Letter to the Editor

"Not often I would question Richard Hallett over a technical issue, as his knowledge and experience far outweighs mine. However, I’ll have to make an exception with his review of the Specialized Alias saddle (CW, April 16).

While I can’t contest that this saddle doesn’t help with problems of penile numbness as I have not tried it, I am sure that it does not address all of the issues relating to male impotence brought on by cycling. A leaf through Joshua Cohen’s book Finding The Perfect Bicycle Seat (ISBN 0971461929) will explain in some detail why. Cohen indeed is fairly unequivocal in explaining why ‘cut out’ saddles can’t work. As for quoting Dr Roger Minkow, I think Richard has taken Specialized’s ad blurb a little too literally. The ‘Specialized Body Concept’ is far from proven.

The research being done at present on saddles currently on the market is being conducted by Dr Irwin Goldstein and results are expected by the end of this year. One of the saddles Dr Goldstein is testing is the ‘RIDO No Pressure Saddle’ designed by John Kenney. At this time it is not possible to say with any degree of certainty what works; however, Kenney’s website (www.rido-cyclesaddles.com) contains many genuine testimonials to his saddle, most notably from riders who have had problems in the prostate area.

I’m sure many people in cycling clubs will have noticed that a disproportionate number of cyclists seem to suffer prostate problems. It is not a modern problem. However, research and technology now mean a true investigation into these problems is possible, rather than anecdotal evidence trotted out in the past, such as the fact that a great cyclist like Chris Boardman has six children, ‘and cycling hasn’t harmed him’. We may yet get a product that works. Until then, let’s be objective."

Jeremy Briggs, club cyclist (De Laune CC)
Cycling Weekly, 7th March 2005