Almost every cyclist who has been in the saddle for any length of time is familiar with numbness. The loss of sensation can range from annoying to unpleasant. At the latest when the penis becomes numb, the concern is great. The main cause: pressure. In physics, pressure is defined as the quotient of a force acting vertically on a surface. In mountain biking, pressure is mostly painful. This is because the areas where it occurs, where man and machine come into contact, are small: handlebars, pedals, saddle. And the smaller the area, the greater the pressure. A pressure that can squeeze nerves and blood vessels. The result is a tingling sensation, the most notorious form of which is probably numbness in the genital area.
This phenomenon is quite common among mountain bikers, with between 50 and 91 per cent of men and just over 47 per cent of women affected, depending on the study. However, most of them prefer not to talk about it - a scientific study conducted by the University of Antwerp in 2023 identified it as too frustrating and embarrassing as the main reasons for the silence of the 620 female cyclists involved.
That will pass?
Some also accept such complaints as a given side effect of cycling and hope that they will resolve themselves after a while off the saddle. In fact, they often do. Better still, such short-term numbness, as unpleasant as it may be, is usually harmless and disappears as soon as the saddle pressure caused by the sitting position on the bike eases. However, if these symptoms occur regularly or persist over a longer period of time, they could indicate more serious problems such as nerve damage or circulatory disorders. Christian Manunzio, a sports scientist specialising in training and performance at the Institute for Training Science and Sports Informatics at the German Sport University Cologne, emphasises: "Anyone who experiences these symptoms frequently or over a long period of time should have the cause clarified. Adjusting your sitting position or equipment in good time can prevent problems later on."
The myth that cycling makes you impotent has now been debunked, including by a study conducted by various Californian universities in 2018, which nevertheless found that cyclists have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction and urethral constriction compared to swimmers and runners due to the saddle pressure. In addition to numbness, pain or irritation of the skin in the genital area is most common in women.
Nose down, mood up
An avoidable fate, because: "Many symptoms can be alleviated in the short term or prevented altogether by making small adjustments, such as tilting the saddle nose slightly forwards, taking regular breaks or riding in an upright position more often," says Christian Manunzio. However, if symptoms persist, it is advisable to visit a specialist doctor, who will initiate medical steps if necessary, or a bike fitter, who will take a look at your sitting position and saddle. "Ergonomic saddles with cut-outs or split seats can help to minimise pressure on sensitive areas," explains the sports scientist. However, depending on your anatomy and riding position, there is no one saddle solution for everyone; on the contrary, even a new pair of cycling shorts with different padding can make a previously comfortable saddle feel uncomfortable.
Instead, "the combination of ergonomic equipment, an individually customised bike and a conscious riding technique is the key to preventing discomfort". An approach that applies just as much to roller training as it does to riding outside. Perhaps even more so, because here "complaints such as numbness in the genital area often occur more frequently or can be noticed for the first time", says Christian Manunzio. This is because, unlike when riding outdoors, the bike remains completely rigid during roller training. "This means that the natural relief of the perineal area, which is created by small movements and position changes on uneven terrain, is missing. In addition, there is often a high level of perspiration, which can lead to skin irritation in closed rooms without cooling air," explains Manunzio and recommends targeted breaks, a fan to improve ventilation and high-quality clothing to minimise discomfort when cycling on rollers."
Whether out on the road or indoors on the rollers: mountain bikers do not have to and should not accept complaints such as genitals falling asleep, skin irritation or pressure sores as inevitable. With the right approach, you can not only minimise health risks, but also keep training fun in the long term.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
