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Guy question - bike seat
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 2006-01-04 12:32 AM |
Master 1384    Brooklyn, NY |  Subject: Guy question - bike seatI looked this up but couldn't find it as I know it has been covered. "The "guy" (down there), I found gets extremely numb (tingly, electrocuted feeling-like a body part falling asleep), during rides of 15 miles or more. He really gets all sensitive when riding on the drops for any long than 5 minutes or more. What's up with that? Just a few days ago, I went for a 17 mile ride in heavy wind & rain & didn't really notice it until I got off the seat. I had been on the drops for about 15 minutes and man, did it hurt. I've had my bike for about a year and fitted (I think), pretty good when I bought it & haven't had any problems until lately with this major discomfort. I always ride with bike pants that have chamois for more comfort. I've done 30 & 40 miles without any problems. I'm guessing loss of blood circulation then getting it back as I get off the seat is the "tingly" feeling. Could the seat have moved, re-adjusted with use & time? I've read some time ago (from Bear?), that turning the seat slightly to one side helps (may try that). I just bought new winter bibs but I'm getting the same issues. Will "the "guy" going to fall off if I go for a century?  |
| 2006-01-04 12:48 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Expert 831 Raleigh, NC | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I always end up a little numb...just learned to accept it as part of training. Have you considered one of those saddles with the cut-out in the middle to relieve "pressure"? Some saddles will allow you to tilt the nose downward also. |
| 2006-01-04 1:09 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Pro 4206 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I use a serfas seat and have never gone numb or anything. The seat is on the heavy side but it's worth it to me. If mine ever went numb, i'm getting another hobby. http://serfas.com/rx_saddles/MH-RX.shtml Edited by auto208562 2006-01-04 1:10 AM |
| 2006-01-04 5:27 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Expert 1070 North Carolina | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I've had discomfort before in longer rides, but no numbness..........I am guessing you are not fitted right 15 miles is not much. |
| 2006-01-04 6:07 AM in reply to: #316139 |
| Member 46 | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat Go to www.cyclingforums.com and have a look at some of the threads there. There's lots of advise about seat types etc and te pros and cons of cut out saddles |
| 2006-01-04 7:00 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Expert 1166 Colchester, CT | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I've got my seat nosed down just a bit, which seems to help. Not sure what your logs look like, but have you been doing much riding lately? Maybe you just need to get used to sitting again. Chris |
| 2006-01-04 7:19 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Veteran 249 Northeast | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat There's an enormous artery that runs under, uh, there - right where you sit, that you're compressing and restricting blood flow to your, uh, guy. Saddles with the cutouts for men are meant to eliminate this issue... however, in cases such as yours it's usually caused by sitting too far forward on your saddle (i.e., the nose of the saddle is becoming your seat). Your handlebars may be too low (e.g., stack height) or too far (e.g., stem length), causing you to weight the nose of your saddle too much when in the drops, or your seat may be too far back on the post. Also, a lot of times cyclists will "shift forward" as their primary working muscles fatigue - but I doubt this is the case since you're saying it happens after only 15 miles or so. I would start by checking your saddle position - make sure the nose is as level as possible, possibly even pointed a tad downward (too much, and you'll feel it in your arms when you ride). Also, make sure that when you're sitting on your saddle, you're sitting directly on your sitz bones in your butt, not on the fleshy part of, uh, down there. If you can't remedy the situation with saddle adjustments, I'd take it to a bike shop that has a fitting service, and have them evaluate it. Good luck! |
| 2006-01-04 7:31 AM in reply to: #316139 |
| , Texas | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I've never had this happen while riding on the road, but when I started riding on the rollers, I'd get a little numb after about 30 minutes. I attribute this to on the rollers I must maintain (more or less) the same position the entire time. I bought a new seat which has helped some and is more comfortable, but has not completely alleviated the problem. I now include some standing (which is interesting on the rollers) every 15 min and I have no discomfort for my entire ride now. I've read it may help to tilt your seat nose down a bit or lower the seat a little, but these didn't help me. The problem is usually that your not sitting on your "sit bones". It might be worth it to look for a new seat. At my LBS, any seat bought can be exchanged after a ride or two, so you're not playing a guessing game. Your "guy" will not fall off, but you may become impotent. I would never just accept it as part of training. |
| 2006-01-04 7:40 AM in reply to: #316139 |
| Member 46 | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat Ive found that when it all starts to go a bit numb I shift back a bit on the saddle and basically rest my arse cheeks on the back end/wider part and it seems to give a bit of lift which reduces pressure and increase blood flow |
| 2006-01-04 7:44 AM in reply to: #316139 |
| Master 1384 Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat Thanks All, I'll look into moving the saddle a bit, a different saddle and that cycling forums. I believe in accepting a bit of discomfort but cutting blood circulation, numbness and/or tingling feelings in sensitive areas are a no, no for me. Joseph - You seem to have pretty good ideas as to what is going on. Yes, I do remember sitting (pretty much), on the nose of the seat as I was on the drops (can't imagine what it would have been like on aero bars). I think I'll start with moving the nose down a touch. Edited by cobannero 2006-01-04 7:46 AM |
| 2006-01-04 8:11 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Elite 2863 | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat Just another thought. I make it a point to stand for a minute or two after 10-15 minutes or riding. This lets the blood flow back where it should be and switches up the muscle groups. Its hilly where I ride so I really don't have to think about standing much. On rides where its flat, when I start to get the pain or numbness I stand for a bit and get the blood flowing. I've gone through 6 saddles before I found one that was right for me. The cushy ones or the ones with cut-outs were worse. |
| 2006-01-04 8:26 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I found last year that my position on the bike changed as I worked with my coach on improving my pedal stroke, causing some discomfort. On one 40 mile ride it got so bad I had to stop about two miles from home and walk my bike for about a quarter mile before I could get back on. My LBS fine-tuned my set-up for me a couple of times during the year. I've got a long torso, but short legs and finding a good set up has always been a challenge for me, particularly the fore-aft position of the saddle (I've also tried custom length stems). One of the things that helped me was angling the saddle a few degrees to one side, as mentioned previously. I also try to move around and change positions frequently on long rides, not only for my butt, but to also help relieve the numbness in my hands. |
| 2006-01-04 8:27 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Buttercup 14334 | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I love "guy" threads. |
| 2006-01-04 8:33 AM in reply to: #316139 |
| Expert 842 | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I had this problem on my old bike but I do not seem to have it on the new one. My seat has a cut-out but I think the fact that it is less cushioned has helped. I also angled my seat down (probably too much) until it was comfortable in the aero position. I have since started raising the nose a little with no problems. Start experimenting in you will probably find a solution. Mark |
| 2006-01-04 9:41 AM in reply to: #316247 |
| Master 1384 Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat |
| 2006-01-04 11:36 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Expert 1213 Los Gatos, CA | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat You need to sit on the saddle with your two "sitting bones", not the soft area down there where a) critical veins/arteries and b) critical nerves are running. I have the same problem in the aero position that I am grinding too much in the soft areas, can't sustain for very long. |
| 2006-01-04 11:57 AM in reply to: #316139 |
Extreme Veteran 483 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat Hey all, I have a serfas seat with the cutout and find it generally comfortable except on the aerobars - I have it set a little nose down. In the bars, I can definitely feel pressure on the vien/nerve ends/fleshy part, meaning that I don't send enough time in the bars (which will have to change). How much time (percentage of bike ride) is generally spent in the bars by the "serious recreational" 1/2 Ironmaner (I appreciate that this is dependent on course - but all things being equal is it 20% 40% 60%???) |
| 2006-01-04 12:03 PM in reply to: #316139 |
Extreme Veteran 318 fort collins | Subject: RE: Guy question - bike seat I had the same problem and these two things cured it. #1 I angled the front of the seat down just a little. #2 Concentrate on sitting on your @ss bone. After I rode for awhile I realizes I would put all my weight on the front of the seat between my legs. Then I would go numd. If I make sure my wieght is on my @ss bones then everything is cool. Edited by blessteve 2006-01-04 12:04 PM |
 2006-01-04 12:04 PM in reply to: #316139 |
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