Seat of tranquility HEAD GEAR
Montana-based MoonSaddle’s revolutionary ride
by Chad Harder
The first thing our testing team noticed when we pulled the MoonSaddle out of its box was its minimalist design—a soft and slender half-moon of contoured black vinyl, cleanly mounted to bike seat rails. But our universal second impression was, “Wow, this thing really, really looks like a giant foam Super Mario mustache.” In an aggressive attempt to prevent the cycling-specific injuries of genital numbness and erectile dysfunction, the New Concepts Development Group—based in Hall, Mont.—has boldly redefined bicycle saddles as we know them. By removing the “nose” from the seat, company literature says, they’ve completely “eliminated pressure on the perineum.” All of our testers agreed that’s a good thing— at least while riding a bike—and researchers do, too. According to the September 2005 Journal of Sexual Medicine, an estimated five percent of men who ride bikes intensively develop at least moderate erectile dysfunction. “Cutaway seats” attempt to remedy the same problem, with varying degrees of success. Removing the entire nose, however, gives MoonSaddles a decisive advantage, providing effective protection for the sensitive bits of people recovering from prostate surgery or other groin-related injuries. Cyclists preferring an upright riding position will find the MoonSaddle comfortable for casual rides around town, but hardcore mountain bikers will likely notice the seat’s fatal flaw—abruptly. Because your rear is cradled by a half-moon extending 11 inches from hip to hip, there’s no sliding backward off the rear—a necessary technique to keep your center of gravity low when braking hard into a switchback or dropping into steep terrain. I recognized the peril on a Pattee Canyon hairpin that I’ve negotiated dozens of times. Coming in hot, I suddenly felt alarmingly exposed, my high center of gravity nearly pitching me over the handlebars. From then on I approached technical sections much more conservatively. Clearly, the MoonSaddle won’t suit the go-fast crowd, either. Bicycle seats have evolved for 150 years, and the standard design allows for maximum control while cranking out a high cadence, and allows riders to adjust their position for both control and comfort. But if pressure on your unmentionables has you wary about cycling at all, this design may be your ticket back into the bike lane. Our female tester summed it up well: “The MoonSaddle is perfect for riding downtown, or a picnic on the river path before going to get a Big Dipper cone.”
MoonSaddle www.moonsaddle.com • $84 Montana Headwall
Chad Harder
Page 52 August–September 2009