Cycling to Work - Pros and Cons

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      NotAnAudiophile on 05/06/2019 - 13:29

      +1

      My motivation really comes from the fact that I can do less gym work, after cycling to and from work. At least the cardio part is done.

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  Gnostikos on 11/06/2019 - 16:42

  One major con for men that nobody's mentioned yet is that frequent cycling is not good for the testicles or fertility.

  It's primarily to do with the constant generation of heat in the pelvic region, the pressure from the bike saddle temporarily compressing nerves and cutting off blood supply to the testicles and/or gentleman's sausage (especially when improper saddles and riding positions are used) and chronic microtrauma to the perineum from continuous vibrations.

  Professional road cyclists and mountain bikers do have a higher incidence of epididymal cysts and calcifications, hydroceles and varicoceles and long rides have been show to elevate PSA levels (Prostate-Specific Antigen), which are used as a diagnostic marker of prostate health and potential for prostate problems later on.

  The science is still out as to how serious the impacts are vis-a-vis permanent damage, but the TL;DR take-away is that you need to make a concerted effort to minimise the impact of frequent cycling to your manhood, unless you want erectile dysfunction, prostate or testicular problems in old age.

  Serious cyclists should invest in a good quality saddle that's comfortable, well-fitted and anatomically-contoured and padded riding shorts.

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    Euphemistic on 11/06/2019 - 18:47

    have they done any studies on recreational cyclists? Pro cyclists spends hours and hours in the saddle each day, regular cyclists are a lot less and are probably at more harm sitting at a desk all day in between commutes. I do take you point about being as comfortable as possible while riding.

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      Gnostikos on 11/06/2019 - 19:19

      +1

      Not that I'm aware of but from reading up on the issue a bit, the key risk seems to be the length of the ride in one sitting; so very long commutes where you cycle 30 or 40km to work one-way and where your saddle time is upwards of an hour, even if you only do them twice a week, are still considerably increasing your risk of testicular, prostate and erectile issues compared to brief, 20-minute rides every day.

      Even riding standing up (or out of the saddle) for a few minutes during a long ride is noticeably beneficial for pelvic/testicular blood flow and nerve pressure.

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        Euphemistic on 11/06/2019 - 19:41

        Thanks. It is good to see you’ve done some research and not just jumped on one article. As with many things moderation is the key. Some people can turn into jealots and forget all the other benefits that arise.

        Cycling improves aerobic fitness and is low impact (except your nether regions it seems), saves money, reduces traffic and is otherwise good for you but it is also important to consider things that may not be so good for you and work out how to mitigate those factors.

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          Gnostikos on 12/06/2019 - 02:05

          @Euphemistic:

          As with many things moderation is the key.

          Yes, that's essentially the crux of it.

          The best analogy I saw for the potential of excessive cycling to impact male reproductive health is of a garden hose in a driveway being repeatedly run over by a car.

          If you accidentally run over it a few times, the hose will spring back into shape with no issue and the impact to the water flow rate is negligible. A "few times" in human terms being equivalent to riding 10 or so hours per week.

          Run over it every single day however, and the hose material will lose its elasticity and have trouble maintaining rigidity, eventually developing stress fractures and leaks.

          That's potentially what sustained cycling on a daily or very frequent basis can do to the delicate blood vessels, nerves and tissues around the pelvic area and reproductive organs; except in human beings the fluid build-up forms hydroceles, varicoceles or cysts.

          Cycling improves aerobic fitness and is low impact (except your nether regions it seems),

          Next to ellipticals, cross-trainers and rowing machines, cycling is definitely very easy on the joints and connective tissues, so that makes it a great aerobic exercise to do at virtually any age and any fitness level.

          The more pressing issue with serious cycling in Australia is that the infrastructure is lacking and the mentality of other road users, particularly road traffic, is appalling. We're just not a European-style cycling country and never have been.

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