On my longer XC gravel rides - sometimes few seconds stand up from saddle (or shift ride positon when criusing downhill) doing it's magic. And different saddle as well.
BRAVO GCN!!! The other day, Manon had a short dealing with ladies’ periods and cycling, and now this. It’s fantastic that this channel tackles these real and somewhat awkward topics. This is GCN’s highest purpose!!
I agree. This happens to me and I don't really know why, although I have an idea... I just need to lose weight, but perhaps there's a better answer in this video, I need to watch when I get a chance!
Foot numbness. > Overly flexing the ankle, saddle to high/low, cleat placement, insoles and importance of arch support and even metatarsal support. @@gcn I didn't know some these things when it came to foot support/insoles, I spent long days in the saddle and have permanently ruined the nerves in my feet.
Definitely an issue to avoid, or deal with. Very useful content. The cut out/short nosed saddle made a big difference for me personally. I also worked on where I sat on the saddle. I then moved it forward until I was able to sit on it correctly in my favored position. Spent a lot of hours gathering info and trial and error.
I participate in ultra distance cycling races and suffered from a terribly painful perineum inflammation after racing for 1500km almost non-stop. It was really difficult to find a specialist who knows about cycling related issues, and actually first mistaken for prostate issues, which prolonged the issue unnecessarily. So I am really happy this is a topic you talk about! It's more common among cyclists than one might think! 😢
@gcn yes in the end it all worked out fine and I have spent long days in the saddle again since then. :) but it's really no joke! It took quite long to sit down confidently again, as I felt anxious about putting normal pressure on the saddle for many weeks.. really bad experience overall! 🤒🤕
When i was starting cycling i found out that the problem is not the bike saddle but the fact that i was obese and my groin area had considerable fat. I realized that when i also experienced the same numbness after sitting on a soft couch. Thanks to the fact that pedalling action turned out to be a good exercise to reduce fat in that area, i no longer experience "numbness" after losing 20 lbs. 😊
Agree with Phil, saddle tilt should be the first thing you adjust. I used to get numb on 20 mile rides, changed my tilt ever so slightly, and no signs of numbness on 50+ mile rides now.
This is awesome. Thank you for not only tackling this issue, but also tackling it with specificity and maturity. This kind of content is very useful, informative, and hopefully help people out there.
Really great stuff! I've been teaching indoor cycling since 2003 and helped a bunch of people over the years with these issues exactly as described here. Nothing more to add - just great job on covering this topic in a complete way!!!
Had very bad sudden perineal pain which kept me off the bike for a few weeks. Got a new cutout/shorter saddle and adjusted tilt to -1.6 deg and has been great since. Glad GCN is addressing this issue!
I'm at -1.6 as well. I had it at -2 but I found I was sliding off the sit bones on to the more narrow part of the saddle. Seems to be roughly the right tilt for me
Great to hear that you fixed the issue! Cut out saddles can be a great go to option 🙌 Did it take some trial and error before finding the perfect combination?
@@gcn Thanks! Like others have said here, I initially went too far with the tilt at -2 or more, then dialed it back. -1.6 seems right for me who always had a slight positive saddle tilt (strangely, was to avoid sit bone pain years ago). Also moved my saddle a bit forward as well.
As helpful as the short nose and cut-out saddle may be, I found I was being forced forward onto the narrower part of the seat because I was on too WIDE a saddle for the width of my sit bones. Before discovering I was on too wide a saddle, I moved it as far forward on the rails as possible. In winter I ride ride rollers a lot and found it necessary to dismount every 20 minutes because of discomfort. Selecting a saddle which is the right width (for me nearer 130mm) has worked magic
Thanks for tackling this taboo topic. Have been wondering about some small adjustments recently. I definitely find staying in a fixed position while indoor training causes numbness towards the end of workouts. Standing here and there is always helpful. And I’ll take the advice to nudge my saddle forward a bit. Thanks Si!!
A timely video, given that we are now firmly in indoor season and plenty of people, like me, will be finding that a fit that works great for them out on the road isn't so good in a more stationary environment. Well done GCN.
Exactly that - indoor trainers being much more fixed means you wiggle around less and are more prone to these issues. What do you try to alleviate the problem?
@@gcn Well, this is the first winter during which I am spending a lot of time on the turbo so I am still in the process of experimenting. I've just had my first session on a new saddle (shorty style with substantial cutout), so we'll see how that goes.
I get it once in a while. I just stand up from my saddle, shake it off, adjust my butt on the saddle and carry on. Glad this topic was covered. Great video as always GCN!
I bought a newer frame earlier this year and kept the saddle, seatpost from my much older bike, same position, and everything. I found it was working my lower back and upper glutes far more. I hadn't taken into consideration the racier geometry. I moved the saddle forward, and that solved the problem.
Good clip, Just bought a Zwift indoor trainer and for the first time ever got penile numbness after 40 mins . Never have it outside. Now have soft nose saddle and wobble under the feet of the zwift hub for a more natural less static ride. It works .
Thanks Si, great subject to discuss. I love my ISM PR 1.0 saddle. Solved my long Ironman 180km rides and on my Giant TCR road bike with my double century (200km +) rides. Some other subjects that you might have already discussed: * Numb feet * Sore backs (generally because of fit and lack of CORE strength for the position) - but i think you guys have already covered this before.
Typically excellent and informative video. Time honoured advice here, pretty much unchanged since I started riding seriously over 40 years ago, tilting the saddle forward being the most common sense one. My Brooks Cambrium cutout C15 has served me well in this respect - supremely comfortable.
I found that a saddle with thinner firmer cushioning and a cutout helped this issue. My biggest issue was on 8 to 10 hour mountain bike rides, particularly long stretches of sitting. I have found a saddle that seems to work so I put it on my endurance MTB and also on my gravel bike.
Picking your saddle is like a perfect pair of jeans, once you find it buy a a few of them because they will stop making them in a few years. I've had the same saddle design for the last 30 years. Selle Italia flight.
Exactly. All my saddles are transfers from older bikes. I don't get the hard ones with channels. The narrow foamy gel ones have always worked fine for me.
I wish Companies would start adding extra room in the crotch of Men’s Cycling Bibs and Shorts, like modern boxer briefs have, because I don’t have any issues from the saddle, but I feel like most Shorts and Bibs mash my junk, and it’s just too tight and uncomfortable- adding a pouch like area, like modern boxer briefs would remedy this greatly….who’s with me on this? Come on Castelli, Rapha, and Gorewear, etc, let’s make Men’s bibs and shorts more comfortable please! 🙏🏼
as some cyclists are hung like a horse - the old school Selle Italia seats with full padded uppers was definitely the source of my numbness and discomfort - even after short one hour rides - it was so bad I was close to hanging up the pedals as it took 3-days to recover - with the now near universal Selle Italia cut-out seats - I use a Selle Italia Flite + Castelli KISS chamois with LOTS of chamois grease - 6 hour rides later with zero discomfort or numbness - hee-haw - I have NEVER sat on anything else since - best cycling gear decision EVER - literally saved my road cycling
** I had this issue and purchased every seat... adjustable ones, super soft, hard, custom made one! you name it! I learned everything that every video talks about regarding bike adjustments etc.. Nothing worked! Then I went to get a Proper bike fit (a physiotherapist who also knows his cycling) , In my case, right away he said my hamstrings where too tight, so he got me stretching these for 30-60 seconds a few sets each leg after each ride (as well made a few tweaks on the bike) and it made all the difference in the world ** SERIOUSLY GET THIS DONE!
Great to hear that you loved the video, are there any other subject you think we should be answering? We're always open to new ways we can share knowledge the GCN community 🙌
Sure! I know this probably has been done in the past, but videos on riding as you get older are always good. Also, would love a behind the scenes video on the people who work there--they (and you) need some props!@@gcn
100% of the time if my ride is over 2 hours. Thanks for the content, good reminder of what to check and recheck every time an issue pops up or numbs out.
@@MrEpsilonZero There are many windblocking fabrics (neoprene being one). There is even underwear made with windblocking. Personally, I wear a cycling short and on top of that a cross country ski pant, which has windblock (nylon or softshell) in the front. Excellent results with complete coverage right down to feet.
I prefer relatively hard flat saddles, and regular unpadded shorts.The key is to get something solid under your sit bones. If your sit-bones are sinking into the thick soft padding, then more of the weight ends up on softer parts. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with seat angle. Different saddles have a different taper and curve, and that can lead to a different effective angle than what it looks like. particularly with a long reach, or large saddle to bar drop,
Very good video! I have noticed that I suffer from this in indoor trainer, but not when I am riding outside. Also, selecting saddle is a very personal thing, one fit one person, but not the other person. I had to test 7 different saddles (Fizik), before I found the one that fit me the best (I was very lucky with the dealer, since they had lot of test saddles that I could try for couple days each). I also noticed that the one I wanted did not fit me at all (3D-printed one), riding after 1 hour with it was a total misery (I have bike fitting done, I will never buy a bike without fitting anymore), the one that I finally picked is a joy even after full day in the saddle! 😁
Hey - it's more common on indoor trainers as you tend to ride in a very fixed position, and shuffle around less. Some companies, like Wahoo, do trainers that allow some movement, but people also make rocker plates (and even use tennis balls) to allow a more realistic movement on the trainer which should also help.
You hear over and over again that a cutout is the thing to look for to avoid perineal pressure. But the truth is, you need support in this area, on the lateral space of the perineum. This means that if you have a cutout that is too big, then the pressure will be offloaded to the edges of the cutout. The key is it get the V or T shape of the saddle that gives you support for the pubic rami, without compressing the central perineum. A wider cutout is not always best, and a v-shaped saddle with a cutout that is just finger width may be better for some. Your saddle angle will also very much affect how much weight is distributed to the ischial tuberositities, relative to the pubic rami. Setback, saddle height and angle will therefore all depend on how well the saddle is adapted to your morphology and riding style. When you are perfectly balanced, you'll know it!!
Yeah men can adjust themselves but our clits kinda stay in the way. Usually it's not too bad riding but then there are sometimes some shooting/jolts later to the good bits that make me fear I'll lose her 😮
Amy Hudson recently posted a video of getting a bike fit to resolve some of her pain/numbness issues. th-cam.com/video/YA6PX_OiGTA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oG7ws-Rpy_VQ_aDk The saddle pressure mapping definitely showed the difference bike fit can make.
Great vid numbmess isnt an issue ive had (yet) but Prostatitis leading to UTI's was an issue with a new bike. A wider saddle with a cut out solved this for me. Maybe worth a follow up vid???
Great video, well done GCN. I have experienced this problem a couple of times after buying a new pair of cycling shorts. They were particularly tight around the nether regions and lacked padding where it mattered. I don't wear them now and haven't experienced the problem since. However, I think I would also benefit from a professional bike fit as I do tend to gravitate towards the nose of the saddle when I'm riding and have to periodically move myself back.
A solution you didn’t mention if you are struggling to solve the issue is finding a bike fitter that uses Saddle Pressure Mapping to dial in your saddle position like Performance BikeFit near Portsmouth in Hampshire UK
Past sufferer here who fixed it after adjusting my saddle tilt. Even as someone who considers themselves pretty open about body and health it was one of those things I was not sure about seeing someone to help me fix it. Typical male stupidity and it took longer to fix than necessary. Congratulations GCN on making the content.
Thanks Si and GCN. I've experienced this issue off and on throughout my cycling career, but lately I've noticed that as I increase my time in the saddle on the indoor trainer I'm suffering more numbness. I'm going to lower the nose and move my saddle forward a few millimeters before I ride this morning to see if that helps.
Thanks - let us know how you get on! Indoor training can make you more prone to this as you tend to move around a bit less than you would do on an outdoor ride. There are some trainers which offer more movement, and people use 'rocker plates' and even sometimes tennis balls to provide a bit more movement for their trainer as well.
This is a good reason to have a bike fit done either bi-annually or every 3-4 years.. Your body changes and the stress points change as you get older or more fit. Another good idea is try to work with the bike shop you purchased your bike from, typically they have a try-before you by program on saddles so you get exactly the one you need. I tried a dual cutout version on my TT bike and I ride so forward on it the compression of the nose caused chaffing on my inner thighs. Seems counter intuitive but generally I do better with saddles that have less padding. All personal preference though.. :) Good Topic.
Great vid. Stretching would also help. This is my case: I had numbness when passed 1-hour Training. My bike fitter did some adjustments and he suggested me a change for a short-nose saddle that I found for cheap in a sale. He also recommended I enhance my daily stretching routine, because in my very case, the numbness was related to poor elasticity in the lower back and hamstrings that overloaded the hips muscles and the perineum.
Very last comment is key beyond basic points. I've only every experienced numbness on 50+ mi rides and that was fixed by minor adjustments on the saddle.
adjustment: I rotate the handle bar upwards a little bit so that the tips of the brake/ gear change top is closer nearer. Less aero ,, no issues at all with the million dollar spot at all since
Thank you for this content. During my indoor workouts on a free roll trainer I sometimes have this numbness which forrces me to get out of the saddle. This improves balance so I made the best out of it. Not to mention working on best fitting. Have a good day!
In addition to all the tips in the vid, I would also add that its also helpful to get out of the saddle for a few seconds every now and then, to alleviate the pressure on the soft tissue.
This video nailed it. I found that a flat saddle tilted down just a little, and moved forward, put ALL the pressure on the ischial tuberosities (sit bones) and none on the perineum. I also don't use heavily padded shorts because that padding will put pressure on the perineum as well. Takes a little getting used to and those bones will be sore initially, but they adjust and I have no numbness or tingling no matter how long I ride. You do NOT want to get ED as a result of good exercise and fun.
I had this issue a couple years ago, and pitching the saddle down and sliding it forward a bit and that took care of it for over 90% of my rides under 3 hours.
A lot of bike shop will measure your sit bone width and then get the appropriate saddle so they are supported properly. This was one of the biggest factors for me.
After installing a Spongey Wonder noseless saddle, my undercarriage problems disappeared. The saddle took a while to get used to and adjusted properly but it's made a positive difference in my cycling experience.
I was fitted at my LBS years ago and ended up getting a 143mm Specialized Toupe for my road bike which seems to work well for me. Actually, I think Specialized Body Geometry series of saddles were one of the first line of saddles to address the issue of numbness and pressure.
Just taken up cycling and really looking to get stuck in. This is the first thing I sorted, 2/3 rides in and there was no way I was going to continue riding with a standard saddle. Found Selle saddles and problem solved, it just makes sense!
Great video. The only thing I would have liked would be the lack of a nose in the saddle at all. You touched on short nose or soft nose, but I have always been curious about how no nose at all (which I have seen for sale) would feel and what would I have to change in regard to adjustments in other areas such as angle. Needless to say, this particular issue is one I have had a problem with since I started cycling. So, kudos for the content. Well done, Si.
Без носа седла у тебя пропадет контроль над байком, который ты осуществляешь ногами. Это очень заметно, когд меняешь седло с длинным носом на короткое.
Really great video. I love that you're covering difficult subjects. Manons short recently was great too. I recently had this exact issue on a longer climb i was doing. Never ha dit happen before. Was a bit concerned at the time. Later realised i had to do some adjustments on my saddle earlier in the week, was creaking really badly. Didnt notice I'd slightly tilted the saddle up. Fixed that and its hasnt happened since.
I prefer a very narrow saddle- hand-built selle italia with fibreglass body and titanium rails- no hole in the middle- very comfortable, no numbness no ED- what doesn't get sat on, doesn't get numb- the hole in the middle can chafe on the edges of the hole, so I avoid holes. The fibreglass body flexes as you ride, providing a suspension-like comfort.
Great video. Had horrible, sickly aching in one of my plumbs - to the extent I went to docs to get it checked out. All fine, so wondered more about the bike despite having had a fit and (key) it never hurt on the bike itself, or rather never seemed to cause it. Tried a wider pressure relief saddle (turns out I have wide sit bones despite relatively slim hips/waste) and it made all the difference. But, still - don't ever not go to the docs if things are causing concern. Seen him since and he said it was absolutely the right thing to do.
Nice one Si.. have ridden with my saddle pointing up as I find myself moving forward, this stems from tt’s where I’m on the rivet and keep having to push myself back. I’ve messed around with saddle and found this to be my most comfortable position. I have changed the saddles on my tt bikes to cut outs with reasonable success but.. I don’t know if other older guys have found this but my shorts need to be as tight as possible to stop my genitals from rolling around, causing me to lift out and re-adjust before sitting down again. I seem to remember that old guys have problems with their ballsack getting longer (unless it’s just a me problem) and careful adjustment is required before getting on the bike. I do go numb on the tt bike but not so much on a road bike
I experienced this a little earlier this year when I first started doing longer rides. In my case it was in part being new to it and in part not having a decent pair of shorts. Switching to better quality shorts that gave me more support and stopped me moving around has meant I might now only experience a little bit of numbness after 5-6 hours in the saddle.
This is really really important stuff, it affects older folks on Ebikes even more because we spend more time on the seat than stomping on the pedals... Especially noticeable in winter too, talk about a walnut whip 😂
Back when I was racing seriously like 15 years ago, it was still so taboo. Riding modern pursuit bikes before stubby seats was brutal. Some of us on the team took hacksaws to our Fiziks and ductape seat was a great look for unobtanium track bikes!
Thankyou GCN!!!! I'm an avid track racer and have had a persistent issue with this in longer races. I've juggled different saddles with limited success but I think bar height might be next
Nice one. To bad you didnt said more info about cycling shorts and chamois. I found out that most chamois are placed in such way that they produce more pressure in unwanted area and are quite long which, in my opinion, is not something you want and can result in numbness which i am dealing with sometimes. My next investment will be in some top of the line shorts with slim chamois. Will see if that helps.
great video Sy! I have a small cut out on my road and mountain, and for the bike on the trainer, I have a bisadddle which really is a good option as the pressure on the trainer can be more intense.
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How have you dealt with this issue on the bike? 🚴
It only happens when I wear certain bibs, but I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a numb penis....
I use an ISM Adamo on the windcatcher bike, otherwise I ride recumbents :)
I leaned my saddle more forward
On my longer XC gravel rides - sometimes few seconds stand up from saddle (or shift ride positon when criusing downhill) doing it's magic. And different saddle as well.
Training hip mobility to rotate my pelvis more to the front.
now this is the content we look for GCN
It has been covered by the GCN several times before.
@@philipcooper8297so it really is something we look for🗿
@@philipcooper8297only tickled. They really have in depth videos on it like this
No no, I really look for bike racing content too. Dammit WBD+....
@@philipcooper8297 get out bed and shake it off
BRAVO GCN!!! The other day, Manon had a short dealing with ladies’ periods and cycling, and now this. It’s fantastic that this channel tackles these real and somewhat awkward topics. This is GCN’s highest purpose!!
I agree. This happens to me and I don't really know why, although I have an idea... I just need to lose weight, but perhaps there's a better answer in this video, I need to watch when I get a chance!
Thanks Daniel - what would you like to see the team talk about next?
Foot numbness. > Overly flexing the ankle, saddle to high/low, cleat placement, insoles and importance of arch support and even metatarsal support. @@gcn
I didn't know some these things when it came to foot support/insoles, I spent long days in the saddle and have permanently ruined the nerves in my feet.
how to avoid .. uh... stomach issues while on endurance rides.
Great points!
If you can’t feel your paddle, you gotta sort your saddle
Oh John, we wished we'd thought of that for the video :D
Going from solid to cut out did the trick for me years ago. Well done Si. You and your team are a skilled group of information presenters.
Thanks Tim! What would you like to see Si discuss next?
Definitely an issue to avoid, or deal with. Very useful content. The cut out/short nosed saddle made a big difference for me personally. I also worked on where I sat on the saddle. I then moved it forward until I was able to sit on it correctly in my favored position. Spent a lot of hours gathering info and trial and error.
I participate in ultra distance cycling races and suffered from a terribly painful perineum inflammation after racing for 1500km almost non-stop. It was really difficult to find a specialist who knows about cycling related issues, and actually first mistaken for prostate issues, which prolonged the issue unnecessarily. So I am really happy this is a topic you talk about! It's more common among cyclists than one might think! 😢
Oh no! Hope you were able to get this fixed?
@gcn yes in the end it all worked out fine and I have spent long days in the saddle again since then. :) but it's really no joke! It took quite long to sit down confidently again, as I felt anxious about putting normal pressure on the saddle for many weeks.. really bad experience overall! 🤒🤕
When i was starting cycling i found out that the problem is not the bike saddle but the fact that i was obese and my groin area had considerable fat. I realized that when i also experienced the same numbness after sitting on a soft couch. Thanks to the fact that pedalling action turned out to be a good exercise to reduce fat in that area, i no longer experience "numbness" after losing 20 lbs. 😊
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 nice man! Congrats
Obese or not, newbies just need to condition their butts to the routine.
Allahu Akbar Moment
Great to hear that cycling has helped your health 🙌 It's such a great tool to keeping fit, what's your next on the bike goal?
Agree with Phil, saddle tilt should be the first thing you adjust. I used to get numb on 20 mile rides, changed my tilt ever so slightly, and no signs of numbness on 50+ mile rides now.
Great tip 🙌
Which way did u tilt it
@@johnrogers6616 tilted forward slightly
This is awesome. Thank you for not only tackling this issue, but also tackling it with specificity and maturity. This kind of content is very useful, informative, and hopefully help people out there.
Really great stuff! I've been teaching indoor cycling since 2003 and helped a bunch of people over the years with these issues exactly as described here.
Nothing more to add - just great job on covering this topic in a complete way!!!
Had very bad sudden perineal pain which kept me off the bike for a few weeks. Got a new cutout/shorter saddle and adjusted tilt to -1.6 deg and has been great since. Glad GCN is addressing this issue!
I'm at -1.6 as well. I had it at -2 but I found I was sliding off the sit bones on to the more narrow part of the saddle. Seems to be roughly the right tilt for me
-1.2 for me. Flat my balls touch, any lower down I get saddle sores.
Great to hear that you fixed the issue! Cut out saddles can be a great go to option 🙌 Did it take some trial and error before finding the perfect combination?
@@gcn Thanks! Like others have said here, I initially went too far with the tilt at -2 or more, then dialed it back. -1.6 seems right for me who always had a slight positive saddle tilt (strangely, was to avoid sit bone pain years ago). Also moved my saddle a bit forward as well.
@@___Bebo___how do you get an angle so precise.??
As helpful as the short nose and cut-out saddle may be, I found I was being forced forward onto the narrower part of the seat because I was on too WIDE a saddle for the width of my sit bones. Before discovering I was on too wide a saddle, I moved it as far forward on the rails as possible. In winter I ride ride rollers a lot and found it necessary to dismount every 20 minutes because of discomfort. Selecting a saddle which is the right width (for me nearer 130mm) has worked magic
That's a great tip - glad you were able to solve the problem!
Thanks for tackling this taboo topic. Have been wondering about some small adjustments recently. I definitely find staying in a fixed position while indoor training causes numbness towards the end of workouts. Standing here and there is always helpful. And I’ll take the advice to nudge my saddle forward a bit. Thanks Si!!
Sent the video to my wife, she rarely watches GCN, but she'll definitely like this one.🎉
😂
Great video. I had this problem, particularly on day-long rides of 10+ hours. For me, new saddles with cut-outs fixed it for me.
Not many ride a saddle with no cut-out nowadays I've noticed, great great video 👌
A timely video, given that we are now firmly in indoor season and plenty of people, like me, will be finding that a fit that works great for them out on the road isn't so good in a more stationary environment. Well done GCN.
Exactly that - indoor trainers being much more fixed means you wiggle around less and are more prone to these issues. What do you try to alleviate the problem?
@@gcn Well, this is the first winter during which I am spending a lot of time on the turbo so I am still in the process of experimenting. I've just had my first session on a new saddle (shorty style with substantial cutout), so we'll see how that goes.
I get it once in a while. I just stand up from my saddle, shake it off, adjust my butt on the saddle and carry on. Glad this topic was covered. Great video as always GCN!
I bought a newer frame earlier this year and kept the saddle, seatpost from my much older bike, same position, and everything. I found it was working my lower back and upper glutes far more. I hadn't taken into consideration the racier geometry. I moved the saddle forward, and that solved the problem.
Race geometry can have a huge impact on the bike 👀 Great to hear you've found a system that works for you. What new bike did you go for?
Excellent video and Simon is just such an excellent presenter. Thank you
I've had this happen more on motorcycles than bicycles, but thanks for tackling this very real topic.
Good clip, Just bought a Zwift indoor trainer and for the first time ever got penile numbness after 40 mins . Never have it outside. Now have soft nose saddle and wobble under the feet of the zwift hub for a more natural less static ride. It works .
Thanks Si, great subject to discuss. I love my ISM PR 1.0 saddle. Solved my long Ironman 180km rides and on my Giant TCR road bike with my double century (200km +) rides.
Some other subjects that you might have already discussed:
* Numb feet
* Sore backs (generally because of fit and lack of CORE strength for the position) - but i think you guys have already covered this before.
Typically excellent and informative video. Time honoured advice here, pretty much unchanged since I started riding seriously over 40 years ago, tilting the saddle forward being the most common sense one. My Brooks Cambrium cutout C15 has served me well in this respect - supremely comfortable.
Thanks Ian - glad you enjoyed it. What will you be watching next?
I found that a saddle with thinner firmer cushioning and a cutout helped this issue. My biggest issue was on 8 to 10 hour mountain bike rides, particularly long stretches of sitting. I have found a saddle that seems to work so I put it on my endurance MTB and also on my gravel bike.
MTB can be a whole different kettle of fish - All that in and out the saddle can really take its toll 👀
All the GCN guys need to wear white or light grey cycling shorts and your views will go UP!!
Picking your saddle is like a perfect pair of jeans, once you find it buy a a few of them because they will stop making them in a few years.
I've had the same saddle design for the last 30 years.
Selle Italia flight.
Exactly. All my saddles are transfers from older bikes. I don't get the hard ones with channels. The narrow foamy gel ones have always worked fine for me.
I wish Companies would start adding extra room in the crotch of Men’s Cycling Bibs and Shorts, like modern boxer briefs have, because I don’t have any issues from the saddle, but I feel like most Shorts and Bibs mash my junk, and it’s just too tight and uncomfortable- adding a pouch like area, like modern boxer briefs would remedy this greatly….who’s with me on this? Come on Castelli, Rapha, and Gorewear, etc, let’s make Men’s bibs and shorts more comfortable please! 🙏🏼
Totally with you, that’s my most common source of discomfort. Got to scoop em up. Leaves nothing to imagination when your off the bike though😂
as some cyclists are hung like a horse - the old school Selle Italia seats with full padded uppers was definitely the source of my numbness and discomfort - even after short one hour rides - it was so bad I was close to hanging up the pedals as it took 3-days to recover - with the now near universal Selle Italia cut-out seats - I use a Selle Italia Flite + Castelli KISS chamois with LOTS of chamois grease - 6 hour rides later with zero discomfort or numbness - hee-haw - I have NEVER sat on anything else since - best cycling gear decision EVER - literally saved my road cycling
thanks so much for tackling such -no punn intended-such a tender topic.
** I had this issue and purchased every seat... adjustable ones, super soft, hard, custom made one! you name it! I learned everything that every video talks about regarding bike adjustments etc.. Nothing worked! Then I went to get a Proper bike fit (a physiotherapist who also knows his cycling) , In my case, right away he said my hamstrings where too tight, so he got me stretching these for 30-60 seconds a few sets each leg after each ride (as well made a few tweaks on the bike) and it made all the difference in the world ** SERIOUSLY GET THIS DONE!
thank you GCN, finally someone who approaches this topic seriously 👏👏👏
Great video covering the aspects of a widely experienced issue for male cyclists.
1. Stem to long / Saddle to far back
2. Saddle to high
3. Saddle tilt
4. Saddle to narrow/to round
I just started cycling more and more, and have noticed a tiny twinge in the region. Never anything numb, but just something. Great video to help!
Brilliant, helpful advice. Glad you are covering this and Manon is talking about periods. We’re grown ups and can handle this.
Great to hear that you loved the video, are there any other subject you think we should be answering? We're always open to new ways we can share knowledge the GCN community 🙌
Sure! I know this probably has been done in the past, but videos on riding as you get older are always good. Also, would love a behind the scenes video on the people who work there--they (and you) need some props!@@gcn
100% of the time if my ride is over 2 hours. Thanks for the content, good reminder of what to check and recheck every time an issue pops up or numbs out.
As a Canadian who has ridden in some pretty cold weather, the private parts can get very cold, both painful and numb. 😂😂😂
Maybe avoid naked cycling in those conditions??? 😆
Stop every 5 miles to do a start to finish diagnostic test. I did that when I lived in Wisconson.
Any tips and solutions ?
@@MrEpsilonZero There are many windblocking fabrics (neoprene being one). There is even underwear made with windblocking. Personally, I wear a cycling short and on top of that a cross country ski pant, which has windblock (nylon or softshell) in the front. Excellent results with complete coverage right down to feet.
Otherwise, in tropical region we are suffering from "overheat", but it’s just feel normal eventhough not good for men.
I prefer relatively hard flat saddles, and regular unpadded shorts.The key is to get something solid under your sit bones. If your sit-bones are sinking into the thick soft padding, then more of the weight ends up on softer parts.
Also, don't be afraid to experiment with seat angle. Different saddles have a different taper and curve, and that can lead to a different effective angle than what it looks like.
particularly with a long reach, or large saddle to bar drop,
I’ve never considered posting anything in the comments about this part of my body…until now. Thanks GCN!
Very good video! I have noticed that I suffer from this in indoor trainer, but not when I am riding outside. Also, selecting saddle is a very personal thing, one fit one person, but not the other person. I had to test 7 different saddles (Fizik), before I found the one that fit me the best (I was very lucky with the dealer, since they had lot of test saddles that I could try for couple days each). I also noticed that the one I wanted did not fit me at all (3D-printed one), riding after 1 hour with it was a total misery (I have bike fitting done, I will never buy a bike without fitting anymore), the one that I finally picked is a joy even after full day in the saddle! 😁
Hey - it's more common on indoor trainers as you tend to ride in a very fixed position, and shuffle around less. Some companies, like Wahoo, do trainers that allow some movement, but people also make rocker plates (and even use tennis balls) to allow a more realistic movement on the trainer which should also help.
You hear over and over again that a cutout is the thing to look for to avoid perineal pressure. But the truth is, you need support in this area, on the lateral space of the perineum. This means that if you have a cutout that is too big, then the pressure will be offloaded to the edges of the cutout. The key is it get the V or T shape of the saddle that gives you support for the pubic rami, without compressing the central perineum. A wider cutout is not always best, and a v-shaped saddle with a cutout that is just finger width may be better for some. Your saddle angle will also very much affect how much weight is distributed to the ischial tuberositities, relative to the pubic rami. Setback, saddle height and angle will therefore all depend on how well the saddle is adapted to your morphology and riding style. When you are perfectly balanced, you'll know it!!
Can we please have one of these videos for women. I've had a numbness problem in the past and couldnt figure out why.
Yeah men can adjust themselves but our clits kinda stay in the way. Usually it's not too bad riding but then there are sometimes some shooting/jolts later to the good bits that make me fear I'll lose her 😮
Amy Hudson recently posted a video of getting a bike fit to resolve some of her pain/numbness issues. th-cam.com/video/YA6PX_OiGTA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oG7ws-Rpy_VQ_aDk
The saddle pressure mapping definitely showed the difference bike fit can make.
Great vid numbmess isnt an issue ive had (yet) but Prostatitis leading to UTI's was an issue with a new bike. A wider saddle with a cut out solved this for me. Maybe worth a follow up vid???
Great video, well done GCN. I have experienced this problem a couple of times after buying a new pair of cycling shorts. They were particularly tight around the nether regions and lacked padding where it mattered. I don't wear them now and haven't experienced the problem since. However, I think I would also benefit from a professional bike fit as I do tend to gravitate towards the nose of the saddle when I'm riding and have to periodically move myself back.
A very good, informative and well presented article. Kudos 👍
A solution you didn’t mention if you are struggling to solve the issue is finding a bike fitter that uses Saddle Pressure Mapping to dial in your saddle position like Performance BikeFit near Portsmouth in Hampshire UK
Can happen on the indoor trainer indeed if you don't stand up from time to time, it in general when pedalling too long flat roads.
Past sufferer here who fixed it after adjusting my saddle tilt. Even as someone who considers themselves pretty open about body and health it was one of those things I was not sure about seeing someone to help me fix it. Typical male stupidity and it took longer to fix than necessary. Congratulations GCN on making the content.
Not the content we wanted but the content we NEED! Thanks GCN 👍🏻
No worries Bertie! We are always down to share cycling knowledge with the GCN community 🙌It's all about making you guys the best cyclists possible 👌
Thanks Si and GCN. I've experienced this issue off and on throughout my cycling career, but lately I've noticed that as I increase my time in the saddle on the indoor trainer I'm suffering more numbness. I'm going to lower the nose and move my saddle forward a few millimeters before I ride this morning to see if that helps.
Thanks - let us know how you get on! Indoor training can make you more prone to this as you tend to move around a bit less than you would do on an outdoor ride. There are some trainers which offer more movement, and people use 'rocker plates' and even sometimes tennis balls to provide a bit more movement for their trainer as well.
This is a good reason to have a bike fit done either bi-annually or every 3-4 years.. Your body changes and the stress points change as you get older or more fit. Another good idea is try to work with the bike shop you purchased your bike from, typically they have a try-before you by program on saddles so you get exactly the one you need. I tried a dual cutout version on my TT bike and I ride so forward on it the compression of the nose caused chaffing on my inner thighs. Seems counter intuitive but generally I do better with saddles that have less padding. All personal preference though.. :) Good Topic.
well done GCN! great information.....I never had this problem only numbness in the hands! keep up the good work!
Great vid. Stretching would also help. This is my case:
I had numbness when passed 1-hour Training. My bike fitter did some adjustments and he suggested me a change for a short-nose saddle that I found for cheap in a sale. He also recommended I enhance my daily stretching routine, because in my very case, the numbness was related to poor elasticity in the lower back and hamstrings that overloaded the hips muscles and the perineum.
This is really helpful. Thanks for tackling the subject.
Very last comment is key beyond basic points. I've only every experienced numbness on 50+ mi rides and that was fixed by minor adjustments on the saddle.
adjustment: I rotate the handle bar upwards a little bit so that the tips of the brake/ gear change top is closer nearer. Less aero ,, no issues at all with the million dollar spot at all since
Thank you for this content. During my indoor workouts on a free roll trainer I sometimes have this numbness which forrces me to get out of the saddle. This improves balance so I made the best out of it. Not to mention working on best fitting. Have a good day!
In addition to all the tips in the vid, I would also add that its also helpful to get out of the saddle for a few seconds every now and then, to alleviate the pressure on the soft tissue.
This video nailed it. I found that a flat saddle tilted down just a little, and moved forward, put ALL the pressure on the ischial tuberosities (sit bones) and none on the perineum. I also don't use heavily padded shorts because that padding will put pressure on the perineum as well. Takes a little getting used to and those bones will be sore initially, but they adjust and I have no numbness or tingling no matter how long I ride. You do NOT want to get ED as a result of good exercise and fun.
Was not expecting a video with this title when I checked my subscriptions 😂
FYI! Women also can get numbness in the same place when riding due to the same nerve pinching. This is not just a problem men have.
Finally a video worth watching with useful information
I had this issue a couple years ago, and pitching the saddle down and sliding it forward a bit and that took care of it for over 90% of my rides under 3 hours.
Finally someone talks about the subject! Thank you
A lot of bike shop will measure your sit bone width and then get the appropriate saddle so they are supported properly. This was one of the biggest factors for me.
After installing a Spongey Wonder noseless saddle, my undercarriage problems disappeared. The saddle took a while to get used to and adjusted properly but it's made a positive difference in my cycling experience.
I was fitted at my LBS years ago and ended up getting a 143mm Specialized Toupe for my road bike which seems to work well for me. Actually, I think Specialized Body Geometry series of saddles were one of the first line of saddles to address the issue of numbness and pressure.
Very helpful, have been looking for an explanation and tips exactly as you presented it.
Finally, someone made this video
Just taken up cycling and really looking to get stuck in. This is the first thing I sorted, 2/3 rides in and there was no way I was going to continue riding with a standard saddle. Found Selle saddles and problem solved, it just makes sense!
nose down was the game changer for me. The second thing was a saddle that was made for my size. the difference was immense.
finally, been waiting for this for years, especially in winter
Great video. The only thing I would have liked would be the lack of a nose in the saddle at all. You touched on short nose or soft nose, but I have always been curious about how no nose at all (which I have seen for sale) would feel and what would I have to change in regard to adjustments in other areas such as angle. Needless to say, this particular issue is one I have had a problem with since I started cycling. So, kudos for the content. Well done, Si.
Без носа седла у тебя пропадет контроль над байком, который ты осуществляешь ногами. Это очень заметно, когд меняешь седло с длинным носом на короткое.
I have had issues for years with this I finally found the SQ saddle and it’s a game changer
Really great video. I love that you're covering difficult subjects. Manons short recently was great too. I recently had this exact issue on a longer climb i was doing. Never ha dit happen before. Was a bit concerned at the time. Later realised i had to do some adjustments on my saddle earlier in the week, was creaking really badly. Didnt notice I'd slightly tilted the saddle up. Fixed that and its hasnt happened since.
Great Vid Si, useful information and kudos for keeping a straight face through a minefield of potential puns.
I prefer a very narrow saddle- hand-built selle italia with fibreglass body and titanium rails- no hole in the middle- very comfortable, no numbness no ED- what doesn't get sat on, doesn't get numb- the hole in the middle can chafe on the edges of the hole, so I avoid holes. The fibreglass body flexes as you ride, providing a suspension-like comfort.
Well done for covering a sensitive topic
Great video. Had horrible, sickly aching in one of my plumbs - to the extent I went to docs to get it checked out. All fine, so wondered more about the bike despite having had a fit and (key) it never hurt on the bike itself, or rather never seemed to cause it.
Tried a wider pressure relief saddle (turns out I have wide sit bones despite relatively slim hips/waste) and it made all the difference.
But, still - don't ever not go to the docs if things are causing concern. Seen him since and he said it was absolutely the right thing to do.
Nice one Si.. have ridden with my saddle pointing up as I find myself moving forward, this stems from tt’s where I’m on the rivet and keep having to push myself back. I’ve messed around with saddle and found this to be my most comfortable position. I have changed the saddles on my tt bikes to cut outs with reasonable success but.. I don’t know if other older guys have found this but my shorts need to be as tight as possible to stop my genitals from rolling around, causing me to lift out and re-adjust before sitting down again. I seem to remember that old guys have problems with their ballsack getting longer (unless it’s just a me problem) and careful adjustment is required before getting on the bike. I do go numb on the tt bike but not so much on a road bike
Much informative vid! Much better than just sponsored vid! But wonder what different chamois shorts might help?
I experienced this a little earlier this year when I first started doing longer rides. In my case it was in part being new to it and in part not having a decent pair of shorts. Switching to better quality shorts that gave me more support and stopped me moving around has meant I might now only experience a little bit of numbness after 5-6 hours in the saddle.
Great to hear that it's helped you! Although, the goal is no numbness at all are you hoping to look elsewhere and get rid of the numbness for good? 👀
Good video Simon. 😃👍
Well done. GCN Important thing to talk about ❤
Try noseless saddle, it's a life changer !!🔥🔥
This is really really important stuff, it affects older folks on Ebikes even more because we spend more time on the seat than stomping on the pedals... Especially noticeable in winter too, talk about a walnut whip 😂
Back when I was racing seriously like 15 years ago, it was still so taboo. Riding modern pursuit bikes before stubby seats was brutal. Some of us on the team took hacksaws to our Fiziks and ductape seat was a great look for unobtanium track bikes!
Thankyou GCN!!!! I'm an avid track racer and have had a persistent issue with this in longer races. I've juggled different saddles with limited success but I think bar height might be next
Nice one. To bad you didnt said more info about cycling shorts and chamois. I found out that most chamois are placed in such way that they produce more pressure in unwanted area and are quite long which, in my opinion, is not something you want and can result in numbness which i am dealing with sometimes. My next investment will be in some top of the line shorts with slim chamois. Will see if that helps.
Where has this video BEEN, CGN. Best Christmas present ever. My bashed loins thank you.
Having experienced this on rare occasions, thank you GCN
great video Sy! I have a small cut out on my road and mountain, and for the bike on the trainer, I have a bisadddle which really is a good option as the pressure on the trainer can be more intense.
I feel like this video was made for me! Thanks a lot GCN!!
Good informative video again, I changed my saddle brand and no issues since …. Though on the turbo trainer it was always worse
You heard the Dr... 'get out of bed and shake it off"🎉
That made me giggle
Finally a video I can relate to
This is such an important video! - very well done!
This is the hard hitting content we come for