The updated 2nd edition includes . . .
-
all the key information from the first edition,
rewritten & expanded
-
detailed information for women cyclists as well
as men
-
major new studies investigating saddle design
and its effects on the human anatomy
-
119 photos & illustrations (4 times more
than the first edition)
-
answers to these key medical questions:
► Can
bicycle seats really cause erectile dysfunction in men?
►
What types of injuries can women have from bicycle saddles, and what
should they look for in seat design?
►
Do holes in saddles and gel padding help or hurt?
►
Can riding position and style increase risk of genital injury?
►
Which riders are most at risk for injury from bicycle seats?
► and
much more!
Note: This feature-rich eBook is formatted for Adobe
Acrobat Reader 6.0 or higher. If you need a newer version than what's on
your computer, click this icon for a free download:
Reader Reviews for the highly acclaimed 1st
edition:
-
"Finding the Perfect Bicycle Seat has
been a blessing to me . . . it makes the science and selection process so
precise that it sets the standard for serious bikers to follow." – Robert L.
-
"I have been cycling for six months and
having problems. Your in-depth information is well worth the money!" –
Richard A.
-
"I found Finding the Perfect Bicycle
Seat very helpful and to the point. After starting to read it I
couldn't put it down." –
Stephen F.
-
"My wife just read a couple of chapters and
was impressed with how understandable you made such a complicated
subject." – Carl S.
-
"This is just what the bicycle community needs. Finding the Perfect Bicycle
Seat is very informative . . . I really like the way it shows the rider spine and pelvis.
Superb! Just the photos helped a lot." – Gary A.
The 2nd edition is new and improved in every way!
A seat can be the most difficult
bike component to choose correctly ― which is why so many cyclists are
never able to ride comfortably and some
suffer injuries in the genital area.
Saddle companies have responded with dozens of
ergonomic seat designs. But all the shapes and sizes tend to raise more
questions than they answer. Are these seats really more comfortable? Can
they prevent potential injury to genital nerves and blood vessels? And how
on earth does a rider know which saddle is the best one for his or her
personal anatomy?
In the first
eBook of its kind, Joshua Cohen
details exactly what to look for when choosing a bicycle seat. His extensive
research in ergonomic seat design and his personal cycling experience allow
him to clearly explain . . .
-
The history of seat design
-
Common problems that seats cause for
women as well as men
-
Human anatomy that you need to know when choosing a seat
-
The facts about the relationship of bicycle seats and
erectile dysfunction
-
New seat designs
that address the key risks
-
The fallacy of noseless
saddles
-
How to
position your seat to maximize riding efficiency and comfort
This eBook
WILL NOT tell you
that one seat is perfect for everyone.
It WILL teach you how to evaluate any
seat objectively to find the best for you. It contains 119 photos and
illustrations to make the
process as easy as possible.
Author Joshua Cohen is a physical
therapist and lifelong road cyclist. He holds a master's degree in human
movement with a specialty in biomechanics and orthopedics with a supporting
area in product design. In the following except from Chapter 7 of
Finding the Perfect Bicycle Seat, 2nd Ed., he looks into a question that is as old as the bicycle itself.
EXCERPT:
Why do some people hate saddles that other people love?
There are many reasons
why a perfectly well-designed seat still might not work for everyone.
First, every rider tends to sit on the saddle a bit differently. This may
be due to riding style, geometry, flexibility, and many other factors. The
figure below shows the pressure distribution from five different riders
using the same saddle.
This also highlights the importance of averaging the results of multiple
subjects versus studying only a few when drawing conclusions about a
saddle’s design.
Comfort levels with bicycle seats are based on each individual’s
preferences. The perceived discomfort caused by a bicycle seat can be
compared to an individual’s perception of pain caused by a small pinch. One
person may scream “ouch!” and another may not feel discomfort at all.
Many different aspects factor into a person’s perception of a pain stimulus
including; accommodation over time, prior experiences with the stimulus,
duration and frequency of the pain stimulus, level of alertness, levels of
concurrent (other) stimuli, attention to the stimulus, as well as
others factors. This is why it is generally so difficult for any person to
guarantee that another person will like any particular seat design.
Almost any local bike shop will tell you that saddle selection is extremely
personal and that each person needs to try many different saddles to find
the right one. Unfortunately, all those factors that affect how an
individual perceives a particular stimulus can change from day to day, hour
to hour, or even less – you get the idea. So the same saddle you liked
yesterday may become intolerable today because of any multitude of factors
that have very little to do with the saddle itself.
So how in the world is
anybody supposed to pick out a seat?
To use an analogous example, people do not choose a rear derailleur because
it feels good on any particular day; they choose a rear derailleur because
it serves a particular function. The function of the rear derailleur is to
shift quickly and cleanly between any of the cogs on the rear cassette when
the cable is lengthened or shortened by the shift lever. If the rear
mechanism is not able to perform that function, I would assume you would not
want to use it.
A bicycle seat is very similar to a rear derailleur. (OK, they do very
different things – but hear me out.) Bicycle seats also have very specific
functions that they must accomplish. The function of a bicycle seat is not
just to support your bottom on the bicycle – a flat piece of wood stuck on
the end of the post could do that. The function of the saddle is to:
1. Distribute
pressure over the pelvis in a manner that minimizes compression of the
arteries, nerves, and soft tissues in the perineum in any riding
position.
2. Allow complete range of motion of the legs while pedaling in
any riding position without excessive chafing due to material between
the thighs.
3. Prevent the rider from slipping sideways off of the seat
during turns and allow the rider to use the seat to maneuver the bicycle
when needed. This is generally accomplished using a nose section on the
seat.
4. Support the rider’s weight over a great enough surface area to
avoid areas of high pressure that could cause skin breakdown.
5. (and for those who care) Not add so much weight in
accomplishing the above goals that you are left wondering why you paid
so much for your super-light frame when the seat makes the bike feel as
heavy as your first ten-speed.
With recent advances in
bicycle seat research, and the application of existing biomechanical
knowledge to bicycle seat design, these goals are achievable and measurable.
Subjective comfort level will always have its place when selecting a bicycle
seat, but you should at least make sure that the seat meets these functional
requirements before you rely on the “feel” of a seat on any particular day.
(Joshua Cohen goes on to examine bicycle fit and seat positioning,
essential elements for creating proper weight distribution and correct
biomechanics when sitting on a saddle.)
$19.95
eBook
TOC:
Finding the Perfect Bicycle Seat, 2nd Ed.
|
Forward
Introduction
Chapter 1:
Origin of the Bicycle Seat
Chapter 2:
Understanding Anatomy to Optimize Design
Female Anatomy
Male Anatomy
Chapter 3:
When Saddles Go Bad: Clinical Syndromes
Chapter 4:
Can Cycling Really Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Noseless Saddles
Chapter 5:
Possible Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Sticky Balloon Theory
The Plastic Straw Theory
Chapter 6:
Ergonomic Bicycle Seat Testing
Penile Blood Pressure Cuffs
Pressure Sensitive Sheets
Pressure Mapping / Kinematic Movement Analysis
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI)
Direct Arterial Sampling
Transcutaneous Oxygen Monitoring
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
The Making of a Bicycle Seat Study
Chapter 7:
Finding / Designing the Best Seat
Rear Support Surface
Transition Region
Nose
Base
Why Do Some People Hate Saddles Other People Love?
Chapter 8:
Bicycle Fit and Saddle Positioning
Saddle Height
Saddle Setback
Saddle Tilt
Saddle Rotation
Importance of Addressing Biomechanical Factors
Chapter 9:
Additional Seat Considerations
Gels and Inserts
Stitching
About the Author
References
Excerpt
$19.95
eBook
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