by bugleone » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:03 am
I have been a keen off road rider for about 20 years......
Cycling can certainly damage your ability to get erect and this is well documented but it is NOT an automatic result of prolonged cycle trips or sessions. Like any other physical activity, you need to accentuate the positive healthy aspects while making sure that you safeguard yourself from anything negative.
In my case I won't use any of the fashionable narrow mountain bike saddles. I ride in all weathers and in dry/summer conditions the ground is VERY hard in the part of England where I mainly ride which is East Anglia. This area has a very high clay content to the soil so in summer the ground is effectively like riding on uneven concrete. To counter this I use an old time sprung saddle with a gel over cushion. The particular saddle I use was made in leather and springs by the 'Brooks' company inn the 1950's and I recovered and more or less rebuilt it to my own needs. It is much wider across the back than modern mtb saddles. I frequently vary my riding position according to the terrain as I get to it,...so, on hills I slide back so that the cheeks of my behind sit on the widest part of the saddle and alow the blood supply to circulate to the areas which were under pressure before getting to the hill.
Note that there are modern saddles with a groove along the length especially for male cyclists concerned with penile damage and this type of seat is also shown in victorian cycle catalogues so the problem has long beenn recognised. Also there are wider saddles for women as they also have difficulties with cycle saddle pressure.
So, the best advice is; forget the fashion saddles and go for large, wide and soft and keep your seat position varied,...hope this helps.