Cycling / Saddle Advice

Hi Jon,
most cycling retailers sell prostate friendly saddles now - we got John's from Wiggle - not this specific one but similar https://www.wiggle.co.uk/selle-italia-flite-flow-saddle-with-titanium-rails 

Cyclists Hub has an interesting article about why it helps and what to consider
https://www.cyclistshub.com/best-bike-saddles-for-prostate/ 

I tried a Selle Italia, nose-less, well padded saddle with cut-out for a year but it transferred quite a lot of weight to my arms, which was not only tiring for the arms but also caused some numbness in my hands, so I'm back to the Fizik now. The prostate friendly saddles are certainly comfortable to sit on and possibly if your bike can be set up to reduce weight transfer forwards, they'd work very well.

Jules

I bought a couple of these noseless saddles for use during radiotherapy:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07R61NZ4V/

That product is no longer available, but plenty of ones obviously coming out of the same Chinese factory.

Takes a few rides to get used to and adjust.

That was 2½ years ago. I found them sufficiently good that I've kept them on my bikes, and they have sparked the odd awareness talk.

As one of the links Lyn posted says, it's important that the saddle is an inch or two wider than the distance between your sit bones, so that you are supported by your pelvis, and not your perineum.

Fair enough, although the excuse to buy a new bike would have been irresistable to many 😂

I don't think cycling or saddles are a cause of cancer. That's a bit of a far-fetched notion, really. Pressing on an area of the body causing cell mutations at the DNA level? Nah - sounds a bit ridiculous to me. Soreness, or pain, sure. Cancer? Very doubtful.

The only link I know about between cycling and prostate cancer is the fact that a few months after buying my road bike and gradually moving further and further forward on the saddle I had such bad perineal pain that I couldn't ride for a week. During that time I decided to get a medical checkup including prostate examination (DRE) and PSA test as I'd just turned 50.

After the week off the bike, that pain issue never came back again, but I'd started the process with the GP and about 3 months later I had a diagnosis.

British Cycling was also involved in a bit of research that showed a period of intense cycling can raise the PSA by as much as 10% for between 1 - 4 hours.

The debate with saddles is really for men post-op … some urologists feel very strongly that cycling too soon post-RP can impede recovery of erectile function. Other urologists dispute this. John’s surgeon told him to stay off the bike for 6 months; when he groaned in horror the response was “what’s the point of me going to all the trouble to save your nerves if you aren’t going to do everything you can to help them heal?” J did stay off the bike until after the 6 month review and then I ordered prostate friendly saddles for his various bikes.

There's not much that could be added to Alex's post but if you're looking at road bikes Lyn you could choose something that leans towards "gravel" in having wider tyres [which require slightly wider rims]. My partner rides a road bike with 26mm tyres, rather than the classic 23mm which is what I'm still using. She could fit 28mm or even 32mm wide though that might get a bit too "pneumatic" if I can put it that way. This setup is on a road/racing bike which wasn't designed as a gravel bike but because of the space between the front forks and back suspension stays, allows a wider wheel/tyre to be fitted. That's a reasonably common part of many road bikes now.

Even the 26/28mm tyres are run at lower pressures than the 23mm so they are much more comfortable. As for speed ... insignificant difference for most of us and sometimes quicker on certain surfaces.

While road/racing bikes can look similar their levels of comfort vary hugely. An aluminium frame road bike with 23mm tyres @ 90-100lb pressure and stiff wheels can be a right pain in the back and everywhere else over distance but there are some really great bikes around now that are both comfortable and quick, without using suspension to achieve that result. Of course you can spend a fortune too.

Jules

Edited by member 11 Jan 2022 at 21:55  | Reason: Not specified

👍 Choice of bike, all class Dave!

A neighbour of mine was notorious for riding his horse into town, 5 miles or so, and returning late at night and completely blind drunk with all navigation courtesy of the horse. Quite relaxing after a big night out I imagine.

Jules