Cycling UK Forum

Hi everyone.
I wonder if anyone else feels the same but I have been considering my cycling/saddle/health recently and after a bit of research, packed in my cycling for a while.
Why? Well, after looking at a few anatomy images of nerves and blood supplies to the human bits and pieces of both sexes I realised that all these cut out saddles that have the middle missing seem completely useless. When you look at the anatomy of nerves and blood supply, they all lay outside of the cut out and not down the middle. When you overlay a saddle on the nerve structure, where all the pressure is, this is where all the saddle is!! I am confused!
With my current saddle, I never get any numbness. In fact, the Spec Romin saddle is the best saddle I've ever had but I can't help feeling that I'm causing problems even though I can't directly feel anything going wrong.
I have now had 2 weeks off the bike and I have to say that my bits and pieces down below feel better than ever, it's as though I'm feeling things I haven't for a long time. Like I'm in my early twenties again. That might seem a little extreme but it's the only way I can explain it.
Now, I really enjoy my cycling and doing 100 or so miles a week is something I do miss but I have substituted this with running and feel all the better for it.
Maybe it's my fit or my clothes or my shoes or something else but you know what? I don't have the time or money to experiment anymore. Having spent thousands on bikes, equipment and clothing over the years, it all now feels like a waste and when all I have to do now is spend £150 on a pair of running shoes every 2 to 3 years, it all makes sense.
I'd love to hear people's opinions on this and clearly for some, cycling really works but I think I might be done with it
I just feel that any amount of prolonged pressure on the nerves and blood vessels can't be normal..... oh, and I thought 'morning wood' (TMI?) was a thing of the past and due to my age but clearly not

Welcome.

If riding on that saddle is causing any loss of function then you're wise to stop.

But trying different saddles doesn't take much time or money.

And trying different positions none at all. Please could you add a side-on photo or, preferably, a video of you riding by.

Thanks

Jonathan

“ Well, after looking at a few anatomy images of nerves and blood supplies to the human bits and pieces of both sexes I realised that all these cut out saddles that have the middle missing seem completely useless”

Surely usefulness of cut out saddles is dependent on their purpose. For me it’s a question of comfort. I find them comfortable and therefore not useless.

Hi Jeff,

Running was my primary leisure/sporting activity for decades, but I’ve always cycled as a secondary. However as I’ve aged and suffered running injuries cycling has become more dominant and is now my primary exercise. To my mind they are quite different.

Running, or at least distance running, is almost entirely aerobic whereas cycling is also about strength and power. Running is more intensive than cycling as you can freewheel and recover especially on downhills; and unless you’re time trialling or similar cycling on the flat is easier than running on the flat. Running is more time efficient, and much cheaper in terms of equipment and clothing, and you’re not dependent on the vagaries of a mechanical device. Running in cold wet conditions is preferable to cycling as you generate a lot of body heat with running.

The biggest downside of running v cycling is that running is much harsher on the body than cycling (crashes excluded!). The impact of running causes more damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints than cycling. It takes longer to recover from running than cycling, which is one reason why there are no three week multi stage races for professional runners! The result of the extra stress that running causes to the body is that injuries are very common amongst runners. Personally I find mixing it up the best option as that avoids the risk of repetitive strain caused by either activity, and gives more variation and mental stimulation.

Wrt to your comments on running shoes. You should be able to buy a pair of quality shoes cheaper than £150. Try looking for previous year’s models. Often there are just minor updates (not always for the better), or just different colours. And I would definitely advise replacing more than every 2 to 3 years. Keep a check on mileage and replace after 500 miles or even less if you notice heavy wear.

I keen on cycling but "the saddle" turns out to be a genuine issue, have you thought about recumbents?

I don't know whether you've done much experimentation or are just basing your concerns on Dr Google but nit too difficult to try different saddles or consider a switch recumbents.

Ian

Well personally i prefer saddles without a cut out although i have a couple with a hidden cut out that do the job fine. But saddles are such a personal thing, i like fairly stiff, minimalist designs, others like the full Big Bertha with springs. I have to say that the under carriage issues the OP has mentioned have never been an issue for me - yes after a full day in the saddle i get some discomfort but it's no different from doing any sitting for an extended period, you have to relieve the pressure from time to time. If your cockpit is set up right you should be able to do a good 5 hour ride without undue discomfort or 'damage'.

Seems to me that the OP is being a bit reactionary to a 'problem' only discovered from Google and running as an alternative, what a poor choice, everyone i know that runs and from personal experience, you are on a continuous cycle of run - injury - recovery.

As the OP has posted on this, a cycling forum we may be excused from thinking he has some doubts himself and is wanting to be convinced he's made a good choice. Others have put forward the solutions, sort out the bike fit, maybe do some running alongside the riding but don't give up the bike, as we get older cycling and swimming both offer low impact, low intensity workouts - the advantage cycling has is that you get to see the countryside and breathe all that fresh air whilst doing it.

foxyrider wrote: ↑5 Feb 2022, 10:34pm ... the advantage cycling has is that you get to see the countryside and breathe all that fresh air whilst doing it.

You raise an aspect I find great about cycling. I also do a fair amount of walking but on walks from home one quickly gets familiar with the roads and paths within range and after a bit walks become a bit if a repeat performance. Cycling allows you to cover much greater distance opening up a lot more variety of routes and views and stops, etc.

Cycling means having a bit of gear and it costs (depending on your needs vs desires) but once purchased that gear lasts a long time/a lot of miles. Walking requires minimal gear (I assume running is similar) and I think it's great to have multiple different activities - probably good for different muscles as well, different exercise patterns, suited to different weathers e.g. I hate cycling in the rain but will happily put on waterproofs and walking boots and head out for a walk in even quite heavy rain.

Ian

All great replies, thanks so much.
I do doubt my motives and maybe am a bit quick to judge after one or two bad experiences. I don’t think I’ll be giving up totally, maybe a longer break than normal is what I need. The bad weather does depress me, that’s for sure.
And as for running being more intense than cycling. I have already experienced a ‘slight’ calf injury this week after possibly (definitely) pushing it too soon with the running, compared with no injuries cycling over the last 3 years!!!
Maybe mixing it up is the answer and not relying on just one of cycling or running. 2 of each per week and a weights session sounds like a compromise (a good one) to me.

Cheers

On a properly sized and positioned saddle you’ll be in your sit bones with next to nothing compressed. If you are not numb and no other issues, it says your nerves aren’t being damaged and blood supply is fine. Remember blood vessels expand and contract all the time with muscle contractions and blood pressure.

Jeff55 wrote: ↑6 Feb 2022, 2:39pm ....
Maybe mixing it up is the answer and not relying on just one of cycling or running. 2 of each per week and a weights session sounds like a compromise (a good one) to me.
...

Or just see what the weather is like and what takes your fancy on any day. I find myself far more ,motivated if I'm doing my choice on any day than if I'm doing something because of some pre-constructed schedule (e.g. must run today because done my 2 bike rides but I don't feel like running ...)

Ian

I assume you are worried about the pudendal nerve?
Have a look here.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1LDExhitw

You should be sitting on the ischio-pubic rami ; the pudendal nerve(s) are deep to the rami, so you can't compress the nerves unless you take weight on the symphasis pubis......don't do this!

Have a look at my diy bike fit piece linked below....and by the way, morning glory continues into the seventies.

Numb nuts

I've been there, try all the obvious, bike fit etc first. Then buy a selle SMP saddle, I looked at their website and decided their trk fitted my riding position.
£50 well spent, problem went away.

Greystoke wrote: ↑6 Feb 2022, 9:23pm Numb nuts

I've been there, try all the obvious, bike fit etc first. Then buy a selle SMP saddle, I looked at their website and decided their trk fitted my riding position.
£50 well spent, problem went away.

Yup, I now have the standard Selle SMP on all my bikes. Comfort all round

The SMP TRK is too wide for me, it causes sores where the top of my thighs join the bottom of my bum. I have another that isn't too wide, but the hole in it is too narrow. I was trying some experiments with a view to having a go at building my own custom saddle, but quit cycling before I ever got round to it.