Mountain biking linked to infertility

July 27th, 2005 by Carl

Better watch out, fellas. Check out this article…. mountain biking may be linked to infertility!

Whatever. I’m still gonna ride… Of course, the study was done on men aged 17 to 44 who rode 6 days a week, at least 2 hours per day. Hmmmm…. maybe I should just put a pillow on my seat….

Several prominant doctors have endorsed “The Comfort Seat” as a possible solution to this problem. You know what… I totally believe that in using this seat you’d effectively prevent any damage downstairs…. but look at it. It really isn’t ideal for mountain bikers. I’m going to keep using my Titec Ithys seat…. mainly because I don’t go numb anymore and always wear padded shorts. Maybe I’m being irresponsible…. but ignorance is bliss!

8 Responses to “Mountain biking linked to infertility”

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1 Fritz on Jul 28th, 2005 at 12:07 am

I recall a more recent study than this one with bike police with a similar conclusion. The study cited here (released in 2002) said the alleged damage was probably from the trauma of jostling. The wide, noseless comfort saddle won’t help that problem.
2 Tim Grahl on Jul 28th, 2005 at 8:18 am

hahaha… jostling.

I heard a story awhile back that cops were getting testicular cancer higher then normal rates and they couldn’t figure out why. Well, low and behold, these geniuses were taking the radar they were using to clock speeding cars and laying it in their lap while still on. Go figure.
3 rashnixon on Jul 28th, 2005 at 9:49 am

Something sounds funny about these studies, especially with the number of people that ride bicycles as there main transportation in China that obviously aren’t impotent. Americans must “jostle” more than the Chinese?
4 Joel on Jul 28th, 2005 at 11:55 am

Those “comfort seats” are absolute crap! My father has problems with numbness “down there” and tried one of those types of saddles. He experienced more pain from that saddle than any regular one.
5 Fritz on Jul 28th, 2005 at 3:03 pm

There are comfort saddles and then there are the “Comfort Seats” that Carl linked to. Standard wide, padded comfort saddles are truly uncomfortable — I can’t move my legs fast enough. For very slow cadence comfort bikers, though, they’re probably okay.

The “Comfort Seat” that Carl linked to doesn’t have a nose. I haven’t tried ‘em (I use a regular old skinny saddle) won’t have the problem of getting in the way of the thighs, I think.

Regarding Chinese and jostling — the article from 2002 studied professional mountain bikers. Xufeng Hu probably doesn’t jostle nearly as much as a pro downhiller does.
6 Carl on Jul 28th, 2005 at 3:19 pm

I haven’t tried noseless saddles either… nor will I. I’m with Fritz. If your seat doesn’t have a nose then how can you pedal fast enough? Plus maneuverability is an issue… but obviously the once a week father who enjoys the occasional round the neighborhood ride probably wouldn’t mind. My father is about 6′2″ 280 and uses a Planet Bike “Contour” seat which he loves… and he hasn’t had any numbness issues. I guess it depends on who you are, what bike you have, and how you ride. He sure wouldn’t be able to use that seat on my Trek….
7 Tim Grahl on Jul 28th, 2005 at 6:25 pm

Well I obviously ride a good bit to. And almost always on a hardtail. Yet my wife is three months along in her pregnancy and it only took us two weeks. Lots of riding and I’m still a fertile turtle!
8 Greg from Ohio on Jul 31st, 2005 at 4:42 pm

NO problems getting pregnant here. After having a little trouble between the first and second child, we are now expecting our fourth!

Mountain biking linked to infertility

8 Responses to “Mountain biking linked to infertility”

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