.

You may want to try adjusting the angle of your hips. Tuck your butt in a bit, under your spine. This will force your sit-bones down a bit. I find that a level saddle works for me this way, but I use a very relaxed touring position.

Any change in position should be done gradually.
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Old 05-05-02, 06:02 PM
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I bet that is the problem. I am riding a Specialized Sirrus which is a flat bar rode bike and the seat is quite a bit higher than the bar.
Unfortunately I think I am stuck with this because I can't raise the stem so I need to find a way to alleviate the pain.

I did have the seat pointed down a little and that made it worse and I am pretty confident raising it a little won't help. I thought about one of the Selle Italia saddles that have a Gel strip on the top.

Anyway I am getting some good idea's here.

Thanks...
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Old 05-05-02, 06:23 PM
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Average riders need the bars about 1-3" below the saddle for comfortable riding. Any more than this is really for short fast time trial races.

You may have some adjustment in the headset to raise the bars, otherwise, you need a stem with some rise on it..
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Old 05-05-02, 06:26 PM
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Actually I just went out and checked it. I would say it is about 3 to 4" above the bar. Not sure if I can raise the stem at all, but I will find out.

Thanks... :confused:
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Old 05-05-02, 07:06 PM
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Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
Completely level is way too high in the front for me. Try tilting the front down a few clicks.
Damn....Having my saddle perfectly level makes me feel like i'm sliding off the seat! I always tilt mine back.
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Old 05-05-02, 07:29 PM
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I keep my well-worn Brooks Pro approximately level. Try standing on the cranks periodically, and experiment with different saddles and positions. The tops of my drop bars are perhaps 5cm below the top of my saddle -- I certainly would not want them any lower! Also, try varying your hand (and therefore body) position during a ride; many people consider the brake hoods, rather than the drops, to be the "normal" position.
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Old 05-05-02, 07:36 PM
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Well I went out and put a level on the seat and then measured down to the bar and it is exactly 3" so that should be ok. I do stand from time to time and I change positions on the saddle.

I guess at this point I need to experiment with different saddles or maybe tilt it back a hair.

Thanks...
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Old 05-05-02, 08:08 PM
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Have you checked yourself for lumps? lol....jk. You might want to go to the doctors or something, because it might not be a common thing to have pain down there. I dont have pain in my balls when I ride, only in my ass I hope your pain lessens or goes away....pain in the balls isnt fun.
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Old 05-05-02, 08:11 PM
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Some thoughts:

...3" of drop, while not extreme, is still probably contributing to the problem. But with a threadless headset there's not a lot you're going to be able to do about it without a fair amount of work and expense. If you can get your hands on a stem with more rise, it would be worth experimenting with. (The next step after that is replacing the fork and cutting the steerer taller.)

...A bit less stem extension can also serve to move you to a slightly more upright position.

...Have you tried looser shorts? Seriously. Analyze exactly where the pressure is coming from and you might conceivably find that some or all of it can be relieved by giving the scrotum someplace to move so as not to be squeezed by the saddle.

...Sometimes when riders have trouble with level saddles, it's another indication that the reach to the bars is wrong (too long, usually), as well as that there's too much drop. The too-long reach tends to pull the rider onto the nose of the saddle. The feeling of sliding forward can have the same cause.

...A too-wide saddle can sometimes cause the rider to sit too far forward.

In general, I'd suggest that you revisit your basic bike fit. The most important part of bike fit is simply achieving comfort, and yours obviously fails in that regard. The amount of drop to the bars is one aspect of this, and if 3 inches of drop is causing the discomfort, maladjusting other parts of the bike is not the solution.

Many non-racers, particularly tourists and commuters who put in a lot of miles, set up their road bikes with zero drop. It's not racy and stylish, but neither is testicular pain.

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Old 05-05-02, 08:27 PM
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Probably won't help, but this pic shows my saddle position well. It's actually more level that I thought. It at least shows the relationship to the handlebars.
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Old 05-05-02, 09:43 PM
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Genitalia pain is almost always caused by leaning too far forward. My guess is your stem is too low or too long or both.

BTW - your saddle should always be level. Tilting it forward will throw your body weight forward onto your hands. Ouch!
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Old 05-05-02, 11:30 PM
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I was having the same problems, as gabiker refers to. I was also getting sore hands, that were going numb after a while. I realised that my seat looked flat but was actually dipping forward. I now have it set flat and both problems have disappeared. I now know what people mean when they say to use your "sit bones" the difference is amazing. Now the seat appears to be tilted up, but with a level it is actually flat. Using a level or eyeing the seat against something is the best way to set it accurately.

CHEERS.

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Old 05-05-02, 11:58 PM
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It was interesting to note that out of all the advice offered, only one suggested that Gabiker has himself medically checked out...
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Old 05-06-02, 04:29 AM
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Dirtgrinder,
My bike is setup about like yours only it is a flatbar road bike instead of a MTB. I guess the drop could be the problem, however I see guys with more drop than I have, but I think I will go back to the LBS and revisit the fitting.

As far as me getting medically checked out. I get a complete physical once a year and see my doctor atleast 4 times a year. I really don't think it is a problem with me. If I get off my bike and and walk around for a few minutes and start riding again the pain goes away for quite awhile. But it does come back.
Thanks...
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Old 05-06-02, 05:23 AM
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Hi All,
I worked so long and hard getting my brooks saddle just right than when it came time to put on my stella flite saddle I bought a new seatpost so I would not mess up the exact adjustment of the brooks. Worked great *S*

Ride Safe....Dudley
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Old 05-06-02, 05:46 AM
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I put on a bit of miles each year, between 7500 and 10,000. I had the problems you are having, after spending much time at the LBS and doing adjustment after adjusment with no positive results I purchased a new saddle at the recommendation of a friend that rides mega miles. For the past three years I've been riding WTB SST-K with Ti rails with no pain or discomfort at all, even after 6 or 8 hour days of riding. I just purchased a Selle Italia Pro-link gel. I rode it yesterday for the first time. I rode 127 miles with no pain. It actually feels very sismilar to the WTB.
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Old 05-06-02, 06:12 AM
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MrFix,
Yes that is the saddle I have been looking at. The placement of the gel seems to fit in to where my pain is. I do need to take another look though, because my pain is on the right side so maybe the saddle isn't exactly straight.

Will let you know.

Thanks for all the tips...
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Old 05-06-02, 06:53 AM
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Your 3" of drop is at the far limit of normal riding. I use about 2".
You may also want to consider your saddle for-aft position.

You cant take any one part of bike setup in isolation.After reading up on bike fit, it took me many months to arrive at a position I liked, that was after several years of just riding.


https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
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Old 05-06-02, 07:26 AM
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"Grinder... I would find your bike incredibly uncofortable. I find that, when my saddle is nose-down like that, I feel pitched forward, with all the stress on my shoulders. I like my saddle very slightly [like one degree] nose-up.
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Old 05-06-02, 07:44 AM
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Yes I had mine angled down a little and didn't like it a bit. I have not tried to angle it up a little though. I might want to try that before anything else. I am going back to my LBS also just to have another look.
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Old 05-06-02, 09:35 AM
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Are you talking about "pain" or numbness?
I've never experienced pain but I have had numbness in certain areas.
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