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Posted 3/30/2013 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know how many of you guys are bicycle riders, but before my surgery in February of 2012 I used to put on about 2000 miles a summer.  After my surgery I was told to not ride that summer to allow myself to heal and also to prevent possible damage to blood flow in the groin area.  Well, the thought of no sex and no bike riding was too much for me to bear, so I did some investigating and found a bike seat that did the trick.  My surgeon--also a big bike rider--was so impressed that he now recommends it to all his patients whether they have had surgery or not.  Below is a link to the bike seat.  Rest assured I have no connection with Nexride nor do I profit from it.  Just wanted to get the info out there on the seat that saved my summer last year.  I will never go back to a traditional bike saddle.

http://www.nexride.com/ergonomic-bicycle-seat.html?gclid=CNKguqv7xq0CFUG8KgodjR88ig

Posted 3/30/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I use a recumbent bike for about an hour a day. I tried it out four weeks after surgery. I think it was a little too soon to do an hour a day each day. After two days I was back to walking because of lingering pain after the bike ride. Now six weeks out I ride the bike every other day for an hour and seem to be doing fine. I have to keep reminding myself that this was major surgery and I am not as young as I used to be. It sure is hell getting old, but then again the alternative isn't too attractive right now.
Posted 3/30/2013 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Depending on how aggressive your cancer is/was, or how well it was controlled, you might want to reduce biking a little. Have you ever read how most of the riders technically have osteoporosis symptoms after the Tour de France? Long distance biking is demanding, but it's also a non-weight-bearing exercise so it doesn't have the bone-strengthening effects that could offset the temporary calcium depletion. My husband used to do long-distance biking, and his doctor said that had probably made his bones more vulnerable to metastases. At his initial diagnosis, his PCa had already metastasized throughout his skeleton. His doctor told him it was fine to continue biking in moderation, but the "in moderation" part was key.

So if you're a gleason 6 who's had great success treating your PCa, probably nothing to worry about. But if you've got an uglier beast, just something to be aware of.
Posted 3/30/2013 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Reltnie,

Thanks for the info. Just curious what other saddles you tried along the way. I have gone through a few of those "expensive pressure reducing man saddles" and been disappointed several times. How is this saddle for long rides, say a century?
Greg
Posted 3/30/2013 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
Reltnie, your timing on this topic couldn't be better. My surgery was Feb 14, 2013. I'm a long distance cyclist. Ironically, I've been raising funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the last 25 years riding my road bike. Friday, 6 weeks post surgery I tried riding my road bike and was very upset to experience pain. I was told that I should be able to ride my bike 6 weeks after surgery. Granted, everyone heals at a different rate but the doctors didn't tell me not to ride.

No sex due to my new found ED as a result of this wonderful surgery(snide pun intended) and leaking and now if I can't cycle it might be checkout time.

The saddle looks quite goofy. I'd seen a split saddle with one pad for each sit bone and that looked even goofier. You say you find this comfortable? I do about 3000 miles per season with my longest rides being a 2 day, 200 mile event and a couple centuries. I need a reason to keep getting out of bed in the morning and if that part of my life is cut off too I can't imagine what I'll do. Doctor wanted me to "find another hobby" or go on anti-depressants. I told him I was pissed off and giving me an anti-depressant that would further reduce my libido would not work. Quitting cycling would be like telling Lance not to dope, not an option.
Posted 3/30/2013 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Looks like a saddle sore waiting to happen... not to mention the loss of control by losing the nose. No, I have not put my cheeks on that brand of saddle but it's not the first time I have seen the design...

... butt if it works for you, enjoy the ride.
Posted 3/31/2013 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
FYI, I rode my regular racing saddle today with no discomfort thankfully. Can't imagine that saddle on a century at fast pace but if it works for people that's great. Hoping I can get back to long distance this season.
Posted 4/1/2013 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
The thing that makes the Nexride saddle unique is that it pivots as you pedal.  I thought that it looked goofy too, but it has a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee and I actually talked to the guy that designed it, so I decided to give it a try.  Initially, it was a little strange when I would corner at higher speeds, but after a couple of times out it was fine.  I also wear padded shorts, but I am thrilled with the lack of discomfort.  May not be for everyone, but I love it. Its has been 14 months since my surgery and I tried getting back on my regular saddle and that felt so weird I put the Nexride back on.  To each their own--just wanted to get my experience out their for other bikers with prostate issues.
Posted 4/1/2013 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Gregg

I don't ride huge distances in one day.  about 50-60 is the most I usually do, but there is another guy in I know that rides 100-200 mile distances regularly and uses this saddle and swears by it.  Like I said in an earlier post--it has a 30 day no questions money back guarantee, so I figured I had nothing to lose.  The thought of not being able to ride at all last summer was enough for me to take the risk and I'm glad I did.

Posted 4/1/2013 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
i sustained a "career ending" perineal nerve injury years ago and was sidelined for several years.  eventually i researched noseless saddles and i use this one.....

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/controls/saddle/spiderflex/saddle/prd_442558_140crx.aspx

yours looks interesting and is lighter.  when i had my seeds inserted i became very weak and intolerant to heat (i was also on lupron and IGRT was looming) so i hung up my bike and have used the recumbent bikes in the gym for the past three years.  i'm ready to dust of the litespeed tho and get in a couple "real" rides a week.

ed

 

Posted 4/1/2013 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Great thread everyone. Good to know if my regular road saddle becomes uncomfortable I will give this a try.

I ride a Merlin Ti and a Colnago C50 carbon and both have Specialized saddles that fit me well. Both very comfortable, fast bikes and I'm just thankful I was able to ride at all this weekend. It helped bring me back to the world of the living from what was a dark place.

Anything you guys that ride can do to get you "safely" back into it I highly recommend. Felt so great this morning it got me very close with my wife and both enjoyed. It was a huge hurdle as I was afraid I'd lost the ability to be interested. Still ED but beginning to work together on rehab and I feel like a new person with my head in the game.

Good luck to you all. I hope you all find a way to enjoy your passion.
Posted 4/1/2013 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
i like the Adamo saddle.
Posted 4/1/2013 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I think reltnie meant this to be here. --PeterDisAbelard.

reltnie said...
There are many options out there and finding one that works for you is the only thing each of us can do. My surgeon is very conservative and cautious and for him to give the go ahead last summer once he saw my seat was a huge boost of confidence. His main concern was not the regular saddle itself, but the possible damage it could do over time to the healing process--especially those nerves associated with erections. He explained even in "nerve sparing" procedures, those nerves are stretched and twisted and need time to heal and regenerate and while riding with your regular bike saddle may feel fine after a few months it can really slow or even halt your recovery from ED if you are a regular bike rider. All I can say is listen to your body and back off if you have any discomfort or cut down on your time and distance if necessary. Weather can also be a factor--if you're bucking a "stiff" (no pun intended) wind you may feel it and need to back off a bit. For me at least, between the nose less saddle and taking it easy when necessary, it got me back to 95% normal sex life and being able to ride my bike. Best wishes to all with both issues.
---------------------------
Age:60 Diagnosed: Jan. 2012, Age 58
Original PSA Level 3.9 ......Gleason: 3+4
Biopsy results: 3 of 12 tested positive for cancer
Da Vinci Surgery 2/10/12
Negative Margins, cancer contained to prostate
Continent after 3 weeks
Sexual function fine with Cialis and sometimes without
PSA undetectable for over a year now.

Posted 4/1/2013 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Guys,

Faced the same problems over the last year. Not pushing the Moon Saddle below, it's just fyi. It has worked pretty well for me. I have just done infrequent short to medium rides--10 miles or so, but a few years ago was doing 35 mi most days.

Have backed off biking though due to what appears to be pudendal nerve damage on r. side. I think it has been coming on over the years due to sitting too long at computer work + long bike rides. Have been working with GP last few months to get a handle. Please try to avoid this malady as it is sometimes intractable and can hurt like a s.o.b.

http://www.moonsaddle.com/

Robert
Posted 4/8/2014 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I was searching online for websites too that might have some different options for bike seats for men with enlarged prostates. When I found this site. It seems they have a few pages of seats that are different from the ones listed already. <snip> Not sure if this helps anyone, but worth a try.

bcardana -- we generally don't allow new members to post links to online stores (to discourage spammers). You can make a change in your user profile to make your email address visible. That way members who are interested in the seats you recommend can contact you and ask.

Welcome to the forum. Do you have prostate worries or did you find us Googling for information about bicycle seats?

--PeterDisAbelard, Moderator.

Post Edited By Moderator (PeterDisAbelard.) : 4/8/2014 12:01:37 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/8/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I'm now almost 14 months post-op and an avid cyclist. Last year the people that operated on me had a PA tell me I could ride 6 weeks post-op. She meant I could basically ride around the block as she was talking about 15 minutes of riding and easy riding and then increase a couple minutes at a time here and there. She and her staff had never dealt with an athlete obviously as she was giving me advice as if I was a fat guy who thought cycling meant riding around the block as opposed to someone that thinks a 30 mile ride is a short ride.

I went to my urologist in Boston and he cleared me to ride at 8 weeks "the way I ride". He said that there was nothing I was going to do to harm the surgical area and he wanted me to get back to my life ASAP. He was right. It took me a little to get back into it but within two months I completed a 90 mile ride and felt alive again!

I got a new saddle and got fit at a bike shop so it was properly aligned. They recommended a Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow Saddle and it's worked out great! It has a large cutout and is a firm saddle. Perfect for cyclists that are used to a racing saddle but want to make sure there's no undue pressure in that area you don't want pressure.

There was a lot of mixed opinions on this site and other places about cycling post-op. I'm here to tell you my story at least and it's a good one. I'm on the road to healing still but with drugs the ED I got as a result of the RRP is manageable. At first it was working with bi-mix but now the "little blue pill" is working. Still getting better with time and I'm hopeful it'll continue to get better.

Hope this helps someone out there that's a cyclist, has been through this horrible life changing experience (yeah, I said it).

Best advice I'll give you is to make sure you go to a doctor that knows PC, treatment, and you as a person so you get the best possible care. Having me never ride a bike again was not an option I personally could have lived with.
Posted 5/3/2015 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, A cycling friend with prostate issues just sent me this thread. This is fantastic to find out how cyclists are coping with the aftermath of prostate surgery. I just joined Healingwell.com today. Not sure how to create my, prostate profile so I just did a copy and paste of the other profiles, changing the facts as needed. My surgery was just over a week ago. My surgeon said I'm not supposed to bike or swim till the end of May, but I am dying to get back on the bike. The suggestion about the best saddles below are very helpful. Thx.

BTW I've done some research and found that these three seats look promising (design, weight, and price):
- Spiderflex, 680 grams
- ISM Sport, 490 grams
- SpongyWonder,TBD (UK model, hard to find a dealer in the US)

Conversely the Nexride at 1.9 pounds is too heavy for a nice road bike. Likewise for the Bi-Saddle. Either one should be fine for a Touring bike or other bike on which a seat weighing a couple of pounds is not an issue.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Age:56
Diagnosed: Dec. 2014, Age 56
Original PSA Level 3.0 ......Gleason: 3+4 (7)
Biopsy results: 3 of 12 tested positive for cancer
Da Vinci Surgery 4/23/15
Negative Margins, cancer contained to prostate
Continence pending
Sexual function TBD
PSA next screening August (3 months).
Posted 5/3/2015 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Cwhenn, welcome to the forum, and welcome to this side of treatment. Here's wishing you a good recovery.

I don't cycle, but I'm a big fan of spin class/studio cycling, at the gym. Talked to my docs PA last week, she said no problem , so I plan on going back to it
Posted 5/3/2015 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I ride the recumbent bike at the gym when I want to rest for cardio, tho I do get the pulse up high. Very comfortable seating arrangement, but I have lately gotten a spot of persistent eczema on my back from the sweat and UA shirt interaction. I have lotion that keeps it at bay. Probably something in the shirt material interacting with the sweat. I usually incorporate the Bike into my rowing and other cardio machine activity. 1 1/2 hours daily. Running days are pretty much over. I can still run , but the gait is not the same and fear any injury which could blow my whole regimen. Cost/Benefit does not compute for me. Thanks for the info Reltnie Arggg, I'll still out last you young power rangers.Ergggonomically tee hee
Posted 5/8/2015 6:43 AM (GMT 0)
I bike regularly and appreciate all the information and viewpoints about the best bike saddles. Even though my bike has 21 gears, I have a difficult time with some of the hill climbs in the Seattle area.
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