Numbness ( down there ) long rides..

Diamondmaker

Last w/e I completed a 100km ride, it started with a 10k descent, about 80k flat to rolling in the valley and a time trial 10km summit finish.

It was great and I really enjoyed the distance and the climb at the end. I do the vast majority of my weekly cycles on the hills and mountain around here and love climbing, I had never however climbed with a 90k prelude...so I was in new territory.

Further to the body realising new quad cramps, preventing me from getting out of the saddle, the last few k of the climb became excruciating, as I could not sit down on the saddle I had to go from but cheek to but cheek. it was so sore on the crotch.

Next morning and for nearly a week the fella down there was quite numb too :pac:

Ideally I dont want to go messing around with saddles, as I never had that issue before on regular rides up to 60/70k.

Should I wear an extra layer of bike knicks, do my bits just get tougher with distance or could it be a saddle issue ? Its not a chafe issue.

Many thanks.

Lusk_Doyle

Is this not a good thing that results in a better sensory experience for herself or himself when you attempt non bike related riding due to your numbed pleasure receptors, thereby prolonging the inevitable, and heretofore, disappointing short sprint?!?

godtabh

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Is this not a good thing that results in a better sensory experience for herself or himself when you attempt non bike related riding due to your numbed pleasure receptors, thereby prolonging the inevitable, and heretofore, disappointing short sprint?!?

Durty

Lusk_Doyle

godtabh wrote: »

Durty

I find the Milan - San Remo sportive to be a great prolonger! Lasts for weeks. Way better than those blue things!

coastwatch

Is your saddle level or pointed up / down?
Try adjusting it to point it down slightly at the front. That will move the contact point further back.

Diamondmaker

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Is this not a good thing that results in a better sensory experience for herself or himself when you attempt non bike related riding due to your numbed pleasure receptors, thereby prolonging the inevitable, and heretofore, disappointing short sprint?!?

Zen0

If my johnston went numb for a week, I'd be out shopping for saddles next day.

Brian?

Have you had a bike fit done?

macnab

I find I suffer from this kind of numbness when I am less fit, I put it down to spending too much time in the saddle so I try to force myself to climb out of the saddle now and then to get the circulation going. Saddle position has been suggested in another post, I think I recall that if the seat is too far back the angle of the pelvis will cause more pressure on the undercarriage.

disco1

Try the specialized romin pro.. Big hole in the middle for yer bits to breath...i suffer too on long journeys...but I find this saddle helps....

disco1

Try the specialized romin pro.. Big hole in the middle for yer bits to breath...i suffer too on long journeys...but I find this saddle helps....

thebouldwhacker

Get a bike fit.
If something like that is wrong at this stage chances are figuring it out by trial and error is probably not the wisest.

Diamondmaker

Did a 60k this AM with summit finish, and paid specific attention to the issue and I have come to the conclusion that I sit too far forward on the saddle most often. I had no issues today at all, but unless it was a one off last week, it is only an issue coming up after 3 or more hours in the saddle Id say.

I reckon aside from the bike fit Ill move the saddle forward a bit so Im more on the main part of the saddle, IM definitely perched on the narrow front most part a lot.

New saddle being option 3, I will be riding 100k plus more often now so I need to get the issue fixed...assuming it was not a one off.

cheers all

The Big Lebowsky

I also reccomend the specialized romin saddle....Zero numbness in the male plumbing department.

It dosen't have much padding, so after sitting on it for four hours I tend to get some slight sorness around the muscles attached to my sit bones..
Its the only saddle Ive used that's never given me a saddle sore .

The romin comes in four widths 130.. 143...155...168
You really need to go to a specialized dealer like cycleways to get measured as the bone structure of the human pelvis can vary quite a lot.

Quite a few so called specialized dealers will only carry the most popular widths...and will sell you anything just to get your money.
The great thing about cycleways is, if the saddle they sell you is uncomfortable, you can return it and try a wider or narrower model.

Dotsie~tmp

I was having serious problems in that area last year. Bought the below after much reading and problem gone. Mine involved blood where there should not have been blood.

quozl

I swapped to a Romin pro two weeks ago because I was getting discomfort in the perenial area on long spins. I'd always just ignored it but I saw an article about it which convinced me to do some research.

Have a read of the possible long term effects. I'm stupidly usually one for ignoring pain which has lead to various chronic injuries but potential impotency is a good motivator.

Diamondmaker

wow thanks for that guys, Ill see do the adjustments have a positive affect on my next long ride and go from there.

Valentine1

I was experiencing short term numbness while on the bike. I moved my saddle forward on the rails by only a small amount so that I am now sitting on more of the saddle with more of my a$$ and the problem has more or less disappeared.

Incidentally if I was experiencing prolonged numbness I'd be off to the doctor long before it got to a week.

Jabel

Dotsie~tmp wrote: »

I was having serious problems in that area last year. Bought the below after much reading and problem gone. Mine involved blood where there should not have been blood.

Interested in getting one of these, where did you get it and how much?

Dotsie~tmp

Jabel wrote: »

Interested in getting one of these, where did you get it and how much?

€70 on amazon if I remember right. The 2 economy non leather models are the TRK and Extra. The TRK looks more like a touring wider saddle so i got the Extra. You sped up a 100 quid for their fancy leather and carbon ones.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?rh=n%3A550022011%2Ck%3Aselle+smp&keywords=selle+smp&ie=UTF8&qid=1386764537&rnid=1642204031

I think I saw them in halfords too.

TheBlaaMan

I've suffered from the same issue at stages, but its always short term and I'm fully functional in a few minutes......If it lasted a week or so, you clearly have irritated a nerve. Its probably the case that you caused some inflamation/swelling that snagged a nerve and once that subsided, normal service resumed. I wouldn't want to see recurrence if it was me, so try to avoid it happening. If you know you are going to be saddle bound for the final 20-30km then use the lead-in period to get out of the saddle on frequent occasions , even on the flat, to relieve pressure on the area as its going to be a cumulative thing over the durtation fo the ride.

I'll be getting a Selle SMP myself over Christmas - I'll wait till the sales - but Planet-X have them for under €50

diomed

I have a Selle SMP TRK going free (PM me). It looks a bit like the saddles above.
http://www.bicycletires.com/imagesLarge/mptkw2-1.jpg <---- this is it
It is comfortable for shirt trips (< 20km) but I found it uncomfortable for long trips 70km+. I use saddles without cutouts. Imo they are better for long trips.

Iwannahurl

Pudendal Neuralgia (aka Alcock Canal Syndrome!) is common enough among serious cyclists.

Treatment is available, but prevention is better. Changing your saddle would be a good place to start.

http://www.johnpolson.com.au/blog/2011/11/05/something-every-male-cyclist-should-read/

darkvalley

diomed wrote: »

I have a Selle SMP TRK going free (PM me). It looks a bit like the saddles above.
http://www.bicycletires.com/imagesLarge/mptkw2-1.jpg <---- this is it
It is comfortable for shirt trips (< 20km) but I found it uncomfortable for long trips 70km+. I use saddles without cutouts. Imo they are better for long trips.

I have that saddle and have found it very comfortable. I got it to deal with the numbness problem and it worked for me. I haven't gone further with it than 60-70km, so can't comment on that. I got it to try out the smp saddles before investing in a more expensive one, which for me I think will be the lite 209. Good saddle

Jabel

diomed wrote: »

I have a Selle SMP TRK going free (PM me). It looks a bit like the saddles above.
http://www.bicycletires.com/imagesLarge/mptkw2-1.jpg <---- this is it
It is comfortable for shirt trips (< 20km) but I found it uncomfortable for long trips 70km+. I use saddles without cutouts. Imo they are better for long trips.

Sent you a pm

ZiabR

I have been looking at the specialized romin pro but I cant find one for less than about 110-115 euro.

Unknown Soldier

I keep coming back to this thread to see if anyone mentions a short term shrinkage issue after a spin

Dotsie~tmp

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

I keep coming back to this thread to see if anyone mentions a short term shrinkage issue after a spin

As in dick shrinkage? Well things certainly seem to become more compact especially after a long ride. But thats what dick do man. Are you saying when things heat up the end product isnt the same?

Is your woman jumping on you as soon as you dismount from a 5 hour icy december night ride? Answers on a post card. Pictures optional.

Unknown Soldier

Dotsie~tmp wrote: »

As in dick shrinkage? Well things certainly seem to become more compact especially after a long ride. But thats what dick do man. Are you saying when things heat up the end product isnt the same?

Is your woman jumping on you as soon as you dismount from a 5 hour icy december night ride? Answers on a post card. Pictures optional.

I'm going to translate that as "Yes, it is quite normal for your nuts to hug tight and as a result shrink the whole shebang close to your body"



[eidt]ha! I remember you from CS back in the day That limerick server? I think.

Dotsie~tmp

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

I'm going to translate that as "Yes, it is quite normal for your nuts to hug tight and as a result shrink the whole shebang close to your body"



[eidt]ha! I remember you from CS back in the day That limerick server? I think.

Yeah. Some great gaming years back then on the Irish servers.

The Ging and I

Before you even consider changing the saddle, you need to check your position on the bike.
Are your bars too low ?
Are your bars too far/near
Is your saddle too high ?
Are you in a club, ask for advise !