There are five main points where your body meets your bike; your feet, your hands and…well…your groin. The majority of us grew up with the bike saddle being this thing that we looked at with a lot of trepidation. We are expected to plop our butts/groins on this slender, sometimes padded device that is meant to keep us protected. However, as is often the case (cough(overbuilt running shoes)cough), that which is meant to protect us is inf fact doing us more harm than good.

Ideal Saddle Modification (ISM) Saddles was the idea of founder Steve Toll. As the ISM website says:

Ideal Saddle Modification is the brainchild of Steve Toll, an avid cyclist and swimmer living in Tampa, Florida. In the winter of 1997, following a bike ride with his wife, Laura, Steve sketched out a design for a seat he thought would eliminate, or at least reduce, the discomfort most riders experience on a traditional bike saddle. By 1999, with some assistance from his family, the concept was patented. That’s a significant milestone for an industry that hasn’t seen a major saddle change in years. Flash forward to today – through hard work and tenacity, Steve has not only created a state-of-the-art bike saddle, he is also being sought out by experts in the cycling industry who want the opportunity to test and ride the ISM™.

Now, of course ISM is going to say that about themselves. What company doesn’t want to point out why they’re the best. However, ISM, more than just about anyone I’ve seen has the medical research to back it up.

Click here for more medical information from ISM April 4, 2009 New Article by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Here’s an interesting read on the health benefits of no nose saddles vs. traditional saddles On September 5, 2006 we traveled to the University of Hamburg to have the new Adamo Road saddle and the Adamo Racing saddle tested by noted German urologist Dr. Frank Sommer. At the conclusion of the testing Dr. Sommer was pleased with our results and congratulated Steve on his design and achievements. Dr. Sommer stated, “A saddle where there is hardly any blood loss. Which is excellent to preserve sexuality and for preventing erectile dysfunction.” Why are we so confident the ISM™ is a medically superior seat? On an annual basis, bicycle riding involves several hundred million people worldwide. Studies have linked perineal pressure caused by straddling traditional bicycle seats to numbness, urinary tract and yeast infections, prostate inflammation and impotence. For male riders, in addition to the discomfort and numbness associated with a traditional saddle, there is an increased susceptibility to restricted blood flow, which can lead to arterial occlusion and permanent erectile dysfunction. For women, the restricted blood flow and hardening of the genital arteries can lead to an inability to reach orgasm. It has been found that as little as 11% of a person’s body weight can compress the genital artery! In November 2004, Steve Toll took the ISM™ to Germany, to be tested by Dr. Frank Sommer at the University of Cologne. Dr. Sommer is a noted expert in the area of arterial occlusion resulting from bicycle saddles. While normal testing involves a 15-minute ride on a saddle, the test using the ISM™ was discontinued after 12 minutes. Why? Dr. Sommer commented, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” In fact, blood flow in the perineum area remained at 100% throughout the test with the ISM™, a mark rarely seen in bicycle saddle testing. In addition, Dr. Sommer’s prior research has indicated that some saddles restrict blood flow in the perineum area by as much as 95% within the first minute of a ride. Other studies indicate that such restriction over a long period can result in permanent erectile damage. The ISM™ is a first-of-its-kind seat. If a family is in your future, or you’re simply tired of the pain and discomfort associated with a traditional saddle, rest your bones on the ISM™. It’s medically better for you. Articles NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health) Update National Geographic Adventure, April 2003 – Riding Rough: New Evidence Continues to Link Biking to Impotence by Jim Thornton. Bicycling Magazine, August 1997 – The Unseen Danger by Joe Kita Other Research Studies: Available Through the National Library of Medicine “Impotence and Nerve Entrapment in Long Distance Amateur Cyclist” Andersen K.V., Bovim G. Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway. “Does Bicycling Contribute to the Risk of Erectile Dysfunction?” Goldstein I., Marceau L., Kleinman K., McKinlay J. “Type of Saddle and Sitting Position Influence Penile Oxygen Pressure while Cycling“ Dr. Frank Sommer, Cologne University, March 2003. “Pressure Distribution on Bicycle Saddles” (a comparison between normal “flat” saddles with gel and saddles with a “hole” in the perineal area) Renato Rodano, Roberto Squadrone, Massimiliano Sacchi, Alberto Marzegan Centro di Bioingegneria, Milan, Italy – November 2002. “Ergonomics of 2 Bicycle Saddles” (Pressure at the Pudendal Area in Women of a Normal Saddle with Gel and of a Saddle with a Hole) Dr. Ingo Froboese – Deutsche Sporthochschule, Cologne, Germany Dr. Luc Baeyens – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium.

On a traditional saddle, the nose takes a large portion of the pressure. This is especially the case when cyclists are in the “drop” position or using aerobars. This pressure on the groin often results in an amazing amount of numbness and general decreased blood flow to the lower extremities. ISM has sought to eliminate this problem by way of two key elements. First, there is no nose on this saddle and second, the only part of your groin area that is taking weight is your sit bones rather than your perineum.

When I got my ISM Adamo Racing² I, like everyone else, though it was rather odd looking. After all, I’ve been looking at the same type of saddle for all my life just like most of the rest of us. The saddle is not the lightest saddle on the market, coming in at *303 grams, but what it lacks (or rather has) in the weight department, it more than makes up for in comfort.

Adjusting ISM saddles can be tricky though I found that the fitting video on their website is more than enough help in getting the saddle in the proper position. Since the saddle does ride a little higher than others, there may be some necessary seat height adjustment, or you can just get a fitting and your fitter should be able to take care of it no problem.

Adjusting to the Adamo Racing² like anything else took me some getting used to. Since my sit bones are not used to being the center of attention there was a bit of tenderness for my first probably three rides. Even that was no big deal and I soon found myself wanting to be on nothing else. The feel of the Adamo Racing² is kind of odd when you first hop on since when you’re properly positioned, all your…important parts…are basically in mid air. The lack of nose is in now way disconcerting and if anything leaves you wondering why there is a nose on saddles at all.

I have put well over 4,000 miles on my Adamo Racing² and I adore it. Last winter, when I was forced onto my indoor trainer on a different bike, I found myself so thrown off by the feeling that I quickly got off and took the time to swap out my saddle.

ISM continues to be picked up by more and more riders and with good reason. Being comfortable is such a neglected part of cycling and if you’re not comfortable, chances are you’re not having all the fun you could be. I cannot recommend this, or any of the other ISM saddles enough.

Weight stats via Weight Weenies