[Closed] Numb nuts- no taking the piss please

Viagra.

Thanks, riding around with an erection will definitely solve the issue 🙄

ISM saddle, I have very a very grumpy prostate and delicate pipework on my rh testicle after epididymitus a few years ago so normal saddles are excruciating for me. I got one off eBay as a trial and I've got them on all my bikes now.

Don't sit on your balls.

Stop riding a road bike

What's the saddle to bar drop? Try increasing this (removing spacers, flipping the stem, etc.)
Try moving your saddle forward a bit.

Basically - put more weight on your hands / arms / wrists rather than your perineum. The lack of blood flow through this is causing your numb nuts.

Have you tried different shorts? I find some Lycra is designed for a more upright position, so a more aero roady position leads to crushed balls.

If it's not that it's probably advanced cat aids of the bad sort.

A) Have you tried a really firm saddle with a centre channel or cutout.
B) Have you tried top quality shorts with a firm variable thickness chamois?
C) Road riding is a lot less dynamic than mtb, have you tried 10s out of the saddle every 5-10mins?

A saddle with a cutout should help. Not normally needed for MTB because you're in and out of the saddle so much. With a road bike you tend to just sit there.

ISM or Selle SMP saddles are at the more extreme end of things, but there are plenty of more conventional (and cheaper!) saddles that might help: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/selle-italia-x1-flow-saddle-with-alloy-rails/

Try an Sq Labs saddle. Designed to avoid "numbness "

Error. Tried very little of the above. Just lots of different normal road saddles at different angles.

The bars is a good idea, I'll try that.

The ism saddles look like a torture device for testicles! Rather pricey too to just try 🙁

ISM - I have blown discs and permanent nerve damage.
No issues "there" with the Prologue

for fear of being hunted down ... get someone to look at your
"fit".

most try to emulate the pros with 120mm or more of saddle
to bar drop without the same levels of flexibility.
i may be able to touch my toes but an aliante is perfect and an
arione agony so. .. don't believe the hype either.

is the current too far back, too high, wrong shape ... there are so
many things in a road fit that don't apply in the muddy world.

I've had issues for ages and been through loads of different saddles. Eventually bit the bullet and spent a fortune on the ugliest saddle known to man but it turns out it works the best for me - SMP Dynamic. So impressed I bought another SMP for the CX, the Drakon.

Well, I can think of a solution, but...

Rachel 😉

Saddle too high.

Could saddle too high cause that?

I've always put it so I if my heels in the pedal legs about locked out as a rule.

I've done that for this and I'm getting no knee pain etc.

I'll look into some of these other saddles but blimey they don't half cost a whack! Could blow through £500 trying different saddles until you find a good one!

I love the Kore one I've got on my mtb but you just can't buy them anywhere now.

Could saddle too high cause that?

Probably as good a shout as any. Most people I see tend to have their saddles too high. 0.883 x inseam is the classic Lemond starting point (measured from the centre of the BB BTW).

Buy saddles second hand off ebay, then you won't lose much money if it's not right. Go for something quite firm. I believe the Spesh Romin is highly rated if you aren't prepared to spunk a load on one of those SMP saddles.

@chilled. Many LBS's have a range of test saddles you can take away for a few days and try out so doesn't have to cost the earth.

Well, I can think of a solution, but...
Rachel

😮 😯 😆

Thanks I'll have a measure, never heard of that method... well worth a go!

Will look at the specialized one too cheers

Yeh thanks Andy. I did this but it was only fizik ones they had... none of them worked well for me

I'd also take Rachel up on that offer of a mid ride massage - can't hurt to try 😆

Ditto for ISM and buying one secondhand from a forum (try the timetrialling forum, they often come up on there). Worked for me on my TT bike.

You should not have pressure on your perineum - you should be sitting on your sit bones. tip the saddle nose down more, move it foreward or raise the bars. You are flirting with life long impotence by doing what you are doing - permanent damage is not far away

chilled76 - Member

Could saddle too high cause that?

I've always put it so I if my heels in the pedal legs about locked out as a rule.

thats too high - the knee should be slightly bent

spunk a load on one of those SMP saddles.

ISM

Adamo

Had same issue and i've converted all my bikes to them now- all good!

Have you tried your MTB saddles on your road bike?

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Manta Saddles based in Inverness

As others have said, try an ISM saddle, but follow the setup videos to the letter.

I have iSM's on all bikes after prostatectomy a few yrs ago.

ISM for me

I really struggled when I got my first road bike, my advice get a proper bike fit and an ISM saddle. Also a shorter stem will give you a more upright riding position. Never had a problem since!

Have you tried your MTB saddles on your road bike?

Sounds like a good idea to me, if you still have pain then you'll know it's your set up.

I had this with a Fizik, swapped to a spoon and it is super.

Quirrel - Member

Manta Saddles based in Inverness

That looks really cool! have you riden with one?

Lowered my seat slightly, hasn't helped the numbness however I did prefer the general feel of how my legs were pushing. Thanks for that David.

I'll look into a used ism saddle to try.

I unfortunately can't use my mtb saddle i love on the road bike as it has a strange clamp system that needs the kore seatpost that comes with it and the post is 31.6. My roast bike has a seat mast instead of a post.

chilled, if you haven't already, have a look on the ISM website at the background to their design. It makes a lot of sense.

Pedalon in a London used to have demo ones that you can get for a few weeks with a deposit, worth a call.

Right ok I'm sold, enough people have recommended the ism saddles that I'll give one a go.

What would people recommend for someone who's got relatively wide sit bones, commutes a few times a week and generally does about 4 hours on a Sunday?

Performance Long gives ability to move around a bit as against the short ones which are more TT style. I'd suggest a Prologue, which is the most affordable in that range. I have one on my Adventure bike and the higher specced Breakaway (now labelled PL 1.1) on carbon road bike. They feel the same, the Prologue has a little more padding and is a little heavier.

There's a big price difference on wiggle.

Can get the pr1.0 for £71 and then £10 off if I get a mate who's never ordered to order it for me.

£61 is a lot better than £110.

Would the pr1.0 be suitable so we think?

I wouldn't, its short and fat with padding. It's labelled recreational for a reason

google" c ring", it may help, it will also get you some attention 😯

Lowered my seat slightly, hasn't helped the numbness however I did prefer the general feel of how my legs were pushing. Thanks for that David.

How much did you lower it by? It's generally advised to go about 3mm at a time; have an adaptation period and then re-assess. The thing is, it could be so far out (as in too high) that this could take weeks. That's why that .883 formula isn't a bad idea, as it'll get you in the ball park.

Another thing that may now be possible with a lower saddle, is lower bars.

Just wanted to say a MASSIVE thank you to all who chimed in with recommendations for saddles etc.

I picked up a nearly new ISM Adamo Prologue off of eBay last week for about £50.

Did a 50 miler this morning and it's made soooo much difference!

No numbness totally comfortable and can really feel I'm only sat on my site bones..

Thank you, it's literally saved my 2nd hobby as I thought I was going to have to ditch the road bike.

🙂

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chilled : great result, nice one !

Good news.

Happy days.

Before splashing out on a new saddle maybe try angling the saddle forward (tilting forwards) a bit. This solved my ball numbness as it took the pressure off the area.

ISM saddles are a great solution for many folk, self included. Have them on all my bikes 🙂

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