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Are there certain bike saddles and/or shorts that help with men's issues? My husband recently started to have a problem with some pain in a personal area, and I think it is related to the amount of riding we do. He said he would see a doctor if it persisted. This is a new thing and I think he would want to find a solution real soon , which is why I am posting this message, but he would be really embarassed if he know!
My husband found that a 'Selle Anatomica' saddle with a cutout helped prevent numbness/tingling on long rides. :)
Sent you a PM.
Cutout worked for my husband.
My "other" used to get numbness. I just so happened to have bought an SMP Glider that I decided I didn't really like, so I gave it to him & it worked fabulously.
If a new saddle (perhaps with a cutout, which my husband also finds great) doesn't do the trick, I'd see a specialist for a bike fit before I'd see a doctor...
Or, like us, our family doctor 'happens' to be an avid cyclist. When DH went to him about the numbness issue, instead of prescribing all kinds of tests, he said "get a different saddle". Worked like a charm. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Grog
I'd have to guess that men are as individual as we are "down there." (I'm too old and too married to do my own research :rolleyes:)
I suppose men don't even talk about that type of thing on their own cycling forums, to find some guidance on what might fit... but measuring sit bones would be the same, and perhaps the hard chair cut-out test as well?
one trick that many of the male cyclists I know use is to offset their saddle just a touch to one side or the other. what I mean is rotating the nose either left or right of center. then, they store their "package" on the opposing side.
but, I'm also a big advocate of a cutout for men or women.
do not ignore numbness. it could become permanent nerve or vascular damage.
My husband uses a Fizik (sp?) saddle that looks like an instrument of torture, but he loves it. He just replaced his original one after 10 years.
The only time he ever had an issue was when he rode out to Mt. Wachusett, rode up to the summit, and back home (70 miles) and then rode 40 miles the next day.
Those days are gone...
Consider choosing bibs to wear. It keeps things tucked up.
+1 on the saddle change.
Watched the owner of my LBS fit a guy on his bike. the first thing the fittee said, with a grin on his face was "ahhh, that feels fantastic" as he sat on a Selle SMP.
I was silently cursing :mad: him as the Selle worked for some of my parts, but not all...
Look at saddle tilt, should be between flat and 3 degrees tilted down. Although each saddle varies.
Try a different saddle, no saddle is perfect for everyone. I think many people adapt to their saddle, but if he is starting to have problems, a change might be worth a try. I like a firm saddle with a cut-out.
Good shorts, or even better bibs. I wear Assos, worth every penny. Nice chamios, stays in place, excellent quality.
Ride harder. Pedaling harder will transfer more weight on the legs and off the butt.
Good luck, hopefully he will find a set-up that works.
Work on out-of-saddle sprinting?:p
+1 on getting to the bottom (ahem...yeah...pun intended) of this. Don't want to do any permanent nerve damage.
My guy has a cutout seat and loves it, too.
I was teasing him when he went to pick it out. The cutouts were, well, different sizes. I had to laugh. Is this the new measuring stick? "Dude, did you see the size of his cutout? Whoa." The ladies will be eyeing the saddles. Ha!
I agree with whomever suggested going to see a professional bike fitter, too, unless your family doctor is a cyclist.
Roxy
He hasn't had any more problems since I first posted the message. I think it was triggered by the century we did and not taking any time off in the next week. I did get him a better pair of shorts, and the bike store let us try a seat they had in the stock room that has a cutout, but it looks like a generic specialized saddle. The verdict isn't in on that one yet.
Guys are plumbed down there so that constant pressure or constriction can cause numbness in the personal parts due to restricted blood flow, and ultimately some functional problems as well.
Saddle choice is the first place to look... the Specialized Body Geometry saddles work well for some, as well as the Terry saddles with the cut-outs.
Getting a good pair of shorts with a gel-type chamois is another option. Some of the cheaper shorts simply have a foam pad sewn in there, which may or may not provide cushioing in the right places. I really haven't noticed any real difference in using bibs vs. regular cycling shorts; it's a lot more a matter of getting things distributed and packed away down there to minimize friction and getting things pinched in the wrong places.
I have sort of an iron butt, and have gotten along pretty well with the Selle San Italia racing saddles on my road bikes that I use for the longer rides. I've got a Body Geometry saddle on one commuter and a Brooks B-17 on the other commuter, and have seen a notiecable difference in comfort. It's coming up time in a while to replace the saddles on the road bikes due to simple wear, and I'll probably swap them out for one of the above...
Tom