Ergonomics: classic bike saddle versus trike seat
With two-wheelers, it is important to optimise things like frame size, saddle height and the horizontal saddle position in relation to the pedals. This is not always easy, because the fancy dream bike that smiles at us in the shop is not always the bike that is right for our body. Ergonomics are often neglected when buying a two-wheeler, as many salespeople don't like to take the time to work precisely here and cater exactly to the physical needs of the buyer. Salespeople often only have a vague, superficial knowledge of the problems and solutions - and they just want to sell quickly and make a profit...
The recumbent trike, on the other hand, has ergonomics built in from the outset, so to speak. The semi-recumbent position on a trike not only has a direct positive effect on the bum, but also on the neck, shoulders, wrists and spine. The advantages for the buttocks are immediately obvious: the weight-bearing surface is many times larger when lying down than when sitting, which significantly reduces the weight per square centimetre. Vibrations and shocks caused by an uneven road surface are also minimised many times over. People with slipped discs, spinal problems, muscle or bone diseases can cycle again with the recumbent seat and actively participate in life and do something for their own health.
Help with numbness in the genital area
However, the arguments in favour of the reclining seat are less important for the very robust buttocks, but for what is located near them, inside the body: the urogenital tract. The problems that can arise there, even in women, are apparently greatly underestimated, as a British study warns. Ideally, at least from a health point of view, the weight of our body rests on the ischium (anatomically: os ischii) in a classic saddle. In reality, far too often the perineum is heavily loaded, causing numbness in the genital area in many people due to circulatory disorders. Although this is a well-known problem, it can only be solved to a limited extent, even with the best saddle design. If the upper body is bent forwards in the desired position, the perineum is almost inevitably strained.
A classic saddle with improved ergonomics thanks to the lowered centre area, here on the Hase Pino, cannot keep up with the ergonomic advantages of a trike seat for the pelvic region.The urological problems that a classic bicycle saddle can cause are can cause are far-reaching, as this article summarises the British study in German. The enthusiastic Dr Keul, a keen cyclist and urologist, explains in the article that he himself the consequences and switched to a recumbent bike.
For men who have already had prostate surgery and don't want to give up cycling, a trike is more or less a must. Of course, the effects of prostate surgery vary from man to man, but men who still want to ride long distances are quickly convinced of the benefits of a trike seat. Life is too short to have to endure the best things in life in pain!
Photo: Picture by Bruno /Germany on Pixabay