Numb Genitals

stephenr said:

Hi all,

Just a quick one, I recently got a new bike, had it setup professionally. When I do longer rides 60K+, I try to stay down on my tri-bars for most of the ride - probably not good. I find about 20K into the ride, my genitals and penis go absolutely numb which, worries me. Could it be the new saddle causing my problems?

Stephen...

Sounds like you're pinching some nerves....do you sit a long way forward on the seat?

Maybe get a seat with the cut out in the middle. Prolonged numbness over a period of time can be very harmfull in the long run because you are cutting off the blood supply and pinching nerves to that area. A seat with the void in the middle will take the pressure off of that area and keep your crotch from loosing blood and falling asleep. I read that if you continue to put pressure on that area in the middle, it can cause very serious long term effects like impotence. EEK!

ed073 said:

Sounds like you're pinching some nerves....do you sit a long way forward on the seat?

Probably do sit a little way forward. Tried to set my new bike up exactly the same as the old. I tilted the saddle slightly forward last night to match my old bike and it seemed to do the trick. Still needs a little bit of adjustment though. I think the saddle needs to come a bit more forward, so I am sitting back more in it. Does that make sense...Thanks...

Yeah....definitely not cool to have your weight only on the thin nose part.....try and get your pelvic bones back onto the broader part of the seat. This will alleviate a lot of the pressure.

ed073 said:

Yeah....definitely not cool to have your weight only on the thin nose part.....try and get your pelvic bones back onto the broader part of the seat. This will alleviate a lot of the pressure.

Thanks, will take that on board. I did make sure last night when I went out, that I was sitting further to the rear, that and the slight tilting of the seat seemed to help heaps. I think I just need to get used to the new seat, my old seat was as hard as a rock and it never gave me any problem. The new seat has the cutout in the middle and it is fine if I ride on the bars however, only happens when I am down on the tri-bars which, I guess makes me slide forward in the seat more.

Melbourne, that is only just down the road...

Thanks again....