genital numbness

[e-rider]

A lot of men suffer from some numbness on long rides, but this usually only lasts for minutes once they are off the bike. My guess is that you have let it get really bad during the ride, to the point of causing more serious damage and even some minor nerve damage which takes time to recover, rather than just taking a few minutes for blood flow to return to normal. My advice, apart from the obvious of change saddle and try different shorts; would be to lift out of the saddle for a few seconds every few minutes or so. This might just be for a short climb or just for 3-5 seconds on the flat - doing this frequently should help a lot and it will also become habit to the point that you don't even realise that you are doing it and it certainly shouldn't affect your riding either.

 

[gary in derby]

wot about a sex change? sorry only kidding. anything to take my mind off my own pain in the backside. no not the missus. lol
hope you get sorted, will follow with keen interest.

 

[Highlander Neil]

A lot of men suffer from some numbness on long rides, but this usually only lasts for minutes once they are off the bike. My guess is that you have let it get really bad during the ride, to the point of causing more serious damage and even some minor nerve damage which takes time to recover, rather than just taking a few minutes for blood flow to return to normal. My advice, apart from the obvious of change saddle and try different shorts; would be to lift out of the saddle for a few seconds every few minutes or so. This might just be for a short climb or just for 3-5 seconds on the flat - doing this frequently should help a lot and it will also become habit to the point that you don't even realise that you are doing it and it certainly shouldn't affect your riding either.

I did actually get out of the seat during my ride, but mainly this was to give the calves a good stretching without getting off the bike. I just masured my inside leg, its 37 inches from groin to heel and about 35 from groin to ankle. When you compare this to my height (in cm this time sorry to be annoying) which is about 193, apparently, even though I am quite tall, my legs are too small for my body. (This is apparently a trait of Scots people)

Therefore even though my seat is at the correct height (my knees are slightly bent when pedal is as at the bottom of a revolution), perhaps my handlebars could do with being slightly lower to account for a propotionally longer upper body (arms).

First things first guys, I'll put my new saddle on, tilt slightly at the front and try getting out of the seat every few minutes. But I won't be going anywhere near the bike until full sensation has returned.

 

[Tomba]

Used to get numbnuts with the Cannondale saddle so changed to a Spoon. Still got numbnuts.

Went and had my arse measured and bought a Specialized Romin (cut out) and not had any numbness. Managed a 65 sportive last month with no numbness.

Get in to a shop that sells Specialized and get your arse measured.

 

[doog]

I seem to get this on every saddle I have including the Brooks. When I get off the bike I can feel the blood rushing back to where it should be ! almost like a pins and needles sensation. Its a bit worrying as you wonder the hell will happen next and that aint good in lycra .

 

[Nebulous]

Hi Neil - I was there too, great day wasn't it?

Saddles may help, but I find it important to move around. I'm up out of the saddle for a couple of minutes every 20 minutes or so. Obviously a climb gives an opportunity, but even on the flat I'll stand up to let the blood flow to anywhere that has been getting a reduced flow.

 

[Banjo]

I used to experience something similar, albeit not to such an extreme. Since getting a saddle with the central part cut away (Specialized Romin Pro), I'm pleased to report the tingle is back in my dingle (apologies to those who are eating at the moment ).

I had exactly the same experience with the Scott Saddle that came with the bike. Changing to a Richie Bio saddle cured it instantly. Tried tilting saddle forward ,all that did was make me put more weight on my arms and even more uncomfortable.

I do regular 125 mile rides on the Richie Bio saddle and the dangly bits are fine.

 

[Blue Hills]

Highlander, as I understand it tilting the saddle forwards, even though it intuitively feels right (as in "get that thing away from my bits" will just make you slide forwards. The key thing is to ensure that the weight is going onto your sit bones. It sounds like your pressure is falling on the narrower part of the saddle - try pushing it a lot further forward - even if you are up against the limit of the rails if necessary.

Try this first.

Then look at the width of your saddle at the back so that your sit bones are hitting the saddle in the right place.
As others above have pointed out, you need a saddle which is the right width for your sit bones. Another "counter-intuitive" bit here as well I think - I gather that there is not necessarily a correlation between the distance between ones sit bones and the size of ones arse.

One final point - don't ever ride for an extended distance with saddle pain - get the problem sorted. That old idea about "riding through it" is barmy.

 

[dellzeqq]

I seem to get this on every saddle I have including the Brooks. When I get off the bike I can feel the blood rushing back to where it should be ! almost like a pins and needles sensation. Its a bit worrying as you wonder the hell will happen next and that aint good in lycra .

Brooks saddles are not good in this respect (or in any other). Neil's saddle is shaped a little like a Brooks. I'd dump it and go for one with a cutout.

 

[zoxed]

I spent years trying to fix numbness, saddle sores etc and other bike comfort problems. Then I actually rode a recumbent (not just looked at the pics!). Never looked back, and hardly touched a wedgie since :-)