This was my response to the BBC ...
At
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2991088.stm
"Impotence warning hits Bike Week
Male cyclists are twice as likely to suffer from impotence as those who stay away from bikes,
according to a new study. The report also found that certain saddles can cause health problems for
women cyclists"
Well, duh, the possible problems of an ill-fitting saddle are only something that's been known about
for at least 70 years. It's not news. It's why you find a vast array of saddles on sale in bike
shops and, it's even possible to buy female specific saddles. We all have differently shaped and
sized nether regions and life is more comfortable with a saddle that fits well. But never let a fact
come in the way of a bit of outdated and sensationalist reporting.
Now why on earth would the BBC want to promote an article about something known to cyclists for
the past 70 years as possible, but of very low-risk of happening, as something new and without any
balance in the reporting showing how the health benefits of cycling far outweigh the risks? Even
the British Medical Association has publicly stated the benefits of cycling far outweigh the
risks. It couldn't be the BBC with its anti-cycling bias showing again, especially as you do it at
the start of Bike Week. Perhaps your editor-in-charge is related to Jeremy Clarkson. No mention of
how cycling hasn't stopped many a cyclist from producing kids - Chris Boardman has quite a few and
many a cyclist winning a stage of the Tour de France, or the like, has been photographed holding
his offspring aloft. Why is the BBC trying to imitate the sensationalism of the tabloid press?
Shame on you!
The Belgian study you refer to in your article is deeply flawed, as the vast weight of evidence over
many years shows the risk of male impotence due to cycling is very small indeed, as are the risks of
any health problems for women. The health benefits of cycling are far, far greater than any of the
risks. But why let a bit of balance get in the way of sensationalism?
Being a cyclist married to a cyclist, I can categorically state it has had no adverse effect on our
desire or ability to indulge in passionate moments and it hasn't stopped the production of
offspring. Indeed if anything, it has increased our fitness levels so we ENJOY passion, even though
he's in his fifties and I'm in my forties. Stick that up your sensationalist saddle area BBC. Get
out on your bikes and it might use up some reporting time with an enjoyable and healthy form of
exercise which is highly likely to improve your desire for passion rather than diminish it!
I suggest you do a follow up article on the risks to health of being stuck sitting behind the wheel
of a car all day, which increases stress levels, promotes obesity due to lack of exercise and
increases the risk of heart disease. Finally, as a real risk to health, an article on how drivers of
motorised vehicles kill and injure thousands of people in the UK each and every year wouldn't be
out-of-place in highlighting a real risk to health.
Sincerely, Helen Simmons
(Thank you for the lesson in tabloid style hype in writing - I enjoyed that part of it at least.)
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This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from
h$**$*$el$**e$n$**$d$**$o$*$t**$$s$**$im$mo$ns*@a$**o$l.c$$*o$*m*$ by getting rid of the
overdependence on money and fame
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