Body Geometry products are scientifically developed ... - Specialized

Body Geometry saddles were conceived in 1997 to address the
problem of Erectile Dysfunction related to disturbances in male blood
flow while cycling on traditional bicycle saddles. Specialized's founder,
Mike Sinyard, enlisted the help of Dr. Roger Minkow, an ergonomics
expert who had designed pilot seats for United Airlines, as well as
weight training equipment for the US Olympic Gymnastics team.
Minkow designed the first Body Geometry Saddle with a V-shaped
cutout, theorizing an increased blood flow because of reduced
pressure between the pubic bones. Minkow's premise was that the
internal pudendal arteries (and nerves) were being compressed
against the pubic bones by the dome of the traditional bicycle
saddle. This theory was substantiated in the medical literature by
Urologists, including Dr. Irwin Goldstein of the Boston Medical Center.
After designing the initial Body Geometry Saddle, prototypes were
sent out for testing by both athletes and media, including writers
from Bicycling Magazine. The tests were very positive and in
September 1998, the first Body Geometry Saddle was given the
highest award that Bicycling Magazine gives for products.
Figure 1: TcO2 correlates with penile blood flow measured by Doppler
In 1997 there was no direct way to test male blood flow while a
cyclist was actually riding a bicycle. The only tests available were
stationary tests with the rider sitting on a bicycle saddle, or on a
chair. These initial tests showed a clear decrease in blood flow while
sitting on the bicycle saddle, but the relevance of the information
was in question.
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BODY GEOMETRY
STORY
BACKGROUND
AND TIMELINE
WWW.SPECIALIZED.COM/BODYGEOMETRY
The first field test of the initial Body Geometry concept was held at
The Great Tour of Strength in Norway, a 540km single-stage race.
The incidence of ED at this event in years past was published in
ACTA Scandinavia in 1997 and shown to be 13%. Because of the medical
data derived from this race, Minkow chose this as the first testing
ground for the BG Saddle. Riders given BG saddles to use during the
race were found to have a lower rate of ED, as well as a decrease in
observed perineal numbness.
In the years that followed, more efforts were focused on finding a
more quantifiable method by which effectiveness could be measured.
It was in 2000 that Dr. Frank Sommer, a German Urologist, developed
the first method of measuring internal pudendal blood flow while
cycling. He measured the blood flow in the arteries using a Dopler
Duplex device and correlated this with Transcutaneous Oxygen
measured at the Glans of the Penis, establishing a direct correlation
between the two. Dr. Sommer then perfected testing Transcutaneous
Oxygen by gluing a plastic ring on the Glans, filling the ring with fluid
and measuring the Oxygen concentration in the fluid while riding.
This led to exact measurement of the Internal Pudendal Blood Flow
in real time: the first actual riding tests that could accurately measure
blood flow.
Figure 2: Perineal compression during cycling appeared to be responsible
for some cases of Erectile Dysfunction (Sommer, Eur Uro Suppl. 1999)