WOMEN'S CYCLING

More women than every have taken up bicycling, as a mode of transportation, for fun family outings, or as a source of exercise. Transitioning from the indoor stationary bike to hitting the road on two wheels add a fitness activity beyond the routine workout. Bicycling as a mode of transportation gets you from point A to point B while working important muscle groups and delivering a cardiovascular workout.  Riding as a family combines quality family time and a fitness program unlike any other, strengthening upper and lower body, increasing stamina, decreasing stress and accelerating weight loss.

Bicycle fit, specifically the seat or saddle is important for women’s health. The wrong fit can lead to muscle and joint pain, back pain and general discomfort. Like male cyclist, a poorly fitted saddle can cause skin infections, swelling, numbness and risks to sexual health.  When purchasing a bicycle women must concentrate on fit of the Saddle, pedal, handlebars and frame. Our team specializes in fitting women riders - new or seasoned.

Proper clothing is also important. When cycling to work, wear cycling shorts with thick seamless padding. Remember cycling shorts are intended to be work without underwear - a backpack should be used to carry additional clothing and freshening toiletries. Bicycling is an exercise – perspiration is to be expected. Carrying a pair of street shoes is a requirement. Whether you are cycling as a means of transportation, for family outings or as a source of exercise proper foot wear if a must.  The medical community suggests you remove cycling shorts as soon as your ride is complete. It is also highly suggested shorts be laundered after each ride.  Shorts worn on the morning ride to work, should not be worn on the return trip home. An extra pair of shorts (and in hot weather a shirt) should be in that backpack.

Be safe, but most importantly, be smart. If you feel numbness or tingling get off your bike and walk. Never put on soiled or moist shorts, shirts or shoes. If you’re uncomfortable, something is wrong. Discomfort means your equipment isn’t fitting properly, ignoring this can lead to major medical problems.  Know the rules, regulations and guidelines for solo riding and group riding – different states often have different guidelines. Because you easily did 10 miles on a stationary bike does not mean you can do 10 miles on the road, even a summer wind can stifle your efforts.

Feeling sluggish, stressed out, need a healthy workout, suffering knee and joint pain, need a weight loss program, looking for an activity the whole family can participate in? Bicycling is your answer. Call us or come by Bixby Bicycles for more information on Women and Cycling.

BICYCLING & SEXUAL HEALTH



Relieve stress, restore stamina, exercise muscle and stop to smell the roses if time permits; and it will. As transportation, for exercise, training for the big race or for pleasure you can’t beat the joy, benefits and fun of riding a bicycle. Today people worldwide are improving brain power, connecting with friends and family, improving health and sleeping more soundly thanks to two wheels, two pedals and a leather seat. I know, I begin as a toddler. With the wind at my back, I discovered the freedom riding a bicycle could bring.

SEXUAL HEALTH AND BICYCLING
 
Who knew it could change your sex life? For the better – some say. Scientists worldwide have disagreed on the effect bicycling has on male sex organs. They know and most of us agree it is great exercise and the more you exercise, the more fit you remain, and being fit affects all areas of your life. However, researchers have found in some cases the bicycle seat causes problems:

RESEARCH FINDINGS:  National Institute for Occupational Safety

“Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) evaluated 17 members of a bicycling police patrol unit in Cincinnati, Ohio. The men averaged nearly 5½ hours in the saddle each workday. Almost all of them experienced genital numbness from time to time. Those who rode the most were at the highest risk for erectile dysfunction, and the men who exerted the most pressure on their bike seats had the most problems. In a follow-up study, the NIOSH researchers found that bike-riding patrol officers who used a no-nose saddle reported penile numbness far less often than those using a standard saddle. A team from NIOSH also looked at bike riding and sexual function in women who rode for an average of two hours several days a week. These women experienced decreased genital sensation compared to women to ran several days a week. In a later study, the team found that narrow seats and so-called cut-out seats increased pressure on the perineum.”

HE DISAGREES - William D. Steers, Urologist, Univ. of Virginia School of

William D. Steers, chairman of the urology department at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine in Charlottesville, believes there isn’t really a problem: “The whole cycling impotence thing is really out of proportion. In China 90 per cent of the male population cycles, and they don’t seem to have a problem maintaining the population.”

  

SOLUTIONS: Harvey B. Simon, M.D., Editor, Harvard Health

You don’t have to give up biking to preserve your sexual function. In fact, you can break the vicious cycle of biking and sexual dysfunction by taking a few simple precautions.

• Don’t use a racing seat with a long narrow nose. Pick a wide seat, ideally with plenty of padding. Special gel-filled and shock-absorbing seats are even available.
• Don’t tilt your seat upward, a position that increases pressure on the perineum.
• Be sure your seat is at the correct height, so your legs aren’t completely extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke.
• For extra protection, consider wearing padded biking pants.
• Raise the handlebars so you are sitting more upright.
• Shift your position and take breaks during long rides.

Above all, be alert for early warning symptoms. If you experience tingling or numbness in your “privates”, get off your bike. If the problem recurs even with a broad, padded, well-positioned seat, consider switching to a recumbent bike.

GOOD NEWS:

University of Chicago Researchers: “It’s a well-known fact that hormones called endorphins are released during and after physical exertion and produce a feeling of satisfaction and extreme well-being. They are sometimes called the body’s own opiates. But did you know that they can also make you feel aroused? Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that one in four women had experienced sexual arousal while exercising.

Dr. Michael Roizen Wellness Institute Cleveland Clinic  “….the importance of being an athlete in the bedroom as well as on the bike is justified on health grounds. For men, the more the better. The typical man who has 350 orgasms a year, versus the national average of a quarter of that, lives about four years longer. 700 orgasms a year could add up to eight years to your life.

IN CONCLUSION
Safety in any sport is important. Our bodies are strong in so many ways, yet we as humans remain fragile. Cycling Weekly reports:

 “partaking in high aerobic activity such as cycling produces feelings of intense well-being and increased sexual vitality? And according to some research, cycling has the power not only to make you more desirable to the opposite sex, but also to increase your level of sexual satisfaction, and even your lovemaking ability.”

As a USA Certified Cycling Coach I can share a few simple things you can do beyond listening to your body.  Wearing well fitted shorts with chamois or gel inserts will ensure minimum discomfort. Chamois cream used prior to a ride is also advised – Assos, Vaseline, or nappy rash cream can be used, and check your riding position, and the reach of your bicycle. If your seat is properly adjusted, your weight will be carried through your ischial tuberosities.   

Bicycling is one of the best sports for cardiovascular conditioning. Increased energy, taking longer to tire, and being more attuned to your body are just some additional benefits. Join us for a bicycle ride.

 Call Bixby Bicycles for more information.