When it comes to buying shoes most people know the size of their feet and they would not dream of simply looking at a pair and buying them. Or if buying gloves they will try several pairs before finding one that suits their purpose and is a good fit and comfortable.

Yet how many people will settle for a saddle because of how it looks, on the basis that a friend recommended it, or simply because that’s the one that was on the bike when they bought it? Settling onto the narrow ridge that has to support their weight during the ride they expect it to be a little uncomfortable, after all it is not an armchair, but they persevere in the hope that they will get used to it. On longer rides they may even expect saddle sores but that’s not too much to cope with and a pair of padded shorts will surely help.

Unfortunately saddles sores are not the worst that riders can expect from long hours in the saddle or even a relatively short period in a poorly sized one. Numbness in the genital area can affect both sexes but men may find that erectile dysfunction is a very real and well documented possibility. This is well documented but is not a new discovery as there are claims that the first case can be traced back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. In a scathing attack on the Scythians he attributed one of the reasons that they were unable to have intercourse down to the being bounced up and down on horseback. Prejudice on his part, perhaps, but the coincidence seems too great to ignore.

The problem arises, or doesn’t as the case may be, because of the pressure that is exerted on the perineum either through battling on horseback or by a modern bicycle saddle. The arteries supplying blood to the penis become compressed, a direct consequence of which is that the area is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen. The problems that this can cause can vary greatly. Some riders may suffer only short term numbness but for others the effect can be prolonged with one study reporting that some riders suffered erectile dysfunction for months following a touring race.

Contributing factors are the posture of the rider and the saddle. A rider sitting upright in the 90 degree position will suffer significantly less, up to 40%, pressure on the perineum than one leaning forward at 60 degrees. Less pressure means less constriction of blood flow and less likelihood of any problems.

Rider position aside, the most significant factor remains the saddle, its design, its angle relative to the rider and fit. The padding is the pertinent part of the design as a gel saddle offer better protection than more traditional foam. This is because gel is more effective at distributing the pressure of the rider on the saddle.

When it comes to the angle that the saddle sits at, many riders start with it parallel to the ground and then adjust it to point slightly up or down, depending on what they feel is the most comfortable and the type of riding that they do. What they may not realise is that even a 10 degree tilt can have a significant impact on blood flow in the perineum with the now expected consequences.

To fit well a saddle should be wide enough to support the ischial tuberosities, the bony points at the base of the pelvis, and so take pressure off the vulnerable tissues and arteries of the perineum. Determining the correct size is not something that can be done by guesswork but rather is something that you have to be measured for. Many reputable dealers now offer this as a service and it is a quick and painless process that simply requires you to sit on a measuring gauge.

You may have to pay more for a saddle that fits you perfectly but given the alternative, it may be money well spent.