Clitoral enlargement and bicycling

[genderirrelevant]

I got my top surgery funding approved yesterday. Yeah!!!

I'm agender and asexual so I don't think it's absolutely necessary to take testosterone as part of my (a)gender-affirming journey but I'm not opposed to it. I might decide to go that way (in a very low dose) in the future.

From what I've read so far it seems many people find one of the earliest (irreversible) effects is clitoral enlargement. As a non-binary asexual that has zero appeal for me. I'm wondering if the transguys who cycle regularly find it to be uncomfortable (even after an adjustment period). I wouldn't care if I had a little bit of growth down there as long as it didn't get in the way on a bike or look lumpy in a bathing suit.

It also sounds like the T effect I am most desiring (muscle growth and fat redistribution) occurs very late (after the less appealing T effects) and it's reversible. Has anyone heard of a (legal) form of T that favours muscle growth with slower changes in the other effects?

I suspect I'll probably forgo testosterone and save up for liposuction to get rid of lower body female curves (fat ass and jodhpur hips).

[genderirrelevant]

Hmm. There are over 100 views and no replies. Does that mean no one here rides a bicycle? 

[laurenb]

Hope this helps. I'm an avid cyclist. I ride a couple thousand miles a year. As an MTF still with original equipment, I can tell you a couple things.

Discomfort in the groin when cycling can be blunted by wearing good cycling shorts or bib shorts. These are padded in the crotch and make long rides in the saddle comfortable. The mountain biking versions look like regular street shorts and have pockets so you don't have to look like a weeny road cyclist.

Additionally, many male riders (but not all), choose a boy-friendly saddle design which has a hollow in the middle to lower the chances of nerve damage down there. I use an old fashioned Brooks saddle that is made of leather. After break in it conforms uniquely to your body. I've ridden with lot's of guy's who have big ugly junk. I've not heard of any issues from them.

Most of the time the discomfort of long distance riding is in blisters forming on your sit bones (your butt). Now that hurts. There are creams that you can get to pre apply that also work to reduce those. Doing a lot of riding toughens that area.

Unless you're riding more than 20 miles at a time, I really don't think you'll have an issue.

Good luck.
Lauren

[FTMax]

I've only been on testosterone for a little over 2 months, but you're correct in that downstairs growth was one of my first changes. I've had to make little adjustments to get more comfortable doing things as simple as walking. It is much easier if you're packing, but from the sounds of it that is not your plan. I cycle and do a lot of other things that I'm having to slightly adjust now.

I second Lauren's recommendation about good cycling shorts with padding in the crotch and butt. This should help minimize any rubbing from the shorts. When you get dressed in the morning, try to position your stuff in a way that it isn't being rubbed by your underwear. Some people's anatomy is better for this than others.

[adrian]

It also sounds like the T effect I am most desiring (muscle growth and fat redistribution) occurs very late (after the less appealing T effects) and it's reversible. Has anyone heard of a (legal) form of T that favours muscle growth with slower changes in the other effects?

Hey, congratulations on the top surgery funding [emoji4] .

I'm not on t, so take this with a grain of salt: the way I understand it, the effects that you will get from t depend on your genetics and the t levels in your blood. So I think it's probably irrelevant to the types of effects you will get (although not the speed at which they occur) which type of t you take. You will -- in my understanding neither be able to influence which effects occur first.

So you feed t into your system, your t levels rise, and the fun starts. But your body (not the kind of t) determines what fun you will get exactly .

And yes, fat redistribution and muscle growth are both reversible effects, so to permanently achieve them you would have to remain on your specific dose of t.

[genderirrelevant]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should give more detail.

I commute by bike (18-40K/d) and I like to cycle tour (50-120K/d). Maybe 6000-9000K/yr. Pain on my sit bones/blisters has never been a problem despite a massive caboose. I tried padded shorts once and hated them but I guess I should give them another try.

Obviously bio-males find ways to deal with their junk but (forgive my naivete) I'm wondering if the post-T enlarged clitoris (without any release) is placed exactly the same? At present i'm sitting right on that area but riding is not stimulating to it. ftmax, if you are having to adjust even your walk then that is sounding close to a dealbreaker for me. After going to the trouble of getting rid of big lumps upstairs I don't want to add them downstairs. Do you know if there is any reliable way to predict how an individual responds to T? E.g Do XX people with higher natural levels respond less to exogenous T or do people people with certain physical traits tend toward certain results?

Thanks! Keep it coming.

[Tysilio]

Do you know if there is any reliable way to predict how an individual responds to T? E.g Do XX people with higher natural levels respond less to exogenous T or do people people with certain physical traits tend toward certain results?

It's pretty much a crapshoot, and it seems to depend on one's genetics, and perhaps a bit on age. The only reliably predictable thing is that the voice will drop. At about one year on T, I have a pretty nice manly voice, a bit more body hair (mainly in my asscrack and on my butt cheeks-- the one place I didn't really want it ), and some downstairs growth -- less than I'd like, actually. And my hairline has already started receding -- I'm pretty sure I have a double dose of that gene, but I was hoping I'd take longer to start going bald. Oh, well.

[Tessa James]

I love cycling and switched to recumbent bicycles many years ago.  I understand that you have already picked out your favorite "wedgie" or double diamond  "safety frame" cycle but there is no comparison to the comfort on a bent.  Any number of padded and webbed seats and frames to choose from and it feels like riding a lawn chair.  Without being in the cyclist crouch we sit with our head in neutral position with an easy 180 view and no stress on wrist, neck, back and butt.  My average speed on a bent is better than on an upright although they do require using those granny gears up hill.  If speed was the only issue I would have taken my car;-)  It is the way to go for this girl but viva la difference eh?

[FTMax]

Obviously bio-males find ways to deal with their junk but (forgive my naivete) I'm wondering if the post-T enlarged clitoris (without any release) is placed exactly the same? At present i'm sitting right on that area but riding is not stimulating to it. ftmax, if you are having to adjust even your walk then that is sounding close to a dealbreaker for me. After going to the trouble of getting rid of big lumps upstairs I don't want to add them downstairs. Do you know if there is any reliable way to predict how an individual responds to T? E.g Do XX people with higher natural levels respond less to exogenous T or do people people with certain physical traits tend toward certain results?

Thanks! Keep it coming.

Consider buying the padded shorts and modifying them to your liking. Maybe just keeping the padding in the crotch area.

I should explain more though! I wasn't what I would consider small downstairs pre-T. I've gained about a quarter of an inch in 2 months with just T (not pumping or anything like that). I've always been very sensitive though, so while everything was safely hidden away before, it's now out just enough to rub when I'm moving around. If I wasn't so sensitive, I don't think it would be a problem, but it has been a little sore. I don't know what my T levels were pre-T, but I was very androgynous bordering on masculine. There really wasn't much feminine about me physically.

I don't think there is any reliable gauge for that one. Voice drop comes for everyone at some point. Facial hair and body hair are largely genetic. I believe muscle development and fat redistribution are also genetic. But I don't think there are any indicators for growth. While it seems like everyone grows at least a little bit, some people are luckier than others.

As far as placement, I don't think that has changed at all. It's still where it is, and from what I've seen it doesn't really get big enough to hang as a cis-guys would. Layering might help? I'll do some experimenting and send you a message 

[genderirrelevant]

I should explain more though! I wasn't what I would consider small downstairs pre-T. I've gained about a quarter of an inch in 2 months with just T (not pumping or anything like that). I've always been very sensitive though, so while everything was safely hidden away before, it's now out just enough to rub when I'm moving around. If I wasn't so sensitive, I don't think it would be a problem, but it has been a little sore. I don't know what my T levels were pre-T, but I was very androgynous bordering on masculine. There really wasn't much feminine about me physically.

I have no idea how I compare to others downstairs. Small enough that it hasn't been a problem. Ick, now I'm thinking I ought to inspect my own junk.  O_o  >_<

My body is sort of a chimera. Except for the hooters I have a relatively masculine upper body (muscular with little subcutaneous fat) but I have a cartoonishly female lower body (big rump, wide hips, and lots of subcutaneous fat). I'm not excessively dysphoric about the lower body now (it's annoying but mostly I can ignore it) but I suspect that will become more of an issue after the top is corrected.

[FTMax]

I have no idea how I compare to others downstairs. Small enough that it hasn't been a problem. Ick, now I'm thinking I ought to inspect my own junk.  O_o  >_<

My body is sort of a chimera. Except for the hooters I have a relatively masculine upper body (muscular with little subcutaneous fat) but I have a cartoonishly female lower body (big rump, wide hips, and lots of subcutaneous fat). I'm not excessively dysphoric about the lower body now (it's annoying but mostly I can ignore it) but I suspect that will become more of an issue after the top is corrected.

If your avatar picture is you, we are built very similarly. I'm hoping with some fat redistribution from my lower half, I can have a really good carnival strongman aesthetic