rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

Serious question on crotch numbness

Klaas Bil · 2007-03-15T20:31:12+00:00

A recurring issue in this forum is the crotch-seat interface, especially for males. Speaking for myself, when sitting on a unicycle seat for a long time, say an hour, my external reproductive organs turn totally numb. I guess you must know the feeling, or rather the lack of it. When I take a 10 minute break everything is back to normal, except that after such a break the same effect is produced by only a -half -hour ride. In addition to numbness, another effect is smallness. I experience no pain at any time. Neither have I ever experienced any lasting effect. The way it is I can stand the discomfort and so I don't bother too much. I consider it a fact of unicycling life. But recently someone (a fellow unicyclist) said to me that the numbness can have very bad consequences. He added that I should definitely do something different than just tolerate the numb feeling, let alone train to 'harden' my crotch. Like taking more frequent breaks, periodically stand up on the pedals, etc. So, what kind of bad consequences from repeated 'total' penile numbness from unicycling should I fear? Does it matter how often or how 'deep' the numbness occurs (is provoked)? -- Klaas Bil ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Klaas Bil's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3442 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/58920

Started by Klaas Bil · 15 March 2007 · Last activity 17 March 2007 · 23 posts · 387 views

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Original section: rec.sport.unicycling
Published: 15 March 2007
Last activity: 17 March 2007
Original author: Klaas Bil
Posts: 23
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 387
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Inner tubes

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Original post
Klaas Bil
Archived post

15 March 2007, 20:31 UTC #1

A recurring issue in this forum is the crotch-seat interface, especially
for males. Speaking for myself, when sitting on a unicycle seat for a
long time, say an hour, my external reproductive organs turn totally
numb. I guess you must know the feeling, or rather the lack of it. When
I take a 10 minute break everything is back to normal, except that
after such a break the same effect is produced by only a -half -hour
ride. In addition to numbness, another effect is smallness. I
experience no pain at any time. Neither have I ever experienced any
lasting effect.
The way it is I can stand the discomfort and so I don't bother too
much. I consider it a fact of unicycling life. But recently someone (a
fellow unicyclist) said to me that the numbness can have very bad
consequences. He added that I should definitely do something different
than just tolerate the numb feeling, let alone train to 'harden' my
crotch. Like taking more frequent breaks, periodically stand up on the
pedals, etc.
So, what kind of bad consequences from repeated 'total' penile numbness
from unicycling should I fear? Does it matter how often or how 'deep'
the numbness occurs (is provoked)?
--
Klaas Bil
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saskatchewanian
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15 March 2007, 21:19 UTC #2

i am no expert in the field but i do believe you are cutting off all
circulation to your privates. this can not be good. modify your seat,
get an air saddle or something to prevent this from hapening.
I have never experienced this numbness but i have made a center cutaway
in the foam of my seat and found that that greatly reduced discomfort.
--
saskatchewanian
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who
is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss
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Evan Byrne
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15 March 2007, 21:20 UTC #3

Try getting a more flat saddle. Maybe tilt it forward a little bit more
so most of your weight is supported on your ass. Maybe take a knife to
the saddle foam? If you have an airsaddle maybe thats the problem, they
put pressure everywhere vs. foam which puts the pressure on more a
concentrated spot.
--
Evan Byrne
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Danni
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15 March 2007, 21:22 UTC #4

I have never felt numb. What has happened though is increased irritation
on the scrotum. I apply zincofax here and there when it gets really
scratchy.
I think that I are putting too much pressure on your parts. How do you
place them?
--
Danni
leo said:
Without cocks you wouldn't even have a family forum.
'Pile Driver' (
) 'Jack Ass'
(
)
'Russian Climber'
(http://tinyurl.com/p6vnc) 'Urban Ninja Part 1'
(http://tinyurl.com/2m5o2h) 'Part 2'
(
)
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mark williamson
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15 March 2007, 21:33 UTC #5

I find my perineum (i.e. the bit between your anus and your genitals)
feels like its numb or at least reduced in bloodflow after a while of
putting pressure on it riding. I don't like this sensation and try to
avoid it by taking care with saddle design / position and taking
frequent breaks. My main concern is that this will restrict bloodflow
to my genitals somehow; but I've certainly never experienced the
genitals themselves actually going numb!
Could you ask your Doctor so that you have a medical point of view?
--
mark williamson
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
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thejdw
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15 March 2007, 21:47 UTC #6

padded undershorts 😉
--
thejdw
dunawan said:
why are koxx one unicycles so costly???
forrestunifreak said:
They are expensive because they use only the finest soft drink cans.
😄 😄 2 unispins landed!😄 😄
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
don't follow Jesus, follow me!<<

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Evan Byrne
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15 March 2007, 21:48 UTC #7

Seat in front.
--
Evan Byrne
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Danni
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15 March 2007, 21:52 UTC #8

thejdw said:
padded undershorts 😉
YES! I have some these and they double the time that I can ride b4
irritation!
--
Danni
leo said:
Without cocks you wouldn't even have a family forum.
'Pile Driver' (
) 'Jack Ass'
(
)
'Russian Climber'
(http://tinyurl.com/p6vnc) 'Urban Ninja Part 1'
(http://tinyurl.com/2m5o2h) 'Part 2'
(
)
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jrdugueod
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15 March 2007, 22:01 UTC #9

I have never had any numbness and believe it is a very bad thing in the
long run. What kind of seat are you using? I have used many different
ones with no numbness. Now I use a Scott Wallis with custom foam and
cover of my design. I put a very deep "gonad gully" to prevent male
issues. Something like that may help. I believe that firmer is better
than softer, but some may disagree. You may try raising your seat to
redistribute the weight. Good luck, but get this fixed!!
--
jrdugueod
"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right!"
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Klaas Bil
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15 March 2007, 22:10 UTC #10

saskatchewanian said:
i am no expert in the field but i do believe you are cutting off all
circulation to your privates. this can not be good. modify your seat,
get an air saddle or something to prevent this from hapening.
I have never experienced this numbness but i have made a center cutaway
in the foam of my seat and found that that greatly reduced discomfort.
I think you are right with the cut off circulation. That and/or pinching
nerves, rendering them temporarily dysfunctional. My privates
themselves are not pinched or in any stress, so I don't think a flatter
seat would help. I may try a cut-out in the foam (my road unis both
have some kind of standard Velo/KH seat). Air saddles, I've heard, only
worsen the problem because they distribute the pressure evenly,
whatever the sitting position. So there is little you can do to reduce
pressure locally by changing seat position. BTW, I always ride with
good padded cycling shorts especially on road trips.
But what I'm really after with my post is not so much remedies but
rather: should I be concerned with these symptons? What kind of medical
risks do I run? If it's just the temporary effects that I have
described, well those are unpleasant but bearable. Lasting effects are
an entirely different matter. Of course I could consult a doctor as
Mark Williamson suggests but I can't be the only one experiencing this
so I thought I'd tap the knowledge here first.
--
Klaas Bil
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underdog
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15 March 2007, 22:27 UTC #11

Yes. You can do long term damage. Unicycling isn't main-stream enough
for there to have been any medical studies done on this but, bicycling
is. I read a very lengthy article about this issue in a serious biking
magazine probably 15 or 20 years ago. It's not a circulation issue,
it's a nerve issue and continued pressure on and subsequent smashing of
the perineal nerve can permenantly damage it. Nerves are probably the
slowest part of our bodies to be able to heal themselves. Sometimes it
takes years, sometimes they never heal. The doctor who wrote the
article had documented a couple of cases in which the patients' sex
life was severely hampered. I remember that shortly after the article
appeared, just about every manufacturer of bike seats started making
the grooved or slotted seats for men. I've seen postings on this forum
of some homemade grooved seats. I have the same issue when I spend an
hour or more on my uni and I'm going to start working on a seat of my
own sometime in the near future.
--
underdog
'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
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musketman
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15 March 2007, 22:39 UTC #12

Klass Bil, you heard wrong! Air saddle does the trick! I know the numb
feeling like the back of my hand. Once I made an air seat, the problem
is pretty much gone.
1. but a 12" bike tube
2. take off seat, and seat cover
3. put foam aside, and replace with tube. drill hole for the valve on
the bottom of the base. Put cover back on, and pump it up. Its gr8!
Experiment with positioning of the tube under the seat cover so the
lumps are out. You can basicly curve the 12" tube around the shape of
your seat base.
If you want the pain to go away, and experience more hours of fun
riding, make an airseat!😉
--
musketman
MUSKETMAN
www.unicycle.com
For Sale: Parachute, only used once, never opened, small stain
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skilewis74
Archived post

15 March 2007, 23:51 UTC #13

musketman said:
Klass Bil, you heard wrong! Air saddle does the trick! I know the numb
feeling like the back of my hand. Once I made an air seat, the problem
is pretty much gone.
1. but a 12" bike tube
2. take off seat, and seat cover
3. put foam aside, and replace with tube. drill hole for the valve on
the bottom of the base. Put cover back on, and pump it up. Its gr8!
Experiment with positioning of the tube under the seat cover so the
lumps are out. You can basicly curve the 12" tube around the shape of
your seat base.
If you want the pain to go away, and experience more hours of fun
riding, make an airseat!😉
Getting my KH air seat helped a lot and even more when I replaced the
tube w/ a 2.5" trials. On both tubes it was a pain to get it in the
right position and would shift every couple of days. Using lots of
duct tape keeps it in one spot now, but that's after redoing it at
least six times at 45 min + each time🙁
--
skilewis74
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brendan
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16 March 2007, 07:36 UTC #14

wear padded undershorts, i do all the time, cause it just makes
everything so much more comfortbale. Plus it keeps everything in place
stops bad accidents....
--
brendan
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Borges
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16 March 2007, 07:58 UTC #15

Since I take short breaks about once an hour anyway I haven't had any
discomfort with my current saddle. If it did become a problem though
I'd think of it as justification to try out a variety of good saddles,
padded shorts and experiment with the angle of the seat. It's a medical
necessity.
If all else fails, ultimate wheels are fun too.
--
Borges
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gabetheunicycleman
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16 March 2007, 09:15 UTC #16

hate to point it out, but hes 53. he may already be sterile. frankly i
think numbness is good. my gooch just plain hurts.
--
gabetheunicycleman
hurrah for 3/4 flips
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Klaas Bil
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16 March 2007, 09:33 UTC #17

gabetheunicycleman said:
hate to point it out, but hes 53. he may already be sterile. frankly i
think numbness is good. my gooch just plain hurts.
I hate to point it out but you're 15 🙂 . You may not know but there's
a lot more at stake than just being sterile or not.
Some of the responses in this thread have scared me and I'm definitely
going to do something about the numbness.
--
Klaas Bil
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412
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16 March 2007, 10:57 UTC #18

I experienced HUGE differences when going from a KH06 to a KH07 Freeride
saddle, the old one was very bad unless modified (to something that
looked very similar to the 07).
The "standard" banana shaped saddles have got to be among the worst
products I've encountered...
Get a flatter saddle!
Also:
[image: http://happymtb.org/forum/file.php/1/file=25390]
--
412
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Hazmat
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16 March 2007, 11:07 UTC #19

Are you insisting we get wooden plank seats?? :p 😉 :p
--
Hazmat
1 weird and unusual greek cypriot australian destined to be different 😄
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Hal.Verde
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16 March 2007, 11:16 UTC #20

There's no reason why a unicycle saddle should inherently cause
numbness. Adjust the angle and height of the saddle and the problem
should go away. Perhaps also check your riding position?
A numb acorn is the same problem I used to get on my road bike until I
finally insisted on making any position adjustments myself. Easy enough
to sort out with a little fiddling (innuendo entirely intentional, I'm
sorry).
--
Hal.Verde
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