I was the unfortunate subject of Dr. Irwin Goldstein et al.’s 1999 The Journal of Urology article “Pudendal Nerve Injury Associated With Avid Bicycling.” As cyclists might recall Dr. Goldstein was the high-profile bane of our community for arguing that no man should ride a bike. Ouch!
My symptoms were extreme penile numbness, at one point 100%, and chronic prostate inflammation. A recumbent failed to solve my problem. I was told I should never ride again. I immediately stopped cycling, eventually regaining most of my sensation and luckily saving myself from erectile dysfunction. Then about 5 years ago, I heard about the ISM saddles, looked at the research, and read the positive reviews from urologists and others.
Cautiously I decided to try it out. Due to my fear of past problems returning and some unrelated injuries it took me a while to really put the saddle to test. I have now done so, riding about 1200 miles in the past 5 five months and just completing a century ride (it took me a while to get my legs back).
The verdict is a resounding thumbs up. I have absolutely 0 negative effects from using the ISM saddle (I ride the touring model). I have gone from 20+ years trying to accept that I would never ride again to looking forward every day to my next ride. I am thrilled with being able to get my bicycling life back.
Thank you, ISM.