Saddle, er, Issues!!

Compton77
Compton77 Posts: 139
edited October 2008 in Workshop
I have a question regarding set-up/positioning. Bear with me as the issue is a little sensitive.. basically i've started to experience numbness in the ol' boy after a long ride. I've checked that the saddle is level (it is) and I feel that the seatpost is set correctly. Has anyone else experienced this issue and if so how did you resolve it? I find I sit very close to the nose of the saddle when i really push on.,, would maybe shifting the saddle forwards help? Maybe I need to set the post higher though wouldn't this create more bounce? I'm at a loss and i'd like to have some kids one day so i'd like to do some damage limitation before it's too late!!
Cervelo RS

Comments

  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    Stand up every now and again, when you feel the old boy going a bit numb.
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    try pointing the nose down a little, or move the saddle forward a bit. one or the other, a little bit at a time, until you are comfortable.

    Only put the saddle up if you are not getting proper leg extension at the bottom of the stroke.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    I had this, solved with a Specialized Avatar (with lurve groove). I have improved comfort further with a Selle Anatomica (if there is a god he would have made this saddle).

    Set your saddle so you don't sit too far forward on it.

    Don't ignore numb todger - it is a sign that the blood flow is being restricted, permanent damage can occur then said todger will have trouble rising to appropriate occasions (and inappropriate ones too). This phenomenon has been described in the medical literature.

    Don't worry though, there's more to life... :wink:
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    When you say you've "started to experience" this, does this mean that you didn't suffer from this beforehand? Assuming that you didn't make any major chages to your saddle or its position to trigger this off, there is a possibility (and I speak from experience) that this could have been triggered by a change in clothing, particularly as you move to using winter clothing.
    Last year when I changed from shorts to bib-knickers as the weather got colder, I started experiencing numbness. I tracked it down to the fact that the chamois in the bibknickers was considerably thicker than in the shorts and would tend to bunch up front. When I changed to another brand with a slightly thinner insert, the problem went away.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • spanielsson
    spanielsson Posts: 776
    Maybe the saddle you using is not the correct width for you?!

    I sat on a Bontrager "Arse-O-Meter" at my local bike shop, it showed I should be using a wider saddle that the standard one provided.

    This has stopped the numbness.............
  • Compton77
    Compton77 Posts: 139
    i'm going to shift the saddle forwards a tad tonight and see if that helps. Thinking about it, i do find that a fair bit of my weight sits on my undercarriage and maybe i need to put more on my sit bones? Probably a stupid question....
    Cervelo RS
  • DaSy
    DaSy Posts: 599
    As said above, is this a new phenomena. Have you recently changed anything, ie, shoes, stem, handlebar position or clothing.

    If you have previously been okay on the same distance rides, and this has started to happen with no changes, is it possibly an increase in training miles and an overuse issue?

    My experience has been that once you have irritated an area, even having changed the culprit you can continue to get irritation for quite a while, so make any changes small and give them time before moving on to the next. Also mark your original positions so that you can back track if your changes make things worse.

    I had quite a bit of numbness a while back that was caused by a new saddle (Spesh Toupe). It didn't show up until after at least 600 miles, and took at least that after changing it again (Fizik Arione) to get back to normal.
    Complicating matters since 1965
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Lets hope it is due to some change, but to be pessimistic, if there is no change to setup, the appearance of this phenomena could be the result of anatomical changes brought about by the repeated trauma to the area over many years, repeated pressure on the blood vessels could cause changes, a bit like vibration white finger. Obviously I hope this is not the case, but it could explain the appearance of this. Whatever the cause I would be looking for a seat with a groove that relieves pressure in this area.
  • wilwil
    wilwil Posts: 374
    With me it was the saddle. I have no trouble with a Specialized Toupe.
  • mm1
    mm1 Posts: 1,063
    Are you sure its the saddle? Could be that your bars are not where they should be? I inadvertantly fitted a 12cm stem instead of 11cm, when fitting new forks on my best bike (its a long story, I keep several stem lengths as i like to tinker with my postion on TT bike - in the mistaken belief that something other than hard work might have an impact on performance). c.70miles on Sunday club run and I was, well, a bit numb. Fitted shorter stem and all is fine.
  • morrisje
    morrisje Posts: 507
    I find the gears I use affects this area. If I'm spinning then more weight is on my undercarriage and I get your problem. Put it in a harder gear and there is less weight on the saddle.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    listen guys, I am worried for the human race - sure, adjust your saddles and positions, but ultimately if you are getting numb todger, you need a saddle with some relief (a groove) in the appropriate area. I am worried that your potential impotence will naturally deselect those with the cycling gene from the population! Car drivers don't get numb todgers from their seats, so you can see where the evolutionary advantage lies...

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