Impotence and bicycle riding

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro racer
about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats compress.
That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said sometimes in very
dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but it's not a common
among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if it
has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know females
can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced sexual
response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I dread
some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

This has been reported in the press since at least Oct 2005. You probably
need to register (free) to view the following NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health/nutrition/04bike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Journal of Urology has also covered it.

J.

On Feb 17, 11:06 am, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro
racer about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats
compress. That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if
it has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know
females can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced
sexual response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I
dread some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

I really believe that you can waste a WHOLE lot of time worrying about
this. Time that could be spent riding.

Statistically, I'm quite sure that most former riders die of old age.

Lewis.

*****

Jay said:

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro racer
about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats compress.
That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said sometimes in very
dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but it's not a common
among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if it
has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know females
can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced sexual
response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I dread
some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

This has been reported in the press since at least Oct 2005. You probably
need to register (free) to view the following NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health/nutrition/04bike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Journal of Urology has also covered it.

J.

Thx, Jay. I am already registered. I'll get there and read it now.

-paul

Paul Cassel said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro
racer about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats
compress. That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if
it has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know
females can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced
sexual response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I
dread some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

O.K.....I have NOT owned a car for many years now. Before I traded in
on a three wheel Tadpole I rode mountain bikes for YEARS. I have to
say that I NEVER....and I emphasize....NEVER had a problem "getting it
up" Nor did my sexual drive dissipate in any way...shape...or form.

Just get out and RIDE!!!!

Per Paul Cassel:

Quoted message said:

He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

There have been several threads on this in rec.bicycles.tech.

Try Googling a little and you might find at least one of them.

My recollection is that the consensus was that the problem is way
overstated.

OTOH, I can say with some certainty that cycling is definitely a
risk factor for prostatitis. That from a urologist and personal
experience. Doesn't keep me off the bike - but it's there.
--
PeteCresswell

On Feb 18, 4:06 am, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro
racer about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats
compress. That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if
it has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know
females can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced
sexual response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I
dread some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

Wont happen with a correctly adjusted seat.

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro
racer about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats
compress. That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if
it has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know
females can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced
sexual response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I
dread some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

There is always a possibility of nerve compression causing permanent
damage.

When I started riding seriously back in the early 70s I had "sleepy winky
syndrome" during every ride. Narrow round top plastic "ass hatchet"
saddles were the main cause. I tried about 10-15 different saddles and
found that a properly adjusted Brooks Pro cured the problem for me.

The first generation Avocet Touring I (cheapest model) also worked well.
Overly padded gel saddles are fine for a few miles but I end up with some
nerve compression from sinking into the gel on longer rides.

Last year I discovered the WTB Pure V Race saddles. They make a lot of
different models. The Pure V Race saddles that I ride on have a wide flat
rear just like a Brooks Pro but they also have a "love channel" in the
middle and gel padding in the front.

Prostatitis is a very common problem for men from age 40 on. It's not
talked about very much. I've been having recurrent UTI infections for the
past 10 years. They sometimes keeps me off of the bike. I've gone back to
the old fashioned 2 bolt adjustable seat posts and I use a dial protractor
and meter stick to make sure that all of my saddles are adjusted to the
same height and angle. One degree of tilt or 1/8" in height can make a big
difference in comfort for me.

For years I've watched people endure seat discomfort. It's probably the
single biggest cause for beginners to give up cycling, especially women. I
haven't seen any magic formula for finding and adjusting a seat properly
and bike fit Nazis don't help the problem much. It comes down to trial and
error.

Chas.

"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Per Paul Cassel:

Quoted message said:

He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it's not a common among hobbyists.

There have been several threads on this in rec.bicycles.tech.

Try Googling a little and you might find at least one of them.

My recollection is that the consensus was that the problem is way
overstated.

OTOH, I can say with some certainty that cycling is definitely a
risk factor for prostatitis. That from a urologist and personal
experience. Doesn't keep me off the bike - but it's there.
--
PeteCresswell

Prostatitis is very common in men over 40 but isn't discussed very much.
I've been dealing with recurrent prostatitis for the past 10 years and
there have been times that it's kept me off the bike.

I ridden Brooks Pro saddles on most of my bikes since the 70s. Last year I
tried a WTB Pure V Race saddle and now I have them on 5 bikes. They have a
wide flat rear like a Pro with a channel down the middle to prevent
pressure in that area and a gel padded area in the nose for junior and the
boys.

Chas.

Per * * Chas:

Quoted message said:

I've gone back to
the old fashioned 2 bolt adjustable seat posts and I use a dial protractor
and meter stick to make sure that all of my saddles are adjusted to the
same height and angle. One degree of tilt or 1/8" in height can make a big
difference in comfort for me.

I'll second both of those assertions.

With seat angle, I find a clear diff just from a turn or so of a
two-bolt saddle's adjustment screw.

With height, there's maximum pedaling efficiency... and then,
about a quarter or even half inch down there's minimal exposure
to UT issues.
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) said:

Per Paul Cassel:

Quoted message said:

He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

There have been several threads on this in rec.bicycles.tech.

Try Googling a little and you might find at least one of them.

My recollection is that the consensus was that the problem is way
overstated.

OTOH, I can say with some certainty that cycling is definitely a
risk factor for prostatitis. That from a urologist and personal
experience. Doesn't keep me off the bike - but it's there.

My post was about women, not men.

Thanks, Diane. That was what I was looking for.

-paul

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Diane. That was what I was looking for.

-paul

Didn't catch that one about women riders in the original post.

There are a number of contributing factors that could cause nerve problems
due to compression in the perineal region in both men and women. That's
the area between the pubic bone and tail bone.

I think ignorance or lack of experience about saddle shapes and position
adjustments is a major issue in these problems.

I've watched people riding in discomfort, refuse any assistance in
adjusting their saddle. Is it the old adage "Keep riding, your rear end
will toughen up." or some kind of macho/machisma thing?

Modesty is another issue. I ran a bike shop around the time Avocet
introduced their first anatomically designed saddles in the mid 70s. Some
people, both men and women were uncomfortable discussing simple anatomical
information like ischial tuberosities and the points of contact on the
seat.

Seat discomfort is probably the biggest reason why people abandon cycling.
Lot's of people bought nice bikes only to have them sit in their garage or
basement. I've asked many of these folks why they don't ride and their
response was that their seat hurt them. Most were unwilling to take the
time to experiment, mentioning things like "toughing up their backside was
not something they wanted to work on".

Everyone's anatomy is different and it's difficult for a novice rider to
find a saddle that fit's them and to have it properly adjusted. Some
riders think that a really soft saddle is the answer but for many after a
few miles they're uncomfortable from sinking into the padding or gel.

I look at the fly weight round top racing saddles that are popular today
and think about Torquemada and the Inquisition. Brooks are just the right
shape for me. I need a saddle that's wide and flat in the rear. I used to
ride women's MTB saddles on some of my off road bikes just for that
reason.

Chas.

"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Per * * Chas:

Quoted message said:

I've gone back to
the old fashioned 2 bolt adjustable seat posts and I use a dial

protractor

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and meter stick to make sure that all of my saddles are adjusted to the
same height and angle. One degree of tilt or 1/8" in height can make a

big

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

difference in comfort for me.

I'll second both of those assertions.

With seat angle, I find a clear diff just from a turn or so of a
two-bolt saddle's adjustment screw.

With height, there's maximum pedaling efficiency... and then,
about a quarter or even half inch down there's minimal exposure
to UT issues.
--
PeteCresswell

It's not easy to get precise angle adjustments with most of the single
bolt seat posts.

I gave up racing about 30 years ago due to knee problems. At that point I
was riding 54-55cm frames with the seat up about 8" and all the way back.
The leg extension felt really great for climbing and sprinting.

Today I ride 55-57cm frames with the seat 3-4" lower and all the way
forward. I like a frame with a steeper seat tube angle 74° or 75°. With
the seat forward there's less pressure on the UT area. I ride Brooks Pros
and WTB Pure V Race saddles. They help a lot.

Chas.

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I dread
some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

So you see, there was nothing to fear!

Is RBT not the best-behaved Usenet newsgroup?

J.

* * Chas said:

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Diane. That was what I was looking for.

-paul

Didn't catch that one about women riders in the original post.

There are a number of contributing factors that could cause nerve problems
due to compression in the perineal region in both men and women. That's
the area between the pubic bone and tail bone.

I think ignorance or lack of experience about saddle shapes and position
adjustments is a major issue in these problems.

I've watched people riding in discomfort, refuse any assistance in
adjusting their saddle. Is it the old adage "Keep riding, your rear end
will toughen up." or some kind of macho/machisma thing?

Modesty is another issue. I ran a bike shop around the time Avocet
introduced their first anatomically designed saddles in the mid 70s. Some
people, both men and women were uncomfortable discussing simple anatomical
information like ischial tuberosities and the points of contact on the
seat.

Seat discomfort is probably the biggest reason why people abandon cycling.
Lot's of people bought nice bikes only to have them sit in their garage or
basement. I've asked many of these folks why they don't ride and their
response was that their seat hurt them. Most were unwilling to take the
time to experiment, mentioning things like "toughing up their backside was
not something they wanted to work on".

Please, lets keep our terminology correct. Upright bicycles have
saddles. Recumbent bicycles have seats.

Quoted message said:

Everyone's anatomy is different and it's difficult for a novice rider to
find a saddle that fit's them and to have it properly adjusted. Some
riders think that a really soft saddle is the answer but for many after a
few miles they're uncomfortable from sinking into the padding or gel.

I find an inch of "Sunfoam" over a sling-mesh base exceptionally
comfortable.

Quoted message said:

I look at the fly weight round top racing saddles that are popular today
and think about Torquemada and the Inquisition.[...]

I wasn't expecting a kind of Spanish Inquisition!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Here's a quote from a NIOSH presentation:

"There are over 40 Scientific/Medical
Studies Linking Sexual Dysfunction
and Bicycling"

More info here:
http://www.serottacyclinginstitute.com/documents/SSchraderSexandSaddles.pdf

On Feb 17, 11:06 am, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

OK, I have heard that some male bicyclists suffer from impotence. I'm
unsure if it's permanent, but when asking my buddy, the ex semi pro
racer about this, he told me that there is a nerve which bicycle seats
compress. That nerve is necessary for the sexual response. He said
sometimes in very dedicated bicycle riders, it can be long term too, but
it's not a common among hobbyists.

My wife asked me if a similar nerve exists in the female anatomy and if
it has a similar effect for avid female bicycle riders. Yeah, I know
females can't be technically impotent, but they can experience reduced
sexual response.

I post with some trepidation as I'm looking for a serious answer. I
dread some of the responses, but OK, I asked for it. I'm really curious.

-paul

On Feb 19, 9:42 pm, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Here's a quote from a NIOSH presentation:

"There are over 40 Scientific/Medical
Studies Linking Sexual Dysfunction
and Bicycling"

Only forty studies? No wonder cyclists pay no attention even as they
lose their functions. There are *thousands* of studies correlating
knives/calves/failure to breed -- and still the calves pay no
attention. The difference is that calves are edible, so a few of the
stupid animals are saved to breed. Cyclists are not edible, so none of
the stupid animals are saved to breed. Cows will be plentiful when
cyclists are long gone. Darwin strikes again.

Andre Jute
Psychologists and economists are just statisticians with class and
imagination

Andre Jute said:

On Feb 19, 9:42 pm, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Here's a quote from a NIOSH presentation:

"There are over 40 Scientific/Medical
Studies Linking Sexual Dysfunction
and Bicycling"

Only forty studies? No wonder cyclists pay no attention even as they
lose their functions. There are *thousands* of studies correlating
knives/calves/failure to breed -- and still the calves pay no
attention. The difference is that calves are edible, so a few of the
stupid animals are saved to breed. Cyclists are not edible, so none of
the stupid animals are saved to breed. Cows will be plentiful when
cyclists are long gone. Darwin strikes again.

From the way the turkey vultures look at us, I have to disagree about
the edible part. 😉

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Here's a quote from a NIOSH presentation:

?"There are over 40 Scientific/Medical

Quoted message said:

Studies Linking Sexual Dysfunction
and Bicycling"

Quoted message said:

More info here:

http://www.serottacyclinginstitute.com/documents/SSchraderSexandSaddles.pdf

It's an extremely flawed study (or report) that doesn't take into
consideration:

1. Saddle position - up,down, forward, back or angle.

2. Baseline sexuality, sexual activity and sexual interest.

3. Well established studies on the reduction of hormonal activities in
female endurance athletes that can even lead to the cessation of the
menses.

Plus a lot of other variables that either haven't been taken into
consideration or were not mentioned in this presentation.

Over the past 44 years of adult cycling I've seen large numbers of riders
who through ignorance or vanity? refuse to change or make adjustments to
their saddles.

I've always contended that saddle comfort was the biggest reason that
people abandoned cycling, especially novices.

There has been a prevailing attitude of "keep riding, you'll get used to
it" in the cycling community. I think that it's been engendered by fit
Nazi attitudes: "here's a bike that's proportioned to your physic now
adjust to it".

I just got another copy of the 1972 C.O.N.I manual, "CYCLING"
(C.O.N.I/FIAC, Rome, 1972). It was the bible for bike fitting back in the
day. The fit Nazi attitude is "this is what's best for a top ranked racer
so that's what everyone who's not a weenie should be doing". It doesn't
take into consideration the needs of casual cyclists. Not everyone aspires
to be a Class 1 racer!

I'm not denying the validity of the information in this report but I
question some of the conclusions. Also the author is pushing an agenda to
promote noseless saddles with no reference to proper saddle shape or
adjustment. Because of differences in anatomy upright cycling may not be
suitable for every rider.

BTW, I was always horniest after a long hard ride.... ;-)

Chas.