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Outside Magazine, September 2004
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Bodywork: Bicycle Seats
You May Be Seated (Cont.)

UNTIL DOCTORS SETTLE the question, the attitude among men and seat makers seems to be: Prepare for the worst. The search continues for the Holy Grail of seats, one that won't squash the artery. Today, that quest leads through Sommer's lab in Germany, where ergonomic engineers can come to test their latest ideas by plugging electrodes into riders.

"Finding the perfect seat will erase this controversy," says Minkow, adding, "We're so close."

In the meantime, cyclists who want to play it safe can take advantage of new information uncovered by Sommer. First, buy a saddle built to promote circulation (see "Back in the Saddle Again"), and stay clear of super-plush models. It sounds counterintuitive, but Sommer has found that the cushier the seat, the more you sink into it and, thus, the more you constrict the arteries.

When spinning through a ride, avoid numbness by periodically standing on the pedals and cranking for 30 seconds. "Get up every ten minutes or so," says Minkow. "It'll boost the blood supply to your crotch."

Whatever your fears, there's no reason to stop cycling. Armed with a new saddle and the latest tips, you shouldn't ever go numb on a ride again, much less end up impotent. So saddle up, brother.


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