Embarrassing problem

penfold83 · 16-10-2008 2:00pm #1

I recently went out on my first proper spin. It was to Blessington and back, which works out, from my house, at just under 50km. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt great afterwards, however I encountered a problem along the way which I didn't foresee.

My testacles and the surrounding area went completely numb for quite a long time!!!

Is this normal? I have quite an old steel bike with a plastic saddle. I was wearing brand new padded cycling shorts. Maybe my positioning on the saddle is off? Or perhaps the saddle is too high/low? Has anyone else ever had this problem?

Cheers

Morgan · 16-10-2008 2:09pm

Never happened to me - but I've heard of it. It can also lead to problems long-term. Your saddle and bike position will be responsible. Your saddle should support your "sit bones" and not put weight on the soft tissues of your nether regions. Having your handlebars too far away or too far below the saddle height can exacerbate the problem.

Lumen · 16-10-2008 2:10pm

Your saddle is probably pressing on a nerve.

I have had this before, halfway along a 1300km tour. Every toilet visit felt like I was giving a "reacharound", which is not something that I found very appealing.

50km is not a particularly long distance though.

Check your saddle is level (spirit level or measure height of both ends of a broom handle along your saddle). You can get a saddle which takes weight off the area, either with a central cutout or different shape.

I've heard that some bike shops have some sort of pad you sit on to measure your shape, not done it myself.

TinyExplosions · 16-10-2008 2:12pm

I'd echo what Lumen said -check how level your saddle is... even a slight upward tilt at the nose could cause numbness.... start with it dead level and see if it happens again...

penfold83 · 16-10-2008 2:21pm

Thanks for the replies! I'll defo get the spirit level out when I get home. I completely agree with Lumen's comment about the reacharound. It really isn't a very pleasant sensation.

flickerx · 16-10-2008 2:25pm

i had this years ago - and never bothered doing anything about it, typical irish male response of "ah sure it'll go away", ended up with a cyst on my epidydmus which eventually grew to the size of half of one of my balls, causing me a lot of problems, and i had to have it surgically removed, which was no fun. so yes adjust your saddle as necessary and/or buy a new one which is softer, wider, with a gap in the middle.

BaBiT · 16-10-2008 2:30pm

Had this years ago in my previous cycling career...Ended up peeing blood after a particularly constant run of training days..Sorted it with a better saddle...Two kids later I can't say it did any long term damage but when I got back into cycling about two years ago the first thing I changed on the bike was the saddle...Have the same one on my most recent purchase...Its the Specialized Toupe which is not for everyone but I'd echo what was said about the 'hole in the middle' saddles...Excelllent

t5pwr · 16-10-2008 2:44pm

I found this on short cycles when I started out and found that I tilted the front of my saddle down on where it was originally set and it went away. It's not a pleasant feeling alright... It just seemed to be the saddle putting too much pressure on the front as opposed to your ass bones...

DirkVoodoo · 16-10-2008 2:46pm

This happened to me after the Sean Kelly this year, I literally lost feeling "downstairs" for about 2 days. My saddle is pretty level but it was the longest I have been out on that particular bike and I believe the actual saddle is the problem (Its some 4ZA Ridley job, not very nice at all).

I'm considering upgrading to a more forgiving saddle, its something to look into if altering your setup doesn't help.

Chips Lovell · 16-10-2008 3:33pm

Reacharounds? Testicular cysts? Way too much information in this thread guys. Way too much.

OP: How you pack your, ummm, meat and vegetables can make a difference.

Vélo · 16-10-2008 3:51pm

flickerx wrote: »

ended up with a cyst on my epidydmus which eventually grew to the size of half of one of my balls

So it was like a raisin then:D:D

Traumadoc · 16-10-2008 4:12pm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69319.php

deco1985 · 16-10-2008 4:33pm

a good quality saddle and gear is all you can do mate. it will be less worse the more you go as well!

deco1985 · 16-10-2008 4:34pm

i know thats not much consolation now

Lumen · 16-10-2008 4:39pm

Traumadoc wrote: »

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69319.php

:eek:

(pops out to buy a 90 degree stem)

scottreynolds · 16-10-2008 4:40pm

penfold83 wrote: »

a plastic saddle

That already sounds painful.

:DI'd suggest a mid ride massage while stopped at lights.

unionman · 16-10-2008 5:11pm

Lumen wrote: »

:eek:

(pops out to buy a 90 degree stem)

:eek:and a car:D

DirkVoodoo · 16-10-2008 5:28pm

scottreynolds wrote: »

I'd suggest a mid ride massage while stopped at lights.

You might want to get a pair of these if you start doing that

Chips Lovell · 16-10-2008 5:30pm

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

You might want to get a pair of these if you start doing that

They're class. Gotta get me a pair of them.

Edit: Of course, it would be better if they said 'wanquer'.

DirkVoodoo · 16-10-2008 5:34pm

I still don't get them though, is it some kind of cycling in-joke or do they mean exactly what it says on the tin?

EDIT: Does it say "Wanker's sausage" on the sole?

MagicMarker · 16-10-2008 5:35pm

This has happened to me on the bikes in the gym, kind of a weird feeling!!!

Traumadoc · 17-10-2008 8:15am

some more scary info for you.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/329/7470/0-f.pdf

Lumen · 17-10-2008 9:15am

Traumadoc wrote: »

some more scary info for you.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/329/7470/0-f.pdf

BMJ wrote:

Bottom line
Long distance cyclists wishing to minimise the risk of erectile dysfunction should ride a road bicycle instead of a mountain bicycle, keep the handlebar height lower than saddle height, and use a saddle without a cutout if perineal numbness is experienced.

The other article said that the benefits of a cutout disappeared if the handlebars were too low.

I think the clear message is "MTBers can't get it up".

Signal_ rabbit · 17-10-2008 3:52pm

This has only happened to me once after a 100mile cycle. Lost all feeling for two days, was scary at first, the wife thought it very funny and kept trying her best! Lowered the saddle a gnats and no probs since. The only problem i have now is trying to find the damn thing after the cold mornings!

scottreynolds · 17-10-2008 4:34pm

Lumen wrote: »

"MTBers can't get it up"

Thats funny

Signal_ rabbit wrote: »

The only problem i have now is trying to find the damn thing after the cold mornings!

thats funnier

72hundred · 17-10-2008 5:15pm

Would recommend from my own experience the Specialised Alias Saddle (I've the 143mm one). It stops the pudendal nerve / artery being compressed, as it has a longitudinal cut out in it.

That article referenced by TramaDoc

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/329/7470/0-f.pdf

Has this to say in conclusion.

Bottom line Long distance cyclists wishing to minimise the
risk of erectile dysfunction should ride a road bicycle instead of
a mountain bicycle, keep the handlebar height lower than
saddle height, and use a saddle without a cutout if perineal
numbness is experienced.

I'd question the validity of this study from my own experience and that the study was not of the highest quality. As stated by the authors themselves:

Level of evidence 2b (see www.infopoems.com/levels/html).
Individual cohort study or low quality randomised controlled
trials < 80% follow up.

Traumadoc · 17-10-2008 6:10pm

Difficult to do a fully randomised single blinded ( it would be impossible to have a double blinded) controlled trial and the numbers would have to be large. plus road cyclists would probably exaggerate their prowess.

Anyway RCTs are overrated.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7429/1459

72hundred · 17-10-2008 6:20pm

Traumadoc wrote: »

Difficult to do a fully randomised single blinded ( it would be impossible to have a double blinded) controlled trial and the numbers would have to be large. plus road cyclists would probably exaggerate their prowess.

Anyway RCTs are overrated.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7429/1459

Yup the zenith of medical progression! The old double blind randomised controlled trial.

Anyway RCTs are overrated.

Haha, that's great. I thought it was a skit article. Is it?

EDIT: I guess it is a skit of types.

Capt'n Midnight · 17-10-2008 6:30pm

check the height of the saddle in case you are see-sawing side to side
start at 1.09 times your inside leg from pedal to saddle with the crank aligned with the down tube

if you are male then I'd recommend you should drop the nose of the saddle a little bit especially if you have a bike with dropped bars and lean forward.

oobydooby · 17-10-2008 7:46pm

So what's teh verdict then?

like Homer Simpson said "Could you dumb it down a little?"

I'm selling the hybrid and the MTB tomorrow and getting a drop-bar fixie for commuting. This thread is much more scary than that scary horrible injuries thread that was going.

SerialComplaint · 17-10-2008 9:04pm

penfold83 wrote: »

I recently went out on my first proper spin. It was to Blessington and back, which works out, from my house, at just under 50km. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt great afterwards, however I encountered a problem along the way which I didn't foresee.

My testacles and the surrounding area went completely numb for quite a long time!!!

You are not alone.

Embarrassing problem

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