Riding Bikes Connected to Erectile Dysfunction.

With gas prices rising the way they are with no drop in sight, more men are choosing to cycle to work, and everywhere else. It's one of those silver linings in the soaring oil prices cloud - cycling is recognized as one of the most effective forms of exercise, leading to a population of fit and healthy people. Besides, it's also the most environment friendly way to get around, leaving no carbon footprint on the planet, whatsoever.

However, the cycling community has long been presented with "evidence" of the negative effects of cycling on male sexual health, including erectile dysfunction and penile numbness. Opinions are varied on the veracity of these claims with some cyclists of the belief that numbness is a very real problem with regular bicycle saddles. Whether frequent cycling leads to longer lasting erectile dysfunction or not, the general consensus is that discomfort in the groin region is a very real problem.

Now, there is good news for men who enjoy cycling regularly, but don't care much for the discomfort they feel at the end of the day. New research shows that nose-less bicycles seats can help take the pressure off the groin region in the case of male bicyclists. The findings were confirmed by Dr. Steven Schrader of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. According to him, bicycles seats that come without the protruding nose extension alleviate pressure on the groin region.

The study was conducted on 90 bike police officers in the United States. These officers belonged to 5 different metropolitan areas in the country. They were given the nose-less seat bicycles to ride for a period of 6 months. At the end of 6 month, it was seen that the number of officers who did not experience any kind of penile numbness increased to 82% from 27%. Among those men who had experienced some degree of erectile dysfunction before switching over to the no nose bicycle seats, there was also an improvement in genital sensation at the end of 6 months. The researchers were not able to measure the kind of improvement that was reported, however. The study also reported that up to 90% of the men who took part in the study were happy to continue with the new seats after the study concluded.

For a long time, cyclists have shied away from talking about the penile numbness, or erectile dysfunction that long periods of cycling can often lead to. However, long periods of time spent on a conventional bicycle seat with a protruding nose have been linked with genital numbness because of the pressure that is exerted on the nerves and blood vessels in the groin region. Nose-less bike seats leave the groin area completely free of pressure, while cupping the cyclist's buttocks to enable him to keep his balance on the bicycle. Riding on the new seats, as the study found was not easy, and the police officers who took part in the study had to adjust their regular bicycle techniques to adapt to the new seats.

Not all cycling experts agree that removing the nose extension on the bike seats is the only way to deal with the problems of groin discomfort and erectile dysfunction. According to Dr. Peter Barnes, cycling spokesman for Sports Medicine Australia, there are other ways for men to deal with the problem with their existing bikes. Simple adjustments to the bike can overcome the problem. A bicyclist can also relieve pressure in the groin region by placing a chamois in his shorts. According to Barnes, nose less bike seats are not a practical option for serious professional sporting cyclists. In any case, this elite group of professional cyclists who can ride up to 30,000 kilometers per year, constantly adjust their sitting positions depending on the mode of cycling. By removing the nose extension, the cyclist is in a less powerful position, which effects performance.

Other ways to deal with the problem include switching between sitting on the seat and pedaling, and standing on the pedals intermittently. A cyclist can also slope his saddle forward to remove any pressure. The no-nose seats however could be appropriate for cyclists who don't spend too much time on their bikes.

Although the health benefits of nose-less saddle seats are creating a buzz in the cycling community, these seats are still quite hard to find. Manufacturers who have introduced the nose-less seats have been seeing mixed reactions. Generally, people who suffer from prostrate problems have been showing an interest in the new seats. In any case, the cycling industry is constantly researching the current nose seat technology to alleviate groin pressure, with better and more improved designs. This means that in a few years, when more tweaks to the design have been made, there could be none of the groin discomfort that cyclists experience now.

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