Damaged undercarriage

[Radar_GB]

I wonder how many men end up with issues "down there" and what they do about it to remain cycling. I just restarted at 62 and bruised my prostate. The physio says its common. A friend pointed me toward hornless saddles and loaned me one. (Canadian) I don't see any for sale in the UK. Going to try it in conjunction with decent padded undershorts. Anybody else like to advise please?

 

[numbnuts]

Try a saddle like this one

 

[Radar_GB]

Thanks for the reply numbnuts. I have tried something similar in the past (split at the back not coming all the way forward) but a friend (no really, not me) who has suffered really badly pointed me toward "spongywonder.com", so that's where I started. Their product is $117 delivered to the UK. I'll have a look for this TRK unit, presume its available in UK?
PS: Were you ever in Led Zepellin?

 

[numbnuts]

PS: Were you ever in Led Zepellin?

I wish, but no

 

[Rob3rt]

Unless there is an under-lying medical issue chances are it is a bike fit issue, this could mean you have the bike set up incorrectly or that your saddle simply doesn't suit you. I would advise you try some other normal saddles before buying a novelty saddle.

 

[Radar_GB]

Thanks Rob. I have been experimenting with set up and today did a few miles with the Canadian saddle I loaned and new padded shorts. Things seemed much improved. There is no underlying medical issue, just easily bruised down there I guess. Some of the posts I have seen on other web sites lead me to conclude that there are many who ride accepting the grim discomfort that follows.

 

[Rob3rt]

That wierd saddle to me looks anatomically incorrect and will not support you where you should be supported. If you want a noseless saddle that is anatomically well considered, look at the ISM Adamo range or similar (Specialized Sitero, Fizik Tritone, etc). But even then, no-one should really need this type of saddle unless they ride an extreme situation (time trial position) or have something wrong down below!

 

[Radar_GB]

Thanks again Rob, the Adamo looks a good bet. I would like to try before buying with some of these variants but not many options to do so local to me. The Spongywonder is indeed weird and lack of any nose at all means you have no leg grip to steady the bike when giving hand signals for instance. None the less it keeps pressure off the pipes. Its only one option. (CT scans have shown no fault found, could be a penalty of age)

 

[Rob3rt]

You can try before you buy with most brands, you just need to find a shop that has test saddles.

Specialized however have a garbage saddle test procedure (you have to buy it, and they will swap for any of their other saddles if it is no good, great.... unless none of their saddles suit). So if you want to try one of their saddles buy it online from somewhere and wrap tape on the rails so as not to mark them when fitting, ride it a bit then return asking for a refund.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Thanks for the reply numbnuts. I have tried something similar in the past (split at the back not coming all the way forward) but a friend (no really, not me) who has suffered really badly pointed me toward "spongywonder.com", so that's where I started. Their product is $117 delivered to the UK. I'll have a look for this TRK unit, presume its available in UK?
PS: Were you ever in Led Zepellin?

I had a chat with a guy with a spongywonder earlier this year. The design is so different to a standard saddle that the guy said that it took a long time to get used to (including a loss of stability at speed). But it worked for him.

 

[Radar_GB]

Bought an ISM touring yesterday. Surprised to find another bike shop in Malvern (Trybikes) I had never heard of. Chap there seemed very knowledgeable and said he had sold quite a lot of split saddles for similar reasons to mine. Lots more research leads me to believe CPPS is at the core of the problem. (No pun intended). Knowledge is power.

 

[fossyant]

Rob has hit the nail on the head. Saddles need to support your sit bones. Padded saddles are a quick route to discomfort. Some folk swear by the SMP. I swear by flat topped Selle Italia saddles. Too rounded or padded and they put pressure where it should not be.

 

[Radar_GB]

All good so far, the ISM is better than the Spongywonder and as you say the sit bones seem properly supported. Just did 5 miles as a try out without problem. Control seems better than with the SW when I let go to make hand signals etc. I expect there to be an acclimatisation period but I am optimistic. Gotta be as having invested in a machine each for me and Mrs Chief failure is not an option.