Medical Research about Cycling and Comfortable Bicycles Seats
Recent medical research about cycling and ergonomics has provided proof that there really IS such thing as a comfortable bicycle seat! Both males and females complain of lower back pain and other types of pain when cycling, and because of the construction of traditional bike seats, many males experience sexual dysfunction and numbness caused by the “nose of the saddle.”
Gel seat covers ARE NOT the solution! A truly comfortable bike seat needs to fit the anatomy of the human body to accommodate the ischial tuberosities (sit bones) to eliminate pain, numbness and overall discomfort while cycling. This is where Spiderflex…Designed to promote biking comfort and satisfy the needs of today’s biking enthusiast, Spiderflex bicycle products offer ergonomic solutions to enhance recreational and long-distance biking.
In the spring of 2006, Spiderflex Bike Components provided 40 Spiderflex saddles to Dr. Schrader and his NIOSH TEAM for the research study of nose-less bike saddles. These Spiderflex saddles were distributed to bike patrol police officers from five US metropolitan regions that participated in the study.
Here are the results of that study, with very surprising implications for all cyclists everywhere.
Biking and Erectile Dysfunction: A Real Risk?
No-nose Bicycle Saddles Improve Penile Sensation and Erectile Function in Bicycling Police Officers
For more information on comfortable bicycle seats:
Dr. Schrader
Steven M. Schrader, Ph.D.
Reproductive Health Assessment
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Phone 513 533 8210; FAX 513 533 8138; Cell 513 807 0936
Here’s an article that summarizes Dr. Schrader’s study
New Saddle, New Man
They may look goofy, but bike saddles with no nose reduced numbing and improved sensation in this study's male test group
By Matt Allyn
Male cyclists may have good reason to swap out their old bike seats for a less traditional saddle. According to a new study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, riding bike saddles with no nose helps improve sensation and relieve sexual dysfunction in men brought on by saddle noses.
NIOSH, a federal agency that researches workplace health issues, studied 90 on-bike police officers that normally spend 24 hours a week riding. Researchers tested the officers before switching saddles and six months after, recording and measuring numbness while riding, tactile genital sensation, and penile function.
Resistant at first, the overall reaction by officers to the new saddles was almost entirely positive. 87 of the officers opted to keep the saddle after the six-month study. Numbness dropped significantly, with 82 percent feeling no numbness after six months on the no-nose saddle, compared to an earlier 27 percent. Penile function, calculated by a questionnaire, improved with a 73 percent of the men registering no problems before the study rose to 85 percent after. Genital sensation, measured by a sensitivity threshold meter, improved 10 percent.
The problem with traditional saddles, says study author Steven Schrader, M.D., comes down to basic anatomy and physiology. "Look at where the saddle nose supports the rider, it hits the perineal area. It's an inside extension of the penis with blood vessels and nerves running through this area but no boney structure to protect them."
That lack of protection in an area that supports 25-percent of a rider's bodyweight, explains Dr. Schrader, flattens blood vessels and nerves, cutting off 60-80 percent of the blood flow. "The human body was not designed to bear weight in this area."
Though the study was limited to male police officers riding mountain bikes, Dr. Schrader's work joins an ever-growing stack of research on potential ills of nosed bike seats. The bottom line is that riders experiencing numbness should try adjusting their saddle angle and position, as well as considering a change of seats.
Click to download more articles on Dr. Schrader's study below:
Seat Design - spears (PDF)
Seat Design - bressel 03 trunk angle (PDF)
Pain or discomfort while cycling is not just a male problem – now women can ride in comfort too, an ergonomic noseless bike seat is great for everyone!
Female Studies about Comforatble Bicycle Seats
Bicycle Saddles and Reproductive Health
Decreased Genital Sensation in Competitive Women Cyclists
The sacrifice of cycling
The links below take you to a new press release from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on bicycle police officers
NIOSH Announces New Publication Highlighting the Use of No-Nose (Noseless) Bicycle Saddles
No-nose Saddles for Preventing Genital Numbness and Sexual Dysfunction from Occupational Bicycling