hmmm...balls problems...could this be the cause?

Voytek
Voytek Posts: 14
edited June 2008 in Pro race
Hi, I'm new to this forum so don't laugh me off....I have started commuting to work 3 months ago. I do only 5mile each way which takes me about 20 minutes, so i do 10 mile per day in 40 minutes ride time and what I noticed is that sometimes my balls get a little bit achey.It's not a sharp pain or anything like that but definitely I feel discomfort in those areas and somehow suspect all that might be caused by riding the bike...i would be grateful for any advices you guys could give me...

Comments

  • bhm100
    bhm100 Posts: 102
    Hi,
    The bike could be, I think everyone gets a bit sore when they first start riding because you're putting pressure on areas that don't normally get part of your body weight on them. But 3 months is a long time for it to continue, you should be acclimatising to cycling after a week or so.

    First thing is to check your position on the bike. Generally speaking your weight should be distributed between the saddle & handlebars. A very upright position takes all the weight off your hands & places it on your bum, so look at how you're sitting and aim to be leaning forwards a bit.

    Second check the saddle. Too high & you'll be rocking in the saddle as you pedal & again that's not good. Roughly speaking your leg should be almost fully extended at the bottom of a pedal stroke, but not completely stretched - just a slight bend at the knee.

    Also check the saddle itself is level & not raised at the front. You can ride with it slightly tilted downwards at the front but that tends to place more weight on your wrists.

    If that lot doesn't work, and the discomfort isn't exactly tied to commuting sessions (does it go away at weekends/periods of not riding ? ) then I'd go and check up with the Dr to be on the safe side.
  • Voytek
    Voytek Posts: 14
    Hi, appreciate your reply to my post...well it sort of goes away when I don't ride but also what I noticed is that when I started wearing long trousers on my commute it doesn't affect me that much. Also what I noticed when it was cold (like +2 Celsius) on couple occasions I nearly got myself something like "cold burns" on my shin when riding in shorts. Shortly after that I started to feel that discomfort so I don't think it's got anything to do with my saddle or position on the bike (I rode for first 2 months without any problems). I think that at some stage I might caught myself a draft around the groin...well...I'm going to see GP next week...I don't have a lot of trust for GPs in UK though...will see what they going to say....

    thanks again for your reply...
  • bhm100
    bhm100 Posts: 102
    Riding in shorts at +2C ? you're a hero good sir.....

    I never ride in shorts below 10C, and generally speaking it's more like 12-14C before my knees venture out into the fresh air. Cold air plus the windchill of riding along can cause all sorts of muscle problems, even the professionals will be wearing tights until the sun comes out.

    If you managed a couple of months without finding any problems then yep, sounds like you've hit on the problem though.
  • sem69
    sem69 Posts: 106
    Hey Voytek, did you go to the docs? What did they say? I've had the same problem and tilting my saddle downwards at the front a bit seems to have helped.
  • Voytek
    Voytek Posts: 14
    I didn't go to docs yet but to be honest I don't have a lot of faith in what they say. Also because I was out of the loop from riding for 3 days and then got back on it yesterday I have noticed it's DEFO that it's riding related. I will try to lower my saddle an inch or a half inch or so, see if that helps. The discomfort I felt yesterday after 2x20 minutes of riding was not like sore testicles but I'd say more like i'm not sure the spot in between (would we call it prostate or around it's whereabouts?). It's all quite new to me...I can only guess...and I'll give a go tilting the saddle downwards as well...
  • cannonfodder
    cannonfodder Posts: 183
    are you using cycling shorts or something with a cycling short inner? These give support and keep everything out of the way. If they get knocked around a bit they can get achey.

    Positioning on the bike only helps with blood flow to the old man which is a different problem
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    cannonfodder wrote:
    are you using cycling shorts or something with a cycling short inner? These give support and keep everything out of the way. If they get knocked around a bit they can get achey.

    Positioning on the bike only helps with blood flow to the old man which is a different problem

    I'm with cannonfodder. I wear polypro(no cotton) briefs(not boxers) under my cycling
    shorts whenever I ride. I have a very sensitive spot on my left nut. Yes, I've had all the test and it's just a sore spot, nothing more, or so they say. It has bothered me for 6 or 8 years now but never gotten worse. Probably cycling related but who knows. Anyway,
    I find that the briefs help keep "old lefty" up, out of the way, and nice and snug so that it doesn't bounce around - that's the worst. So, I'm 60 and still out there - try the briefs.
    You might find that you need a bit more lubrication down there to keep all that fabric
    from rubbing. Sorry if this is way too much information.

    Dennis Noward

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