DavidP730

Im a healthy 19 year old ultra cyclist with a new problem. last year i rode my bike a few thousand miles with no problems. one of my first bike rides this year i went out on a new madone 5.1. after a 50 mile bike ride ive been experiencing a sort of numbness in my penis. could this be from the saddle position? will this numbness go away if i fix the problem right away? how would i fix it? and would i need to get a new saddle, what kind, etc. being 19 years old im not taking this problem lightly.

AngelGendy

I was having the same issue when I was riding 800+ miles a month, and once I changed my saddle it went away. (Brooks Team Pro)

Now I'm hyper sensitive to bike fit.

Menel

Does the numbness stop once you get off the bike, within a few seconds/minutes? No harm done, but I would address it.

Could be saddle position, could be saddle shape.

Your new bike obviously fits you different than the other. Move the saddle over, or get another identical one and put it on the new bike.

Specialized dealers have a nice butt sizing tool, makes a great starting point for determining saddle width. Toupe 130 properly adjusted by shop solved all my issues, but everyone's nether region is a bit different.

2ndGen

Play with the positioning of your saddle.
Tilt up, ride. Tilt down, ride. Move forward, back, etc...
See how all these different positions affect you.

The saddle itself might need to be broken in, although
OEM Bontrager saddles are not known for comfort.

I'd say go to an LBS and see if they have a saddle program (where you can borrow different types of saddles).
There also might be a saddle "take-off" bin where you might be able to pick up a saddle someone else upgraded
from that might fit/suit you perfectly and that you'd get at a much lower price.

BTW...congrats on the Madone.

rushbikes

Tons & tons & tons & tons have been posted on this sort of thing. Search bf with google "site:bikeforums.net" and you'll see what I mean.

Here's the gist: Numbness could be saddle type, bike fit, lower back flexibility or some combination. It's a very common problem amongst cyclists. There are some dr's who believe it could eventually lead to impotency and/or prostate issues down the road.

Santaria

I ride (as of this week) 225 miles a week with a long ride of 100 miles. I am familiar with the type of issue you're talking about. I have adjusted my saddle and changed my bar position as well. Ultimately, what I found to work has been rather simple.

Stand up. I had to set up a routine where every 10 or so miles, I got up off the saddle for at least a minute and just ride. I think there is some correlation between long rides and just sitting on the nerves in that region. The longer we sit there, the more we tip forward off our sit bones and that puts the weight onto the pelvic region. In my case, I mash my bits. It's not fun, but I keep aware of the issue and if I feel even a little bit of unwanted pressure, I adjust. Hell, I know I'm not the only one that's had to stop, readjust the chamois and make sure I'm good before I continue.

I will say, however, that I found that PI bibs do not have the best chamois in them, and when they start to get too big, that's the first place you notice it.

I am still riding the OEM Cannondale CAAD9-5 seat (2010) and while I like it, I'd switch it in a heartbeat if Brooks made a white leather seat. I have been eyeing that Sella new CF seat I saw recently. They narrowed the region between your legs avoiding thigh rub (yes, I'm still 27 pounds of fatty fat fat fat) but its designed to help keep you back on your sit bones better.

Nick Bain

check out the fizik flexibility chart. It told me if your not flexible in your hips you will be sitting on your junk. Also if you shorts are too loose they will NOT keep your junk up and out of the way of the seat.

Accordion

Take up running instead. Anytime I would use the words penis and numbness in the same sentence it's time to change sports.

CHAS

lower your saddle
get a saddle with a big cutout
Selle SMP or similar

surgeonstone

My first long ride (80miles) 40 years ago at age 17. I came back, had no feeling in my crotch and was dribbling urine. Great I thought, 17 y.o. and my sex life is over before I started. 40 years later and countless saddles I had thought some degree of numbness was going to be inevitable no matter what I did. This past year I finally hit the right saddle. The Specialized Ronin is cheap and very effective. It is the only saddle I have ridden with no numbness issues or pain. Second best was the Brooks Pro. I have had five children along the way so I don't think you need to worry about potency issues too much. A good professional fit is a good place to start. If the problem continues try different saddles from a shop that will let you try different models.

contango 

I've had numbness there too, and for me the problem was saddle positioning. Moving the saddle forward helped a lot but still wasn't quite right so I tilted it forward very slightly as well. Now not only can I put more power down to the pedals but after longer rides I don't have any discomfort there at all.

Before I adjusted the saddle after 20-30 miles I felt like I'd had a reasonable ride. After I adjusted it and figured I was happy on a test ride around the block I did 25 miles and felt like I'd barely warmed up.

Nick Bain

the only problem I have with tilting the saddle down is that your body will want to slide forward and cause excess rubbing on the sit bone area, the other being a sore upper body and numb arms.

oujeep1

Stand up at least a few pedal strokes every mile. This will go a long way towards preventing numbness, and also decrease risk of erectile dysfunction issues. The issue is much more likely to be your riding position than the saddle, before I went out and spent a bunch of dough on saddles I'd play around with(no pun intended) your position, move the seat down, back, forward, etc. And btw you don't have to be potent to have children. It helps, but not absolutely necessary.

Spacemunky

You need a totally flat saddle. Most saddles have that slightly padded raised front that likes to push your junk into just the wrong spot and at the same time just crush your prostate. I got one of these....then I got 3 of them because I cant ride on anything else. Sex life actually improved after buying them, no joke

Scooper

^^ This.



Patent 7,699,391

roadrider63

That selle smp may be a nice saddle, but the front end looks like it is suffering from some ED problems.

OP, I think the saddle and the fit/position will do the most to ease your problem. I like saddles with a cut out. I ride a 143mm wide Specialized Avatar. It was in my price range at the time and the width they measured me for. When I got my new Scott bike I tried their saddle for a while. With no cut out i seemed to have more issues in that area, but it also has me thinking that maybe I'd be better on a narrower saddle. Sure wish more lbs's offered try before you buy options with saddles.

Carbon Unit

I had similar problems witt numbness but after I bought my SMP saddle, no more numbness. As for the droopy nose on the saddle, it makes it easier for me to stand on climbs. It looks funny but works well.

chadteck

They should just cut the nose off that SMP saddle. What purpose does it serve besides making the saddle look ridiculous?

Carbon Unit

It does server a purpose. If you spend a lot of time in the drops, the nose does reduce pressure on certain areas. When I use to stand and peddle with my old saddle, the nose of the saddle would catch my shorts. This does not happen with turned down nose of the SMP saddle.

Jed19

You should not experience any numbness of your junk, period. My typical ride is about 65miles, and I only get fatigued. No pain nor numbness anywhere post-ride.

Get yourself into a saddle-trial program at your local bike store.

BayAreaUser

I've tried the saddle that came on a 4.5 madone (it may be the same as yours) and it caused the opposite of your problem, but still- something undesirable while riding. The numbness got better after tilting the nose down. Try that! Don't be afraid to stop and make adjustments as necessary.

coasting 

nothing should go numb. some adjustments or changing saddle needs to be done.

znomit

Kids seriously limit your cycling time.

surgeonstone

+1

the_don

They do/did.

There is a limited edition Stussy white Brooks Swallow with Titanium.

Not cheap at $400 though