Bike Seat Hack: Hacking Pudendal Nerve Entrapment

Reader Joe from Michigan sent along a really awesome hack that literally saved his biking life.  All of the text and pictures below are credited to Joe.  If you have questions for Joe leave them in comments. 

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On the topic of bike seats... six years ago I had surgery to free up a trapped pudendal nerve (which is the major nerve "down there") I never thought I'd ride a bike again.  This summer I bought one of those rectangular looking seats from Schwinn and gave it a try.  Crowning the normal seat post position, however, put my rear too far forward and my feet were behind me while pedaling.  So I rigged up a couple galvanized fittings and got it to ride about 4" further back.  I now commute a few days a week 7 miles to work and I don't get sore at all!

I've added a few commuter friendly appendages since this picture.  The rack on the back is a fork off a kid's bike which fit well with the galv. fittings.  While I was dealing with the PNE (Pudendal Nerve Entrapment) I read alot about the riding/impotence relationship and I think there may be some merit there. I rode quite often before the problem and thought I'd never grip the bars again....till I looked into the "other" bike seats.  The custom ones were too pricey too try but this one was affordable, I love it!  I'm back on the saddle again, self-labeled "Sherpa"!

Don't know about the rest of you, but I feel all warm and fuzzy all over.  Great story Joe, thanks!  Have you hacked a medial issue related to cycling?  Let us know.

Comments

[Ron Ablang]

My wife believes that my years of cycling has affected my desire for having sex by killing most of the nerves down there.

Is there any studies out there to support that?

[Dan]

I'd like to see the aero version of that seatpost hack!

[Jason]

My recumbent may be a boat anchor, but is has saved my butt, shoulders, and neck... kudos on the hack though - it is surprising that the pipe holds so well it can even take a seat-post rack!

[Arild Lundlie Kvam]

What baffles me, is that nobody else seems to want to have the saddle lower at the front end. This has 2 advantages over the horisontal position. 1. One avoids the problem with the pressure right behind the scrotum. I believe that it is this pressure, that cause the sexual related problems some men experience. 2. It is also better for one's back, as the altered angle of the saddle keeps the back strait. This is especially noticeable in steep hills. There is one drawback though, and that is that more of one's bodyweight is transfered to the hands. This is noticeable, but it has not been a problem for me, even on longer trips of 60km+.

[Sally Evensen]

Hi
I am female and have had extreme pain from pudendal nerve entrapment for 4 months after long distance cycling. Most of the literature seems male orientated. Most doctors (even one who is cycled long distances) has advised me not to cycle again. Would love to hear from someone who has overcome this problem ( I've read all the saddle seat literature) and has been able to cycle long distances again.