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| August
17, 2004 09:00 AM US Eastern Timezone |
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``The
SEAT'' takes the heat in 4-month Africa race
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2004--Imagine
the pain and numbness you'd experience if
you used an ordinary bicycle seat on the world's
longest bicycle race. Bicycle enthusiast Joe
Mattinson and his wife Edwina started out
on the 7,200 mile (11,500 K), four-month Tour
d'Afrique 2004 race from Cairo, Egypt to Cape
Town, South Africa using ordinary bicycle
seats. (route
map)
Most of the more than 30 riders experienced
extreme irritation using regular saddles.
The combination of the saddles with horns,
the heat and difficult road conditions became
insufferable. Several riders were chafed raw
and had to take time off to ride in the support
van. |
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way into the ride near the pyramids outside
of Cairo both Joe and Edwina switched to the
innovative "The SEAT(R)" from Ergo
LLC. "'The SEAT' made all the difference
in the world. We actually had a much more
comfortable ride after changing since 'The
SEAT' is wider and there's no pain-inducing
horn," said Mattinson, a Montreal retiree.
"After using 'The SEAT' neither of us
would trade it for anything." The Mattinson's
brought four normal seats with them on the
trip and didn't even bother to bring them
home. |
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Traditional
saddles have a protruding horn or nose area
that forces riders to support themselves on
soft tissue and tender organs in the pubic
area that is not intended to carry the weight
of the body. This cuts off blood circulation
to the genitalia causing pain, numbness and
even sexual dysfunction.
"The
design of 'The SEAT' has also been recognized
internationally and has been cited as a healthy
alternative to other seats on the market,"
according to Ergo president and award-winning
designer Tom White.
"The SEAT"
is in compliance with the recent recommendations
set forth in a new report from the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and
the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). That
report, which studied possible health
hazards among a police bicycle patrol unit,
found that localized pressure from traditional
bicycle seats with a protruding nose could
cause numbness and sexual problems. The report
recommended that a bicycle seat without a
nose would likely result in less pressure
on the perineum and the underlying nerves
and blood vessels and would thereby help prevent
these symptoms. The design of "The SEAT"
is also supported by a study of the Urology
Department of the University Medical Center
of Cologne, Germany.
"The SEAT"
has also been endorsed by physicians, including
Dr. Thomas Green, associate clinical professor
at the University of Washington and urologist
at Swedish Urology Group in Seattle. "This
seat makes a lot of sense to me," says
Dr. Green. "Prolonged riding on conventional
seats can cause compression of the nerves
and restricted blood flow, leading to sexual
dysfunction and other problems. I see a lot
of male and female bicyclists who complain
of pain. "The SEAT" eliminates the
cause of this pain -- it's a big leap forward."
Dr. Gabe Mirkin, a renowned health expert
and host of the national radio talk show,
the "Dr. Gabe Mirkin Show", also
endorses "The SEAT." |
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