pudendal nerve problems  

Re: pudendal nerve problems

archer <ns_archer1960@ns_hotmail.com> wrote:

: I had the same issue.

Me too, it sucks as I'd like to ride the bike more.

: First, make sure your seat is either level or the nose slightly lower than the back. Nose-up will
: do this all the time.

I think it started from tilting the nose up a bit and riding 200 km, for me... Not really had
it before...

: Second (which worked for me): get a seat with a cutout in the center to take the pressure off your
: soft tissues, leaving it only on your "sit" bones. I really like my Specialized body geometry seat
: (I don't remember the exact model), but which seat works for any given individual is a highly
: personal decision, often requiring much experimentation.

Recumbent seats are often touted as the patent solution for this problem, but I go 'bent for
other reasons.

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/hpv/hpv.html varis at no spam please iki fi

Re: pudendal nerve problems

On Fri, 25 Jul 2003 09:17:04 -0400, "Chris Smith" <zvezdah1@knology.net> wrote:

>First off, I know their'll be a lot of humorous replies to this

I guess, but it's not amusing for you I would think.

Audax riders, who ride anything up to 1400km virtually non-stop, mostly seem to use leather
saddles, and the B17 is being replaced by the Selle San MArco Rolls; whether this is because people
are more affluent or because the Rolls is so bloody good I don't know because my Brooks is still
hanging in there :-)

Saddles with cutouts? Well, maybe. The talk of numbness seems to date mostly from the introduction
of padded saddles, which deform to put pressure on the nerves to your nearest & dearest. You can
colour me unconvinced on saddles with cutouts - I have a B17 on my tourer.

So, the traditional solution is:
- check the bike fits properly (http://www.wrenchscience.com has a great bike fit analyser)
- check the top of the saddle is level
- use a quality saddle
- use good quality bike shorts with no underwear

All of this, of course, provokes wry smiles among those who have followed the Path to Enlightenment
and said goodbye to sore **** misery with New! Improved!! recumbent :-D

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com [currently
offline awaiting ADSL transfer to new ISP]

Re: pudendal nerve problems

On 25 Jul 2003 13:01:40 -0700, agonzz328@yahoo.com (Art) wrote:

>No jokes from me, I've been there and it ain't funny. In my case, it wasn't the fit of the bike,
>rather it was the stock seat that came with the bike. The money spent on a new Selle Italia Prolink
>Gel Flow was worth every penny. Of course, this may not be the seat for you, or even the remedy for
>your problem. I'd advise seeing a urologist if the numbness lasts longer than a couple of days.
>

Hi Art

My cheap road bike came with a saddle that was too soft, as I found out after a prolonged trundle.
This softness allowed my bony bits to sink through the padding and I ended up sitting on the
saddle's shell. The staff at my LBS were a little shocked when I asked for the seat to be replaced
with a harder model. Apparently most in my position (no pun intended) automatically assume that a
softer seat will solve their problems. Not so, IMO.

My <goes to look at bike> San Marco Rolls was relatively cheap (about £35.00/$48(approx)) and is
extremely comfortable. I'm a bit of a fiddler regarding saddle position. After a lot of fiddling -
backwards/forwards, up/down, tilt both ways - I found a perfect riding position.

I'd spent several years riding rigid ATBs before I bought my road bike and the more stretched out
position did cause a few problems for a while. However, I resited the temptation to buy a shorter
stem - thank goodness. I now find riding the road bike as comfortable as the more upright ATB.
Incidentally, following a skiing accident, I've suffered from quite painful back trouble. The road
bike's stretched out position (I need a thesaurus) has gone some way to lessening this pain and
reducing the frequency of my lower going into spasm.

From what you say above, Art, I think your own problem has been sorted out. I hope so.

Regards James

--
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c.butty/Larrau.jpg

Re: pudendal nerve problems

James wrote:
> ... I'd spent several years riding rigid ATBs before I bought my road bike and the more stretched
> out position did cause a few problems for a while. However, I resited the temptation to buy a
> shorter stem - thank goodness. I now find riding the road bike as comfortable as the more upright
> ATB. Incidentally, following a skiing accident, I've suffered from quite painful back trouble. The
> road bike's stretched out position (I need a thesaurus) has gone some way to lessening this pain
> and reducing the frequency of my lower going into spasm.

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I like "outstretched." Hyper! TdF Announcers! referred to this as a great riding position.

HTH --Karen M.