Triumphrat

johnquinnell · 03-29-2006, 06:18 AM

Here's a question that might raise a few laughs but I need to know if it's only me that this is happening to?
Do any of you guys suffer from numb nuts after a long high speed run on your old British twins? It only lasts for about 12 hours but every time I go for a days ride of a couple of hundred miles my nuts are kind of numb for a while. I've never experienced this sensation on previous Japanese multi's I've owned so I'm kinda thinking it might have something to do with the resonance the British twin cylinders pump out? I'm deadly serious about his this and am wondering if anyone has or is game enough to fess up to the same problem or maybe shine some light on what could be doing it?
:???:

[ This message was edited by: johnquinnell on 2006-03-29 04:19 ]

Slinky · 03-29-2006, 08:19 AM

Pants too tight :???: :-D

hillclimber · 03-29-2006, 12:17 PM

Yup, it happens.
I used to have an old 1970 sportster that was even worse.
The ladies like it, or some do anyway. LOL!!! :-D

hobbit · 03-29-2006, 12:56 PM

Feet or fingers . . . but not nuts . . . are you resting them on the tank ? :hihi:

ooobaby · 03-29-2006, 01:32 PM

Hands and feet, but not the family jewels. How big are they anyway? I'm assuming fairly large.....for you to even post the question! :hihi: Riding a Meridan twin is like riding a giant bumble bee. Is your seat padding worn out, or as Hobbit asked are you sitting too close to the tank? I can't wait to see where this one goes! :-D

P.S. Take advantage of an opportunity and score a point with your significant other and give her this bike and get yourself another bike. You may want to have a physical first though and make sure you're up to the challenge! :-D

[ This message was edited by: ooobaby on 2006-03-29 11:37 ]

hobbit · 03-29-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

On 2006-03-29 11:32, ooobaby wrote:
P.S. Take advantage of an opportunity and score a point with your significant other and give her this bike and get yourself another bike. You may want to have a physical first though and make sure you're up to the challenge! :-D

He doesn't want to do that . . . with a vibrator like a Trumpet, he'll never get her off it . . .

pcn:

johnnypence · 03-29-2006, 02:34 PM

as to the numbness question in general: totally!

even after my brief period of triumph ridership, it's apparent that i'll have to do something about the vibration in the seat.

since i will want to re-cover the seat sooner or later, i'm thinking about trying to scrounge up some of that swedish foam to pad it. i also thought about a patch of sheepskin on top of the seat, but something's gotta give (at least for the driver's portion of the seat).

ooobaby · 03-29-2006, 03:51 PM

It's important to determine anatomically exactly what is causing the numbness. I ride a hybrid bicycle for exercise and like a lot of people, men especially, I suffered from perineal numbness and pain to the point I thought I was going to have to quit riding. Road bicycle seats tend to be narrow, thus not allowing the ischial bones to bear the weight, and that combined with a bent forward riding position compresses certain soft tissue structures. The problem in this case is compression of the pudendal nerves or one of it's branches. This nerve originates from the 2nd through 4th sacral nerves and eventually travels along the middle aspects of the ischia, which are the two lower portions of the pelvic bones which we sit on. A lot of people tried using softer seats or gel seats which you'd think would afford more cushioning, but what they actually did is deform more and squeeze into the pubic area between the ischiums and compressed the nerves even more, thus further aggravating the problem. The solution was designed by an ergonomic specialist who designs fighter aircraft seats, and consisted of a seat with premium quality padding but with a front to back grove cut out of the middle of the seat. This puts the pressure on the two ischial bones without compressing the perineal area between the ischia where the nerves pass. The difference in comfort is absolutely amazing.

My point is that more padding or softer padding may not be the solution depending on what anatomical structure is actually involved here. It may actually be that firmer padding is the solution because it does not deform as much and thereby does not squeeze into the area between the ischia and compress the soft tissue/pudendal nerves. Motorcycles such as sport bikes which require the rider to lean forward actually aggravate the problem because they shift the weight bearing stress off the ischial bones (which are what is supposed to take the weight bearing load when seated) onto the perineal area thus more easily compressing the soft tissue and nerves.

I think it may well be that the above phenomena may actually explain why so many people such as truck drivers etc. have such a high incidence of things like hemorrhoids because these nerves also supply those structures. It may also turn out to relate to prostate problems in men and other genitourinary issues affecting either sex. It should also be noted there are other potential contributing factors to these problems. But, if you impair the nerve supply to any structure in the body, that structure ceases to function to the degree the nerve supply is impaired. Worst case scenario, totally sever or crush the nerve and the body part it supplies dies. Such was Christopher Reeves fate.

More than you wanted to know, right? I'm just a ray of sunshine! :wink:

[ This message was edited by: ooobaby on 2006-03-29 22:30 ]

hobbit · 03-29-2006, 05:51 PM

I've always wondered about those grooved bike seats, they look weird, but that explains the thinking behind them. Cheers for that . . . :gpst:

Ridge · 03-29-2006, 07:10 PM

Dr. Ooobaby, Great post. Right on the money.

John, something else that can cause that problem besides seat padding is your own "padding". If you packing some extra pounds, the same conditions are created causing pressure points where you don't want em.

I had the numbness issue on my bicycle. Scared the heck out of me so I tried some different seats. The seat with the channel cut in them is the only way to go!