VF> My solution costs about twenty bucks (Canadjin 
 VF> funds, eh) as simple as it may be: Gel Pak.
 JC>  
 JC> We may not know whether these really do the job or not 
 JC> for another 20 years.   I'd like to know if the doctor 
 JC> who identified this potential problem has any product 
 JC> recommendations.
Well, first off, from _Men's Health_, September 1997, quoting Dr Goldstein, a 
urologist with the Boston University Medical Center:
"'Fifty percent of the penis is actually inside the body. When you sit on a 
bicycle seat, you are putting your entire body weight on the cavernosal 
artery that supplies the penis.'"
"Dr. Goldstein's tests of 100 men showed that it takes just 11 percent of a 
person's body weight to compress this artery. He measured a 66% average 
reduction in blood flow through the artery when men were on a narrow racing 
saddle, 25 percent when on a wide saddle, and no change when seated on a 
chair."
The article suggests 10 possible solutions/alternatives, including putting 
the seat at a correct height, trying different saddles, ensuring correct 
headset height and these:
"1: Level your saddle. Or point a few degrees downward to ease the pressure 
on your crotch."
"3. Be wary of aero bars. Thes are the handle bare extensions that 
triathletes use. They encourage riding on the nose of the saddle, which 
increases crotch pressure."
"5. Stand up and pedal every ten minutes." (yeah, right)
"8. Don't ignore numb nuts. If you experience genital numbness while riding, 
its a sure sign that you're pinching the nerves and arteries of the 
rineum."
I'm surprised they didn't suggest a gel-pack. I suspect a few letters will 
pop up in this month's issue to that effect. In short, simple words - before 
I had a gel pack, I had problems with genital anasthesia. I don't now, 
without it - but I would rather it had not been stolen. It would have made a 
difference on a long ride last month.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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