Why do some bike seats have a hole in it?

Question

if u dont know what i mean,

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71iah7XM1tL._AA280_.jpg

Answer 1

Looks like it's making a little bit of room for a male package, so it's not quite so squished

Answer 2

For women, it's supposed to reduce pressure points in the sensitive 'feminine' areas.

Answer 3

for more comfort and less weight

Answer 4

it's called a "love channel", and it's there so I can ride, and still keep my wife happy!

Answer 5

It's so that your naughty bits can get some ventilation. I don't think it's especially for blokes, tho, contrary to what's been said since I answered. There are seats with no front on them for us -- I think that's either for girls or for anybody.

Answer 6

it relieves pressure and promotes blood circulation in that critical area. for most people they are more comfotable. it laso forces your body to sit on the back part of the saddle against your sit bones, where it should be

if yoiu are thinking of getting one, do it the best thing ever

bikingthings

Answer 7

It is to take pressure off the perenial area. A research doctor once said the bicycle seat was making men impotent or giving them ED. Caused a big controversy. This design was the result.

This is not only beneficial for men, but women as well.

Do a search for Terry Saddles to see what I mean.

Answer 8

It lets you f**t without having to stand up first. Seriously though its for guys, it keeps pressure off of the junk area so his tool won't go all paralyzed. It prevents the condition known as Numb Nuts. I really hope your'e sorry you asked.

Answer 9

The holes have been around for decades - the old Brooks Leather racing saddles certainly had them - so the anatomical/ impotence issues can't be the original reason - and I would like to think everybody who complained of impotence had the height and fore and aft adjustment of their saddle checked by the medical researcher [ha! ha!] - as getting that right as any racing pro will tell you is vital for comfort, efficiency of effort, etc.

So why the holes? - my best guess is to help ventilate - the leather absorbed  water - sweat, rain, dampness from road muck etc and had to be cared for carefully or it dired out and got stiff.

As for cooling and relieving the crutch and its equipment, us old racing men always stood on our peddles when convenient  . . . .

I could go on but had better stop . . . !!!

Answer 10

If you read the following article you'll get an understanding of why some seats have a hole or at least a groove.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health...

The issues is the perineal area has important blood vessels and nerves.  A traditional seat can cause compression of this area leading to numbness through decreased blood flow and loss of sensation through nerve damage.

As the NT Times article points out, just because a saddle has a hole, it isn't necessarily well designed.  Many years ago, I had a horrific saddle with a hole designed to relieve perineal pressure.  It would cause numbness within minutes and lack of sensatation for days following a ride.

Specialized and some other saddle makers have done a lot of research into saddle design.  You might want to check out this link:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/...

Hope this helps