Lisa describes the importance of having your bike "fit" properly
Q. "Lisa, I am an over-40 cyclist who has been having some "issues" that I believe are associated with my bike riding. I feel a tingling and numbness in the crotch area when I ride. I have also recently learned there is swelling in my prostate that is affecting my urination. Am I on the right track to think this is associated with the bike? I ride about four to five days a week, about one to two hours at a stretch with a long ride or race on the weekend.
-Cory C."
A. Cory, always make sure you see your doctor to rule out any other kind of issue with the prostate. But if you have done that and everything checked out OK and yet the numbness problems you describe still persist, you are right to think that the problem probably lies with the bike.
Your position on the bike is everything, not only in terms of comfort, but in terms of potential "issues" that can show up from urination to erectile dysfunction. You are putting a lot of weight and therefore stress in that area, so it is absolutely vital that your fit on the bike be exactly right. Fit also affects your power transfer from your muscles to the pedals.
So what is the proper fit? It is not just your seat height, but how forward that seat is. How stretched out you are in the cockpit of the bike, across the top tube. How elevated your handlebars are and how your arms rest on them. It is the total sum of all the variables that comprise your position on the bike.
It is also about the size of the frame and making sure before you purchase a new bike -- whether road, mountain or time trial -- you go to a reputable bike shop to measure you and tell you exactly what size frame is right for your body. People come in different shapes and sizes and need to be on the right size bike in order to avoid these kinds of issues.
Assuming you have ordered and purchased a bike that has been spec'd to you, it is now imperative you get "fit" on that bike. A good shop will strongly encourage you to do this. While it is an expense that can run more than $100, it is money well spent. .
A good fitter will take your measurements, much as they did when you ordered the bike, only this time, there will be several additional measurements they will take on your upper and lower body. Once they do that, and check for things like a leg length discrepancy, you will be asked to get on the bike and pedal. Bring you bike shoes for this, so that they can fit you with the equipment you will be using on your rides.
They'll then make sure you are in the best position possible on the bike, with just the right amount of stretch in the downstroke of the pedal; with your upper body relaxed but still in a power position on the handlebars; and with your body weight positioned properly in weight distribution over the wheels and on the seat.They will make adjustments for imbalances or structural differences, like having one leg shorter than the other, by providing a shim in the shoe. The process can take over an hour but will net you a position that is comfortable and doesn't cause you the issues that arise when your fit is off, your weight isn't centered and your pedaling position is ineffecient.
Any discomfort you have signals a fit issue, almost without exception. A really good fit is a fine art and should be handled by those trained to do it most effectively.
Cycling
