rotti

I know this is a 41 topic, but I really trust the info here more then the 41. I lowered my bars about 1 inch a few weeks ago. The position feels great. I'm more comfortable plus I'm more aero and my bike handling is better. The problem is that my penis has been a little numb. Strangely, this doesn't happen when I'm riding, but later on and throughout the day. I've been riding this saddle and wearing the same shorts for years. I am starting to notice that my favorite shorts aren't quite feeling right. I find myself always adjusting them in the crotch. I don't know if this has to do with the new position or just that the shorts are worn and stretched.

Anyway... the new position is great, but the penis is slightly numb. Should I play with sliding the saddle or tilting the saddle or start with the shorts? Thanks for the help.

echappist

have you gotten fitted or did you lower the bars on your own? 1" is a lot of spacers to remove, and i personally wouldn't do more than 5mm at a time (took me 1/2 year to remove 1" and flip from +8 to -17)

if i were you i'd put 4 spacers back and go see a fitter. When you are comfortable in the new position, you can think about removing more spacers.

Saddles are highly individualized; that said, the Cobb saddles are very good for riding in an aero position.

ericm979

Agreed- 5mm at a time. Think about rotating the hips forward.

wanders

I had to tilt the nose of my saddle down about 3mm when I lowered my stem/handlebar 4 or 5 years ago. I could feel the added pressure when in the drops.

Grumpy McTrumpy

I pick a side. always the same side. The perineum is slightly off-center on the saddle and hence does not encounter that kind of numbing pressure. The dangling bits are also on that side.

Using a split saddle that has the right spread might accomplish the same thing, although my particular sizes and shapes have yet to encounter one that works, so I still just do the one-side thing.

Creatre

Glad to know I'm not the only one that does that!

Nate552

Yes.

And yes.

hammy56

1) all of the above
2)this-

Doggus

Someone needs to try the Sella Italia Superflow and report back to me.




Cobb saddles look interesting. 5 years cycling and I still fight the saddle pain every ride.

ericm979

The Specialized Toupe (130mm) is just about perfect for me.

I think that sitting to one side would exacerbate leg imbalance problems.

graphs

I also had good luck with a Toupe before it got totalled in a crash. I was on a 143 but would probably go for the 130 next time.

Meek

Me too.

Doggus

Toupe is the only saddle that I've found semi-works for me. However, they tend to start sagging/flexing after 3-6 months. I need board flat, solid and narrow.

Creakyknees

here's yer solution:



(kidding)

rotti

Thanks for all the info. I tilted the front of the saddle down slightly and this made a huge difference in comfort. It seemed to take a lot of pressure off the crotch and put it back on the sit bones. Thanks for all the help.

HMF

ISM saddles are supposed to be comfy, you could try those. I went with the Specialized Romin and it's been working for me. I would try a new saddle first, then go to a fitter.

echappist

switch the order. Fitter first, then saddle. You may blow a few hundred trying out saddles if you don't have a fitter who'll let you try stuff

HMF

Yea, or that. I tend to "try stuff out" by using ebay, especially an item like saddles since it takes some mileage to find out if it's right for you.

ericm979

Mine's 4 years old and keeps getting better. My sitbones hurt on long rides for the first 6 months or so but then it "broke in".

HokuLoa

+1 on the Toupe. I have wide sit bones so good sizing/comfort is better achieved for me with a sized saddle. The cutout is a nice, effective solution as well.

Skinny Fred

I switched from a Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel to a Flite Gel Flow (+cutout) after I lowered my bars a little. Tilting made me slide forward.

Fat Boy

I wanted to like the Toupe. It looks good on my bike, but it just didn't do it for me. I went back to the Selle Italia SLK after 9 months. I'm curious about the Superflow, but I know the SLK works for me and it has. I'm also interested in a Cobb. If I'm going to take a blind stab at anything new, it would probably be one of those.

Debusama

Wait, you're telling me you can feel your penis? I almost forgot I had one.

1Echo

I was on a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow when I made the move to a slightly more aggressive position and had the same issues. Tried the SLK and could tell immediately it was going to have the same effect. Switched to a Specialized Romin and all is well. That being said, I did get my bike fit checked out too. In the end though, it was a different saddle that fixed the problem.

So, like everyone else said ..... get fit then try saddles.

Ultraslide

Specialized Romin in 143 (for me). Deep in the drops and no problems. Odd, seeing as the nose rises up a bit from the "cradle" of the saddle. Similar to a Selle SMP but the shape isn't as extreme.