OK, this is a two-parter, one is GQ and one is IMHO. So I put it here.
I have recently started bicycling to get into better shape. I really like it, even though I hadn’t been on a bike in a couple of decades before that.
What’s the latest on bicycling and ED? I want to know what the risks are (or if it’s all just overblown). I can’t imagine that all those pros have given up sex for bicycles, but who knows. I can imagine that there are good and bad seats, however, and that my middle-of-the-pack bike doesn’t have the right seat to protect my ability to contribute to the population.
The seat causes my butt to hurt, as in sore cheeks. Googling around a bit, I see lots of different seat types, but I have no way to know if that $100 seat is BS- I am looking for your thoughts as to what seats tend to be better for preventing pain. I am happy to trade performance for comfort, since this is strictly an exercise activity.
You need to give your butt time to get broken in.(That does not sound good)
Depending on the seat material, you need to let the seat get broken in.
If that doesn’t work, you need to get fitted for a new seat. Your sit bones need to match the seat for proper support and comfort. It also reduces pressure on that “certain part of the male body.”
Another consideration: Your seating position. The more upright position on mtn. bikes, utility, hybrids and so on put more pressure on the butt/seat than a road bike with drop bars.
All bikes require a fitting.
A good bike store will fit you and let you test drive different seats.
I went through about 4 different seats on my first road bike before I found the right one.
ED is overblown. Err. Sorry about that. I’ve ridden over 100K miles and have 3 kids and now 60 YO with no problems. Of course I’m a sample size of one, but none of my riding buddies are having problems that they will admit to.
The Brooks B-17 is a good seat. I have them on two of my bikes. I also have a bike with a a channel down the middle to take pressure off the 'taint.
Good shorts are a must for longer rides. Do NOT wear underwear under bike shorts. Also make sure that the pad/chamois isn’t too loose or it will bunch up.
Get out of the bike seat often. Make any little hill or rise a reason to stand on the pedals for a few strokes.
There used to be seats with notches in front specifically for male comfort - I cannot imagine having a hard, upwardly curved item between my legs and then leaning onto it.
Sounds like something Bill Cosby would cover.
The nose of a bike seat is part of the steering system when leaning.
As for the ED issue, that doctor pretty much turned out to be a crank. He based the idea on a paper that showed cyclists having twice the ED issues as swimmers. But the paper failed to note that the average cyclist was 10 years older than the average swimmer.
I ride wearing normal clothes on the seat that came with my cheap bike, with no added padding… and it still only takes a few weeks for you to get used to it. It’s probably quicker and easier with all the fancy equipment, but that’s not actually necessary.
Good bike shorts with padding. And don’t be tempted by big soft padded saddles: they tend to be less comfortable than a fairly narrow and form seat.
As for ED… well, I’ve been commuting by bike four days a week for more than seven years. That’s well over 25,000 miles, not counting weekend rides, and no sign of “dysfunction” yet…
Quality bike shorts, a good seat that fits you well, for a long ride use some Bag Balm or other specially marketed application for your butt to prevent chafing.
Seats: It can be tricky. I read an anecdote of two guys who were touring in Europe. At the early stages of the trip they were both complaining about their seats. Finally, they traded seats and there were no more complaints. ??? The comfort of the seat can be the difference between a fun ride and a miserable ride. Leather is the best material but can be pricy. It’s not worth it to tolerate a cheap seat that is not comfortable.
Yes, you have to condition your butt. You contact the bike at five points and the seat can be the most critical and most discomforting. There has been no absolute solution for the seat problem. Even a professional cyclist can get saddle sores. (If you ever get saddle sores stop riding and treat them with Bag Balm until the skin heals or it will just get worse.)
Just to be clear, the butt pain is not on the skin, like a rash or chafing, it’s a soreness like the way the bottoms of your feet get when you’ve been on them all day.
Brook b-17 is the go to seat for long term comfort and durability. It, or a similar version of Brooks are the most common seat I see on touring bikes. I would also say look into a Brooks imperial, it has the cutout down the middle. Keep in mind, these versions of Brooks saddles will take time to break in and can be very uncomfortable in the beginning. Brooks recently has come out with a new rubber/fabric version of its classic leather saddles that do not need the breaking in period to feel comfortable. You also want to take into account your riding position, if you are in an upright riding position a wider seat is fine, if you are more leaned over you will have chafing if the nose is too wide. Chamois butter, padded shorts etc are all helpful too.
