Dealing with a numb "thingy"
prj45
Posts: 2,208
Basically saddle recommendations to stop part of me going numb that really shouldn't be going numb please.
Currently on a fizik "came with the bike" saddle which I've been getting on with quite well on the commute, but after a 75 miler the other day (25 miles, comfortable 25-50 miles getting uncomfortable, 50+ couldn't really feel anything, so comfortable again) I think it's time for a change.
Had a specialised body geometry before which was a bit too bullky for the road bike (although it is by no means actually bulky) so it's got to be something quite sleek.
I do around 30 miles a day.
Currently on a fizik "came with the bike" saddle which I've been getting on with quite well on the commute, but after a 75 miler the other day (25 miles, comfortable 25-50 miles getting uncomfortable, 50+ couldn't really feel anything, so comfortable again) I think it's time for a change.
Had a specialised body geometry before which was a bit too bullky for the road bike (although it is by no means actually bulky) so it's got to be something quite sleek.
I do around 30 miles a day.
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if you want to stop your (ock going numb then you will have to get he one that fits you best and not have a hang-up about how it looks.
try the saddle swap thread in the for sale forum, it's no good me recommending my saddle to you as it's a very individual thing. best i can suggest is that if the spesh bg works for you then i'd maybe try their range.0 -
Even the Toupé? I'd admit that my BG Avatar isn't the slimmest, but I don't find it bulky. The Toupé is definitely not bulky though. The other thing is getting the right width for your sit bones, the Spesh saddles usually come in two or three widths.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
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prj45 wrote:ris wrote:if you want to stop your (ock going numb
I do, I woke up the other morning after my ride and the first thing I had to do was grab it to make sure it was still there!
Trying raising the height of your saddle
I had the same problem, a disturbing combination of pain and numbness after a longer ride. Raising the saddle and moving it slightly forward seemed to redistribute my weight and solve the problem.
I must say that the problem didn't last as long as the next morning.
Maybe you're getting older.......“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
his nibs suffers from the same problem, no amount of seat changing as sorted the problem out. The Charge Spoon seems to be the best so far, but even then he's still getting numbness in the nether regions.
numbeness is the least of my problems, the simple fact that my back is crook and causes me pain when I cycle is my worry at the momentOfficers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men0 -
get out of the saddle every now and then, gets the circulation going again to that area0
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TailWindHome wrote:ris wrote:if you want to stop your size=12]]c[/size]ock going numb
Lowering the saddle worked for me
I only get this problem now if I use the tri bars too much on long rides, the rest of the time it's fine.
I use a Brooks B17. I am 6'2" and have quite a wide backside, the B17 is fairly wide
The worst saddle I had was a Sella Italia that came with a bike. It was like yours, ok up to 30 miles or so but on longer distances quite literally a pain in the butt0 -
The saddle should be parallel to the floor and at a height where the legs are straight with your heel on the pedal. Normal riding position should see more weight on your saddle than the bars. If you can, try one of those saddles with a cut-out down the centre. It's a v personal thing but fwiw they do the job for me.
Consider having a proper bike fit. It may turn out to be the best £50 / £75 / £100 you ever spend on bike accessories.0 -
CiB wrote:The saddle should be parallel to the floor and at a height where the legs are straight with your heel on the pedal. Normal riding position should see more weight on your saddle than the bars. If you can, try one of those saddles with a cut-out down the centre. It's a v personal thing but fwiw they do the job for me.
Consider having a proper bike fit. It may turn out to be the best £50 / £75 / £100 you ever spend on bike accessories.get out of the saddle every now and then, gets the circulation going again to that areaalso maybe look at dropping the nose of the saddle down a little too.
Most upper-end bikes are sold with racing saddles to make them look good. Those saddles are too narrow for most people and so the sit bones don't take all of body's weight.
Get measured and you'll probably need to get a slightly wider saddle.0 -
CiB wrote:The saddle should be parallel to the floor and at a height where the legs are straight with your heel on the pedal.
I have a fairly big seat to bar drop and batwing shifters (i.e. pointing up quite a bit, Landis style) and my seat is imperceptably nose down. Others like slightly nose up with levers right down the front of the bars. Some people like the saddle pushed right back, others fairly far forward. There are no rules, other than, make minor adjustments.
Oh, and what about shorts? Cheaper shorts are fine for commuting, but for 4-5 hour efforts, you want to be investing in shorts with a decent chamois.
Finally - there is a reason the tour riders get up out of the saddle fairly frequently even on the flat. It gives certain muscles a rest and allows blood to flow.0 -
I used to get a terribly numb weiner, angling the saddle down ever so slightly stopped it.0
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+1 for the Toupe. Only trouble is it comes in 3 width fittings so you need to get it fitted. But, apart from a recent return after a 2-week break out of the saddle, I don't notice my saddle at all. I couldn't hope for better. It's all a very personal thing though.ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0
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JonGinge wrote:also maybe look at dropping the nose of the saddle down a little too.0
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Always Tyred wrote:JonGinge wrote:also maybe look at dropping the nose of the saddle down a little too.
Bike fitting is the way forward, I think0 -
NGale wrote:his nibs suffers from the same problem, no amount of seat changing as sorted the problem out. The Charge Spoon seems to be the best so far, but even then he's still getting numbness in the nether regions.
numbeness is the least of my problems, the simple fact that my back is crook and causes me pain when I cycle is my worry at the moment
His, or yours?0 -
PBo wrote:NGale wrote:his nibs suffers from the same problem, no amount of seat changing as sorted the problem out. The Charge Spoon seems to be the best so far, but even then he's still getting numbness in the nether regions.
numbeness is the least of my problems, the simple fact that my back is crook and causes me pain when I cycle is my worry at the moment
His, or yours?
his and mine
in all seriousness a few of the other guys in his cycle club have complained about the same thing and they all use different types of saddle, I guess it just comes down to how everything 'sits'.
I now carry extra ice packs on the club cycle runs because a few of them find that brings back the feeling pretty quickly :shock: :shock:Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men0 -
Taking the time to adjust your set up little by little until it feels just nice is so very important.
I have a toupe incidentally and love it. Very comfy for long rides. I have a cheap white thing on the SingleSpeed, The cheapest one I could find in white in Chainreaction when I was stuck for cash when building the bike up. Its as hard as the road, not really that comfortable but still I havent had Numb Nads on it and I have done 75mile rides. I DID used to get numb meat and two veg occasionally when I did the same 36mile round trip commute I do now on a Roadied up Mountain bike.
Essentially what I am getting at is, that as TailWindHome says, it is more likely to be the set up rather than the actual saddle. Though it may also play a small part.
I've spent an age tinkering and messing with my singlespeed and its feels just right now after changing to a shorter stem, a shallower bar but moving the stem a little lower and turning it round to a negative 6 degree angle, Turning the angle of the bars down a little in rotation and moving the hoods of the brakes up slightly to accomodate, moving the saddle about 10mm forward and getting a new longer seat post to get a litttle extra extension.
Its a labour of love for my balls.0 -
Brooks B17 Imperial might be fave. The leather takes the shape of your arse nicely, and the cutout relieves pressure on the perinium
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Charge spoon is best for me so far. Only get a bit of numbness if it's windy and I;m on the drops for ages. That said, I haven't put any real distance on it yet just commuting.Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
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When I get numb hands I rub them furiously by the side of the road to get the feeling back. Why don't you... oh no maybe not.Giant Escape M1....
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I vote for trying a "cutout" saddle. Worked for me. So does a "sit bone" type.
Aslo a big +1 for getting saddle that you like and not one that looks good.0 -
I use a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow and I have nothing but love for it. Did 138 miles on it and felt fine. I can't recommend it highly enough if you have my bits. Dunno what it would be like with your bits though. Saddles are VERY much down to individual taste.
When I get my new bike built I'll be having another one fitted.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
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prj45 wrote:EKE_38BPM wrote:I use a Selle Italia Flite Gel
Funny enough I was sat behind somebody on the embankment tonight with that exact saddle and I though it looked very comfortable.
There are also things like the Selle SMP's, which seem to be basically saddle rails with padding.0 -
Just had another thought (I know, two in one day), The odd time when I ride in something other than my padded shorts, I'm much more aware of the shape of the saddle relative to my nether regions, so it might be worth going 'unpadded' when trying out saddles. If it's comfy then, then it should be even more so with padded shorts.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
I remember my first road bike had a hard plastic saddle that was agony for the first week or so but then it moulded it's shape to my nether regions (or moulded my nether regions to it) and I was fine after that.
In all honesty, people can only really tell you what works for them. What is sauce for the goose may not be sauce for the gander.
Non-cyclists look at my saddle and remember that old Yellow Pages advert. The bit at 0:16 gets quoted to me.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
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