CHAPTER XI.
SADDLES AND SPRINGS IN RELATION TO ANATOMY AND HEALTH.
The problem of saddles in cycles is really one of the greatest moment, and will continue to be, so long as any pain or discomfort is felt upon the bicycle sufficient to discriminate against it in contradistinction to that of sitting on a buggy-seat and being carried over a comparable distance.
Too little attention has been paid to this subject in the past, especially during the “Ordinary”régime. The general build of the Ordinary is such as to make it quite difficult to attach comfortable springs and saddles: many and various have been the attempts at improvement, but all have been marked by only a comparative degree of success. Were it not, however, for this success, small as it may be, in making saddles comfortable, the cycling fraternity would have had the entire medical profession down upon them, as some of them are anyhow.
Though a layman himself, the writer met a prominent medical man from the West at the International Medical Congress, who stated that unless these saddles were improved, he would order off all the young men in any way under his charge, as he had already been compelled to do in several individual cases. It is needless to dwell upon proofs of these evils; they are within the knowledge of every bicyclist of experience. Almost every rider knows of some special case of complaint, if not one of real injury.
In an examination on one occasion, made by the writer, of some forty or fifty wheels at a club house,fully two out of three were found that would have been condemned as unridable by any good physician who had given the matter careful attention.
The famous Kirkpatrick style of suspension saddle is a great advance on most of the old short patterns, yet the necessary amount of free elasticity is sadly lacking in the early patterns, and to some extent the deficiency still exists. It is questionable whether the Kirkpatrick is much better than some of the English types which, though shorter, have a large amount of vertical play by means of good springs. The old Harrington cradle spring was a marked advance on the Ordinary, yet it was objected to as having “too much motion.” It is little encouragement to inventors, when they have, after considerable labor, improved upon an old device, to hear riders, who are more anxious to vent their opinions than to give honest experience, make an objection to the very point so long striven for and finally attained.
With the Rover pattern, where the room for springs is much more ample, harmful results are rapidly vanishing. It is quite a novelty to watch the body of a rider upon a well-sprung rear-driver Safety swinging through a vertical distance of several inches, when we have been used to riding upon a spring of a half or three-quarters of an inch of amplitude.
The writer has examined machines where the saddle leather was down upon the sheet-iron frame, and in which the entire motion of the spring would not amount to a half-inch. If such devices do not breed mischief, it will be for the reason that the riders are simply and absolutely impervious to any attack upon their systems, and are possessed of spines in their bodies more invulnerable than those in the machines.
Injury to the spine and other parts naturally showed itself more among American than English riders, for the reason that the general average of the road surface is much in favor of the latter, but complaint has notbeen unknown even among our English brethren. It is a satisfaction to know that many have awakened to this question, and it is a common and gratifying sight to see prospective buyers testing the saddle and springs of a new mount, as a matter of preliminary inspection, before other points are considered at all. It is to be sadly feared that some old Ordinary riders suffered greater injury than is commonly supposed to have been incurred, but we hope that, since they have come to ignore the supposed danger of being “thrown off” by a too lively spring, there will be less trouble in the future.
The worst feature in the bicycle saddle is that nature did not intend man to sit astride of anything, and this strikes me as the greatest oversight in the general plan of our physical make up as pertaining to cycle riding. Nature only provided three convenient ways of supporting the body,—to wit, first, on the feet; second, sitting down, with the body bent at the thigh joints; and third, lying down. Yet advancing civilization desires something a little different from any of these. In riding a cycle we find it best to stand erect upon the feet and yet get a partial support for the body at the middle,—a condition nature has not exactly provided for.
I have had prepared a cut of that part of the bony structure of the body immediately concerned in this question and sufficient in detail to enable us to understand the matter with the help of facts known to all.
It will be seen that the femurs,a,a, would have to swing forward to a right angle with the trunk of the body—that is, perpendicular to the plane of the paper—before we could sit upon the bones nature intended,—to wit, on the tuberosities of the ischia,e,e, or promontories of the pelvis. This position can be partially obtained in horseback riding by the spread of the legs over the saddle. When sitting upon a chair or buggy-seat, our weight is entirely upon the right bones in theright way, but upon the bicycle this posture cannot be attained except, possibly, in the act of coasting on the Ordinary with the legs over the handle-bar. It must be observed, in working the bicycle, that the legs are nearly straight down and the feet almost as close together as when walking; hence, unless a man is enormously bow-legged, he cannot obtain a rest upon the proper bones, as will be seen from the drawing, which shows the position of the body while working the pedals. The coaster on the Ordinary can sit backupon the broad part of the saddle, and how keenly he appreciates the relief immediately felt when he throws his legs over the handles! It will be noticed that in the action of the bicycle saddle, shown by the dotted linesb,b, the narrow part of the saddle rests in an angle,c, formed by the pubic bones, which are joined together at the apex of the angle by a tissue the doctors call the pubic symphysis. The saddle forms a wedge between these bones and tends to spread them; and though this wedging action can be modified to some extent, it is still vicious. The broad part of the saddle catches a small proportion of the downward pressure upon the tuberosities of the ischia directly, but this is only attained by severely distorting the fleshy parts, as shown by the dotted linesb,b. The body must evidently be supported by the bones somewhere; we cannot hang upon mere flesh; and it is doubtful if ever a saddle can be devised that will be entirely natural and hygienic; hence it is all-important to rest the weight as much as possible on the only other available support, the feet. This can be done by keeping well over the work and resting upon the pedals, and, above all by using good lively springs in connection with the saddle-support. Here again we come upon the question of proper springs, and find it has an element of health connected therewith as well as one of momentum, as hereinbefore treated of.
Bicycle saddle and anatomy.
Bicycle saddle and anatomy.
Objection might be raised that the body is less bent at the thigh when over the work than it was when we used to kick out forward in the old velocipede, and that for this reason we are retrograding. This view will not hold, however, for in any practical machine we have to get so nearly straight up anyhow that we had better go a little farther, thus taking a perfect position for work, and then attack the difficulty of support by means of proper saddle-springs and by resting upon the feet as much as possible.
In horseback riding there is no question of self-propulsion;hence we can bend our bodies sufficiently to sit upon a good wide seat; therefore the difficulty experienced in bicycle saddles does not apply in the equestrian art, as would naturally be supposed.
Upon inquiry as to just what the deleterious results are of riding poorly-sprung machines and improper saddles, and the cause thereof, I find that “doctors differ” slightly. Some have expressed their opinion that the trouble is in the irritation of the pubic symphysis resulting from the wedging action before spoken of; others say it is the bending and irritation of the coccyx,d, shown in the cut, owing to the pressure sustained by it instead of by the ischia; others assert it is the constant concussion upon the spine. I am inclined to think that the entire field is pretty well covered by a letter from Dr. Entriken, of Ohio, which will be found below.
“R. P. Scott:“Dear Sir,—I do not agree with you in the idea as to the cause of the trouble with the bicycle saddle. It is not the strain upon the ligaments, muscles, or bones, nor the injury to the pubic symphysis or adjacent parts, of which physicians complain. It is the bruising and irritation of the urethra where it passes under the pubic symphysis, and of the prostate gland, etc.; also the necessity of muscular action in the lower limbs while the parts are so jostled, bruised, and irritated. This muscular action pumps more blood into the parts, increasing congestion and the tendency to cause disease of the parts I have mentioned....“Please note the usual narrow saddle fits close to the parts of the pubic bones, and does not run back wide enough to allow the weight of the body to fall upon the tuberosities of the ischia, as in the Mexican and Spanish saddles, but bears upon the soft parts between. You will note also that the ordinarily-shaped bicycle saddle turns up so as to allow some weight to fall upon the os coccyx, or end of the backbone, which brings in another factor in producing what has been not inaptly called the ‘bicycle disease.’ We have pressure where pressure should never be made, and this pressure, aggravated by the jolting motion, causing a series of rapid concussions to fall upon the spinal column at the point where it is not intended to make resistance,—to wit, the extreme end. If a saddle could be constructed that would lift the soft parts of the perineum comparatively free and cause the weight to rest on the promontories of the ischia, thus protecting the softparts and communicating a less direct shock to the spine, the trouble would be substantially overcome. I know the difficulty of accomplishing this when the legs must be down and in motion, but some genius will probably solve the problem.“Yours truly,“F. W. Entriken.”
“R. P. Scott:
“Dear Sir,—I do not agree with you in the idea as to the cause of the trouble with the bicycle saddle. It is not the strain upon the ligaments, muscles, or bones, nor the injury to the pubic symphysis or adjacent parts, of which physicians complain. It is the bruising and irritation of the urethra where it passes under the pubic symphysis, and of the prostate gland, etc.; also the necessity of muscular action in the lower limbs while the parts are so jostled, bruised, and irritated. This muscular action pumps more blood into the parts, increasing congestion and the tendency to cause disease of the parts I have mentioned....
“Please note the usual narrow saddle fits close to the parts of the pubic bones, and does not run back wide enough to allow the weight of the body to fall upon the tuberosities of the ischia, as in the Mexican and Spanish saddles, but bears upon the soft parts between. You will note also that the ordinarily-shaped bicycle saddle turns up so as to allow some weight to fall upon the os coccyx, or end of the backbone, which brings in another factor in producing what has been not inaptly called the ‘bicycle disease.’ We have pressure where pressure should never be made, and this pressure, aggravated by the jolting motion, causing a series of rapid concussions to fall upon the spinal column at the point where it is not intended to make resistance,—to wit, the extreme end. If a saddle could be constructed that would lift the soft parts of the perineum comparatively free and cause the weight to rest on the promontories of the ischia, thus protecting the softparts and communicating a less direct shock to the spine, the trouble would be substantially overcome. I know the difficulty of accomplishing this when the legs must be down and in motion, but some genius will probably solve the problem.
“Yours truly,“F. W. Entriken.”
Another opinion on the subject of health is as follows, fromThe Cyclist, by Dr. Jennings:
“‘It is perhaps inevitable that persons who have no practical experience should accuse the exercise, on theoretical grounds, of producing various evils, such as varicose veins, hernia, hemorrhoids, urethral stricture, and various forms of cardiac and nervous diseases. As to varicose veins, it seems to be clearly established that in those cases in which this condition is due to chronic local causes, to constipation, and a sedentary life,actual benefitis derived from cycling, and that even in those cases which are due to organic visceral disease no harm is done.... As to cardiac and nervous disease, the case is different. Race-meetings and the silly craze to “break the record” have much to answer for. It is not difficult to understand how such exercises may cause permanent injury to the heart, neurasthenia, or even organic nervous disease.’ We presume the writer refers to such exertions on the part of wholly or partially trained men, for we have Dr. Turner’s word for it, and that is also the word of a practical athlete, that to men in condition harm does not result.”
“‘It is perhaps inevitable that persons who have no practical experience should accuse the exercise, on theoretical grounds, of producing various evils, such as varicose veins, hernia, hemorrhoids, urethral stricture, and various forms of cardiac and nervous diseases. As to varicose veins, it seems to be clearly established that in those cases in which this condition is due to chronic local causes, to constipation, and a sedentary life,actual benefitis derived from cycling, and that even in those cases which are due to organic visceral disease no harm is done.... As to cardiac and nervous disease, the case is different. Race-meetings and the silly craze to “break the record” have much to answer for. It is not difficult to understand how such exercises may cause permanent injury to the heart, neurasthenia, or even organic nervous disease.’ We presume the writer refers to such exertions on the part of wholly or partially trained men, for we have Dr. Turner’s word for it, and that is also the word of a practical athlete, that to men in condition harm does not result.”
The importance of some care and knowledge on any subject connected with spirited exercise should always be borne in mind; not only should we give attention to the matter of saddles, but also to any other point which may seem to be important. I append an article from theBicycling World, on another branch of the subject of health in cycling, which explains itself.
“A SOURCE OF DANGER TO WHEELMEN.“I would most earnestly call the attention of all wheelmen to that most dangerous custom of wearing belts drawn tightly about the waist to support the pants, or even where they are laced tightly or where there is any constriction about the waist whatever.“Many wheelmen are leading sedentary lives, especially the older riders, and are not physically in a proper condition to putforth the very severe muscular exertions which all wheelmen are called upon to do, and one of the dangers which I wish to particularly call attention to is that of causing hernia or rupture.“I know of two cases of hernia caused directly by the severe exertions put forth in climbing steep hills. One of them was a particularly strong, healthy, and robust young man, and I am quite confident that the indirect cause of those herniæ was the wearing of tight belts. The young man alluded to above has always been very active in out-door sports, very fond of lifting, and made it a common custom to put forth his utmost strength whenever opportunity offered, and he never had any tendency towards such a result until he began bicycling, which brought about an entire change in form of dress.“When any person puts forth his strength in lifting—‘hill-climbing is merely a form of lifting’—the abdominal muscles are called strongly into play, and if by belting or other means they are prevented from expanding and increasing the circumference of the waist, their force is then directed towards forcing the abdominal contents downward, and thereby greatly increasing the chances of causing hernia.“The clothing should always be loose about the waist. As suspenders are inconvenient to wear and very uncomfortable in hot weather, I would suggest that the simplest, and I think the best, way of holding up the trousers is by means of a band sewed around the inside of the flannel shirt, with buttons sewed through the shirt and band and then the button-holes made on an extra band on the inside of band of trousers, the same as little boys’ waists and trousers are joined.“I sincerely trust that no one will misconstrue this article as condemning wheeling; no one believes in it more thoroughly than your humble servant. I am writing from experience, not hearsay, and I would desire all wheelmen to give heed to my warning, and so avoid a source of danger.“L. A. W., 18,954.”[“The above is written by a physician who has made a special study of hernia.—Ed.”]
“A SOURCE OF DANGER TO WHEELMEN.
“I would most earnestly call the attention of all wheelmen to that most dangerous custom of wearing belts drawn tightly about the waist to support the pants, or even where they are laced tightly or where there is any constriction about the waist whatever.
“Many wheelmen are leading sedentary lives, especially the older riders, and are not physically in a proper condition to putforth the very severe muscular exertions which all wheelmen are called upon to do, and one of the dangers which I wish to particularly call attention to is that of causing hernia or rupture.
“I know of two cases of hernia caused directly by the severe exertions put forth in climbing steep hills. One of them was a particularly strong, healthy, and robust young man, and I am quite confident that the indirect cause of those herniæ was the wearing of tight belts. The young man alluded to above has always been very active in out-door sports, very fond of lifting, and made it a common custom to put forth his utmost strength whenever opportunity offered, and he never had any tendency towards such a result until he began bicycling, which brought about an entire change in form of dress.
“When any person puts forth his strength in lifting—‘hill-climbing is merely a form of lifting’—the abdominal muscles are called strongly into play, and if by belting or other means they are prevented from expanding and increasing the circumference of the waist, their force is then directed towards forcing the abdominal contents downward, and thereby greatly increasing the chances of causing hernia.
“The clothing should always be loose about the waist. As suspenders are inconvenient to wear and very uncomfortable in hot weather, I would suggest that the simplest, and I think the best, way of holding up the trousers is by means of a band sewed around the inside of the flannel shirt, with buttons sewed through the shirt and band and then the button-holes made on an extra band on the inside of band of trousers, the same as little boys’ waists and trousers are joined.
“I sincerely trust that no one will misconstrue this article as condemning wheeling; no one believes in it more thoroughly than your humble servant. I am writing from experience, not hearsay, and I would desire all wheelmen to give heed to my warning, and so avoid a source of danger.
“L. A. W., 18,954.”
[“The above is written by a physician who has made a special study of hernia.—Ed.”]
There are some strong opinions on the other side of this belt question, if the belts are of proper kind and rightly worn. Very few agree unconditionally with L. A. W. However, it is hoped that no alarm will be taken from the discussion of these subjects. They are not so serious as might appear, except in cases of gross negligence. But whatever danger there may be, it is best to be fully aware of it, and thus be forearmed. As to saddles and springs, let riders show the makersthat they are alive to all improvements which will in any way eliminate causes for anxiety in this as well as in other respects, and thereby show that the fact of making a mile in a little shorter space of time, or that of getting one inch farther up a stiff hill, is not all that the modern cyclist proposes to consider.