Numbness problems

portland_bill

For a while I was absolutely fine but I've recently had an addition to the family and I'm not getting anywhere near as much time out on my bike as I'd like. Probably once a week at the most for the last few months.

Anyway, the problem is I keep getting numbness around my genitals and crotch area while I'm riding and the worst part of it is when I get off the bike I get that awful feeling you get when you've been sleeping on your arm and when you free it you get that unbearable tingling.

Is there anything I can do to stop this or try to help it? Like I say, although it happened once or twice when I first got my bike, it's not really happened up until now.

I was thinking of some specialist massage but figured that might not go down too well in my local health spa.

me-109

Just try angling the nose of your saddle down a little to see if that helps.

Herbsman

Get a bike fit

dw300

Get out of the saddle more often to let the blood flow better.

teulk

Try a saddle with a "cut out"

ut_och_cykla

check bike fit, stand up regularly when out cycling. Think about changing saddle - some 'collapse' after a few years increasing pressure in wrong places. Don't massage afflicted area in public!

portland_bill

I already had a bike fit and like I say, ever since I had it back in September or whenever it was it's been fine up until now.

I had a couple of months off the bike because my Altura kit just disintegrated (only kit I had and all the stitching started to come away so it got sent back to them and it took them ages to replace it) but with not getting out on the bike and still eating too much I've inevitably put weight back on so I can only assume it's down to that but the saddle I've got is barely a year old. I bought it new after I bought the bike because it had a nasty big spongy thing on it when I got it.

I did move the seat post up a tiny bit last week to see if it makes any difference because I was feeling like I wasn't extending my legs enough too and I only moved it up about 7 or 8mm at the most.

I went out on it on Saturday afternoon and felt like I was in a completely different position to what I've been so used to. I felt substantially higher up to the point where I think my legs were maybe at their extending limit so I need to come down a tad but I was shocked by just how much difference a few mm makes.

I'm going to try lowering the post down a few mm, and then moving my saddle forward a couple of mm because I'm not convinced I'm sitting on my bones properly.

See how I get on with that.

ut_och_cykla

Think you've found your own answer - moving saddle up is also a move back - if only by a few millmetres. If you move it up - move it forawrd a tiny bit too - just as you suggest!

portland_bill

Just done it now. I'm out with the club tonight so I'll see how I get on and report back.

It's ironic! There's a time when I wish my bits were numb or at least for 10 minutes or so!

Grill

I had really bad numbness with my old saddle. I switched to a cut-out and have had no problems since. Worth a go.

portland_bill

Did 32.5 miles tonight and got absolutely drenched. Still had a bit of numbness but not to the point where it was uncomfortable but I might get myself a saddle with a cut out and see how that feels. I'll ask the club and see if anyone's got one I can borrow first actually. There's a good idea!

Headhuunter

I never had any numbness but then I raised my saddle and did a few century rides and it was quite bad. I didn't notice it on the actual ride but afterwards it felt weird and it lasted for a day or so. I have since lowered the saddle and bought a Specialized BG seat with the cut out and it seems fine, however it only really manifests itself on longer rides and I have only done 40-50 milers recently...

portland_bill

To be fair, mine doesn't normally take that long to sort itself out. It's usually ok within half an hour or so post ride, it still feels a bit pins and needle-ish but I can feel my meat and veg again. The other problem is it can spread to my thighs too and I start to lose the sensation in my upper legs on long rides, but like I say, I dropped my post about 5mm and moved my saddle about the same forward and although I could still feel the effects of poor circulation, it was a lot more comfortable than I've experienced over the last few weeks.

There's a couple of Specialized Romin's on the pit for not very much and coincidentally enough someone from my club mentioned them last night so I'll give one of those a shot and see if that helps.

It's probably a lot to do with my weight too. I'm not big but I'm still a heavy lump and I think just sitting on a small area for any length of time is probably just a little too much for my arteries to cope with. I'm kind of hoping it should improve as I lose weight.

Grill

+1 for the Romin Evo. Before I swapped to it I was numb 3-4 days post ride. Not cool.

dw300

If you guys are all sliding down to the pointy end, then the issue might not be the saddle itself, but the position / tilt / height. If you get your sits bones on the flat bit at the back your prostate area (not the medical name lol) shouldn't be supporting much weight.

portland_bill

Perineum? Gooch? Choad?

Grill

Yes, yes, and no. You forgot "taint"