Doctor Sez NO!

[laternser]

I have been riding for 40 years and long distance backroad (gravel) touring for the last twenty plus
years.  Almost all of this was on Brooks saddles.
The last tour ridden on a Brooks enlarged my prostate
so much that I rocked like a boat when I sat down.
Note: I was not in pain on the bike but it sure felt
odd to sit down.

The last tour (3500 miles from Nebraska up into Canada)
I used a Terry saddle (see www.mtbr.com saddle reviews).

Absolutely NO prostate problems.  I did have a certain amount of saddle discomfort --- but I tend to spend all
the daylight hours on the bike.  The cutouts on the Terry were magical ...

The Terry Liberator is a standard nose saddle design.
Plastic shell covered with foam and leather cover.  Center cutouts where the important bits hit.  I long for the comfort of a Brooks saddle --- but the
prostate pressure is just not a good idea.  If only I could find a saddle that combines the best features of
the two saddles.

By the way, I am 6' 8" and 300 pounds.  If the Terry
could tolerate me it can tolerate anyone.

[driftlessregion]

Does anyone know if damage occurs without any symtom such as numbness? If we don't have numbness can we assume we are out of danger?

[Turboterry]

In my case there wasn't any numbness at all.  I was coming back from a ride, got sick, threw up and 3 days later went to the ER because things weren't getting any better.  The diagnosis initially was a urinary tract infection (in guys?, not to common) but that was changed once I got in to see a urologist who knew what was going on.  I also had to do battle with my HMO primary care guy, who I ditched and others along the way.
I recently decided to stop riding altogether to give it more time to heal even though I've ridden about 1000 miles since mid-Sept.  My wife and I are going to Australia/NZ next month on a tour and I don't want any repeat performances.
As a rule I don't get sick more than a few days at a time but this one really nailed me down.  I spent more time horizontal than vertical for over a month, no fun at all.  I'll miss the riding but figure I'll start again in a couple of months at a more reduced pace and maybe a new rig.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Ciao!!

[biker_james]

I wasn't aware of prostate problems arising form riding and saddle pressure. We have all heard the massive (and not entirely correct) story about impotence and cycling, but I haven't heard of a case like yours. Are you sure that it was the saddle that caused this problem?

[TheDaltonBoys]

Ditto on Terry saddles, all I've owned in the now 7 years I've been car-less.....that "slot" makes all the difference for me. Turbo - Please tell us you and your wife are going to the wonders down under for more than just 2 weeks. In New Zealand the North Island has flatter topography than the South Island, but the South Island is almost Alpine like....get a white bait sandwich while your there. enjoy the voyage  Mark of the Dalton Boys

[driftlessregion]

How are we to know which saddle, if any, protects us? I have never had numbness with my Brooks saddles, including two past seasons of over 3500 miles each. Last week I used my Selle Italia Trans Am (identical to the Terry Fly and the manufacturer of the Terry) and had numbness, (not to mention a sore butt since it isn't as soft as the Brooks) even with the nifty cutout.