Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Pre-T, I used to wonder if the growth down below that happens on T would make certain activities feel noticeably different.  Specifically, I wondered how it would feel to ride a bike.  I'd always heard that male equipment and bikes aren't the greatest match, but figured that my equipment would be too small to really be troublesome--and it's usually not that troublesome when just riding.  However, mountain biking is a different story...

My mountain bike is fully rigid, meaning no shocks and no suspension.  I didn't want either when I got the bike 10 years ago because my crazy 13-year-old self thought that a cushioned mountain bike ride was for wusses ::)

Anyways, the rigid bike was usually fine and if a tree root or rock ever caused my seat to jam into my crotch, all it hit was a sturdy pubic bone.  Yeah, not anymore.  There are some times I am actually glad that I don't have balls, because I'm sure I would've been in a world of hurt.  But as it is... I think I sprained my junk...

*limps off*

I put my road bike on a trainer (allows you to ride in place) the other day and tried to ride it, not a comfortable experience, it is now back in the garage. They need to come up with some kind of cup.
Myles

>_<  i'll remember this when i get a new bike

They do make seats that have a hole in the middle so you're not sitting on your junk.  Don't know how much growth it will accommodate, though.

Yeah, I have seen those kind of seats, Jamie-O.  Might be useful if I get implants some day; I'm sure that kind of seat would work for everyday riding.  However, if I'm knocked out of (and then fall back onto) the seat as I was the other day, I'm not sure if it would help unless I landed just right on the hole.  Which has me wondering: what's the chance of implant extrusion if a pair of neo-balls were to be put through that kind of abuse?  Something to ask the surgeon...

There are also seats that don't have the 'horn' on them, just the part that you sit your buttocks on.  Unfortunately, such a seat doesn't allow you to stabilize yourself from moving (or falling off) side-to-side.  Again, another seat meant for easy riding on a street, rather than in the woods with roots, rocks, and exceptionally steep hills.  Ah well.  Maybe I should spring for a bike with a suspension and shocks after surgery; might help, and it would address my concern that subjecting my rigid frame bike to harsh impacts is going to weaken the frame over time.

Pardon me for intruding but I couldn't avoid checking out this topic title. You may have the wrong type of seat: http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html (http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html)

Thanks for the link, Imadique.  Nice summary of the different seats available.  I don't think I necessarily have the wrong type of seat (which is comparable to the standard mountain biking seat shown on the site) for the riding I do.  For the most part, the seat is comfortable and works for me.  It's just the occasional incident of me hitting something hard enough to knock me upwards off my seat (and the first-time experience of actually having 'parts' to land on >.<).  I don't know of another way to remedy this other than getting a bike with shocks/suspension or possibly gaining some weight.  The impacts aren't enough to knock me off the bike--if they were, I would be more invested doing one of these things to solve the problem--but in the future I will have to be more aware of how I sit back down.

Thinking back to the days when my bike still worked I think I just used my legs as suspension, you just intuitively raise yourself a little to absorb shocks. I never did any hardcore riding though, more of an I-don't-have-a-car yet kind of deal and a handful of firetrails so I can't say it was ever a major issue.

I feel ya there, man. >w< Pardon the intrusion, by the way... But, seeing as I still have my genetic male bits, I can commiserate with you on this. The same thing happened to me not too long ago. Went riding and didn't account for the shock that came after landing down off of a high curb. x.x;

Tilt your seat down a bit and you'll be cool.

OUCH!!!!

I would have suggested getting a new seat too or tilting it slightly.. or failing that get a new bike with suspension! :P

Jay

Tight underwear, or a jock strap, and you pull your junk up and out of the way, use legs as suspension.  Works for me and I've ridden mountain bikes since the mid 80s, in real mountains.  The most common problem for guys is they tend to buy the frame too large.