KcTheAcy said:*I rode a Giraffe in a parade for an hour and a half once. It broke
one of my nerves and I couldn’t lift my right foot up (at the ankle)
for 6 months.*
Ouch. Riding a giraffe in a parade is one of those situations where you
don't have a lot of options about getting on and off. That's why I don't
like to ride mine in parades. I prefer my big wheel.
It's when you ride for a long time without dismounts and with little or
no shifting around in the seat that you risk the pinching off of vital
fluids or nerves. I wonder if KcTheAcy really *broke* a nerve or just
*killed* it by leaving it pinched for too long. Same difference I
guess.
I have experienced some severe numbness (and painful urination) in my
early days of riding, on a rock-hard Schwinn seat. But I haven't
experienced anything like what happened to me during that first year in
the many years since.
So after you've got the best possible seat, the right shorts, the right
seat height, etc., I think it's still important to not sit in the same
position on the seat for too long. I "adjust myself" around
occasionally, shifting a little forward, a little back, or otherwise
moving the pressure points around.
Good advice on the air seat. It wasn't clear from your post if the
numbness happened with the air seat or before. But yes, air seats should
have very low pressure in them. What you want to avoid is having the
high point in the center. The ultimate seats have a high part on each
side, and are lower or softer in the center. Re-arrange your innertube
if necessary.
Seat height: yes, make sure the height doesn't have you reaching too
far. This is probably not your problem, because if you're reaching too
far it usually means you're bobbing side to side as you pedal, so you
likely won't pinch off your fluids.
Make sure you're not sitting on your penis.
Okay, make sure you've got yourself "arranged" comfortably. Wear cycling
shorts. If you're wearing something else, you are more than likely
sitting on one or more seams, which create nasty pressure points.
Get a handlebar. I have one on my Coker now and can't imagine doing any
long distance riding without one now. For me it's 16 miles to work and
back, so I love my handle. Mine was made by Paul Wyganowski. I didn't
find any of these custom jobs listed on Unicycle.com, but you can use a
simpler handle from George Barnes
(http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=576).
I'm attaching a picture of mine. I'm not using it as it was originally
intended. I've stuck some bar-ends onto what was intended as a front
bumper. I like getting into the slight "tuck" I get down there. Someday
I'll get a set designed for me, which will offer a more aerodynamic
position, and an actual rack on the back.
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--
johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com
"Hey, could I have some of that spinach? I need to get this pork rind
taste out of my mouth." -- Ryan Atkins to Kris Holm, on the way back
from Moab after sampling some of my pork rinds. They grossed out the
whole van!
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