Ride out the saddle every 10-mins, or swap to a recumbent bike to avoid erectile...

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Ride out the saddle every 10-minutes or swap to a recumbent bike to avoid erectile dysfunction, study suggests CyclingWeekly

Researchers have advised men to ride out of the saddle every 10-minutes, to avoid erectile dysfunction, following a study into the effect of cycling on male genitals.

Other solutions for addressing pressure on the perineum included the "use of a recumbent bike," though the authors did add that "several concerns prevent its widespread use."

Sports Medicine(opens in new tab) journal, researchers determined there is a correlation between genital numbness and the type of saddle used, suggesting a no-nose seat is much better for alleviating pressure in the region. Poor riding technique and riders using the wrong type of bike are also highlighted as other causes for numbness.

Researchers found penile blood pressure reduced significantly after five minutes of sitting on a nosed saddle, but, after a ten-minute recovery period, pressure values returned to normal. The researchers suggested that "standing on the pedals every ten minutes might be an effective and potentially widely applicable strategy."

As covered in Cycling Weekly's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT series, sitting on a saddle applies pressure to the perineum, which can lead to genital numbness. In the perineum, there are lots of nerves and arteries that supply the *****, structures which help to facilitate ejaculation and erection.

It's long been theorised that excessive pressure in men can lead to erectile dysfunction. However, when Cycling Weekly asked retired orthopaedic surgeon Professor Chris Oliver about ...

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