Numb body parts....new saddle?

have someone with expirience evaluate your position on the bike.

odds are it is not the saddle.

That's the best advice. Get a fitting. My hunch is that you are too stretched out causing your pelvis to tip forward, putting more pressure on the nerves of your nether regions.

A quick fix to relieve the pressure may be to lower the nose of the saddle a cm or two. You should be sitting back with your sitzbones at the widest part of the saddle, so they bear the weight. Depending on your weight and size, the saddle could be wrong for you,,,ie, too narrow, not enough support.

Agree fit and position on the bike is important. If you're set up in a classic low roadracer position with a big drop from saddle to bars, you may have a problem regardless of the saddle adjustment.

Particularly on long rides, I've found I feel better if I get out of the saddle every 10-15 minutes for maybe 30 seconds at a time. Helps to keep blood flowing and relieve pressure points as well as stretch the lower back muscles.

I have similar trouble riding indoors but not outdoors a stationary saddle seems more irritating I've tried a few things and now I'm changing saddles I've looked at the SMPs online and they look like wedge shaped seats that would make you feel like your sliding off and the cutaway was extreme. I ordered the less expensive Velo Pronto Z1 that still has the more traditional wing look with a simple cut out I hope it works.

ranalli said:

I have a stock Trek 1000 SL road bike and I've been having problems since I got it with regards to my genitals going numb which leads to my left leg going partially numb.

This is my first road bike so I may be doing something wrong but I never had this problem with my stock Trek 6500 Mountain bike.

I can't go for more than an hour without this issue happening. I have the padded shorts, but I think the issue is that I'm hunched over therefore crunching up that whole area whereas with the mountain bike I was very upright. I've messed with the seat position multiple times with no success.

Not sure what to do...should I get a new saddle and what would people recommend? I don't think I want to spend $150 on a Specialized Toupe Gel Saddle unless I was garunteed it would work.

Can anyone lend some advice? My legs are screaming to go for more miles...but my genitals are saying "NO MORE!!!".

I had essentially the same problem on my new bike. Except it effected more of the 'gooch' area. It's in between...if you need me to elaborate, ask me in private :o *shudders*

Believe me, the first few rides on that new saddle...well my gooch hurt like hell. I've heard that sometimes your body has to adjust, so I just took the pain. After the first 3-4 rides the pain disappeared, and I couldn't be happier.

So, if you're not 'used' to your bike yet, mabye give it sometime before you go fixing stuff.

On the other hand, if you think that's it's a fitting problem...it never hurts to get it consulted by a proffesional. (The bike, not your gooch.)

Not an uncommon problem and I had it for a start with my roady. Changed the saddle for one with a channel which helped. Not obvious from your message, but I'm guessing your male so I will mention that I found it useful to put my penis up the front of the knicks where it is out of the way and not getting squashed and this leaves more room for the other bits on the saddle. If my guess was incorrect, well it could be useful info for a friend one day.
"A quick fix to relieve the pressure may be to lower the nose of the saddle a cm or two" This is a bit radical...try it in millimetres, not centimetres.
Halcyon1

Halcyon1 said:

Not an uncommon problem and I had it for a start with my roady. Changed the saddle for one with a channel which helped. Not obvious from your message, but I'm guessing your male so I will mention that I found it useful to put my penis up the front of the knicks where it is out of the way and not getting squashed and this leaves more room for the other bits on the saddle. If my guess was incorrect, well it could be useful info for a friend one day.
"A quick fix to relieve the pressure may be to lower the nose of the saddle a cm or two" This is a bit radical...try it in millimetres, not centimetres.
Halcyon1

Yes, I absolutely agree with some very fine adjusting of the saddle angle. Saddles should be perfectly level when sold on a bike. This really needs to be checked with a level. Try riding level, as that's usually the best position. Then try angling the nose of the saddle up or down, but just do it one "notch" at a time. A very fine adjustment can make a huge difference in comfort.

Also, I find it best to shift slightly on the saddle - forward and backward - during any ride. This makes a big difference, just like moving your hands around on the bars. You have to make a conscious effort to do this, and, you'll often find that you are sliding on the saddle and need to reposition to be comfortable again.

And then there's the whole business of finding the right saddle for you. This is a can of worms that gets openned all the time. Just try searching the forum for "saddles" and you will see. Good luck finding that perfect position and saddle ;-)

Do not rule out the saddle. Sometimes positioning doesn'thelp and and far as finding the best one,well it can be a long process unless you know someone at a shop that will let your road test a good variety.
Yes, it could be the angle or the frame size,or seat height etc. but rule nothing out as yet.
Some saddles just never work

jhuskey said:

Do not rule out the saddle. Sometimes positioning doesn'thelp and and far as finding the best one,well it can be a long process unless you know someone at a shop that will let your road test a good variety.
Yes, it could be the angle or the frame size,or seat height etc. but rule nothing out as yet.
Some saddles just never work

Yeah....I've tried many different positions with it, shifting while I ride etc. I've been riding this bike for 8 months now so it's not like I haven't given myself a chance to get used to it as I know full well it took at least a month for my body to adjust to my previous bike which was a mountain bike.

I just think a really hard saddle isn't the way to go and that "channel" on some of the newer seats seems like it's worth a shot(I'm a guy by the way).

Maybe I'll try shopping around at a place that sells seats and has some experience with this type of thing.

ranalli said:

Yeah....I've tried many different positions with it, shifting while I ride etc. I've been riding this bike for 8 months now so it's not like I haven't given myself a chance to get used to it as I know full well it took at least a month for my body to adjust to my previous bike which was a mountain bike.

I just think a really hard saddle isn't the way to go and that "channel" on some of the newer seats seems like it's worth a shot(I'm a guy by the way).

Maybe I'll try shopping around at a place that sells seats and has some experience with this type of thing.

The Terri Y Zero is the best I have found for myself 60-70 miles with no problem, but anatomys vary.

I had the same problem, I took a standard seat with the open V in the center and modified it. The seat was OK, but uncomfortable in the down position.
I checked where my "sit bones" were actually hitting the saddle and found it was on the back half of the saddle. I pealed the black cover back starting from the nose and removed the padding (about a 3/4' thick) back about half way. I then epoxied the nose of the cover back on, you can't tell it's been modified unless you press on the front half. This removed some of the pressure from the "package". I have found the wider the center V opening the better, to keep pressure of the perineal area. I'll check the saddle name I used and get back to you. I don't know why manufactures don't make saddles with a stepped design, the closest I've seen was a bent nose, but that looked like the bend was too far froward to help.

Rich

ranalli said:

I have a stock Trek 1000 SL road bike and I've been having problems since I got it with regards to my genitals going numb which leads to my left leg going partially numb.

This is my first road bike so I may be doing something wrong but I never had this problem with my stock Trek 6500 Mountain bike.

I can't go for more than an hour without this issue happening. I have the padded shorts, but I think the issue is that I'm hunched over therefore crunching up that whole area whereas with the mountain bike I was very upright. I've messed with the seat position multiple times with no success.

Not sure what to do...should I get a new saddle and what would people recommend? I don't think I want to spend $150 on a Specialized Toupe Gel Saddle unless I was garunteed it would work.

Can anyone lend some advice? My legs are screaming to go for more miles...but my genitals are saying "NO MORE!!!".

ranalli said:

Yeah....I've tried many different positions with it, shifting while I ride etc. I've been riding this bike for 8 months now so it's not like I haven't given myself a chance to get used to it as I know full well it took at least a month for my body to adjust to my previous bike which was a mountain bike.

I just think a really hard saddle isn't the way to go and that "channel" on some of the newer seats seems like it's worth a shot(I'm a guy by the way).

Maybe I'll try shopping around at a place that sells seats and has some experience with this type of thing.

Here are a couple of saddles to look at.
[url="http://www.rei.com/product/737827http"]rei.com737827Open ↗http[/url]

jensonusa.comSA407A71 Hobson+Easyseat+Ii+Saddle.aspxOpen ↗

Over the years I've tried different saddle types. The first link listed is a noseless saddle. Good for relieving pressure, but is a comprimise in other areas. The second link is a Serfas RX performance saddle with a channel. I have been very happy with this saddle. It is narrow, which is actually a plus. a wider saddle digs in to the back of the leg when pedaling, especialy when sitting back on the saddle. This was also an issue with the noseless saddle.
Saddles are an individual preference and a person may have to be willing to try some to see what works.

http://www.rei.com/product/737827