Ouch. Riding a giraffe in a parade is one of those situations where you don’t have a lot of options about getting on and off. That’s why I don’t like to ride mine in parades. I prefer my big wheel.
It’s when you ride for a long time without dismounts and with little or no shifting around in the seat that you risk the pinching off of vital fluids or nerves. I wonder if KcTheAcy really broke a nerve or just killed it by leaving it pinched for too long. Same difference I guess.
I have experienced some severe numbness (and painful urination) in my early days of riding, on a rock-hard Schwinn seat. But I haven’t experienced anything like what happened to me during that first year in the many years since.
So after you’ve got the best possible seat, the right shorts, the right seat height, etc., I think it’s still important to not sit in the same position on the seat for too long. I “adjust myself” around occasionally, shifting a little forward, a little back, or otherwise moving the pressure points around.
Good advice on the air seat. It wasn’t clear from your post if the numbness happened with the air seat or before. But yes, air seats should have very low pressure in them. What you want to avoid is having the high point in the center. The ultimate seats have a high part on each side, and are lower or softer in the center. Re-arrange your innertube if necessary.
Seat height: yes, make sure the height doesn’t have you reaching too far. This is probably not your problem, because if you’re reaching too far it usually means you’re bobbing side to side as you pedal, so you likely won’t pinch off your fluids.
Make sure you’re not sitting on your penis.
Okay, make sure you’ve got yourself “arranged” comfortably. Wear cycling shorts. If you’re wearing something else, you are more than likely sitting on one or more seams, which create nasty pressure points.
Get a handlebar. I have one on my Coker now and can’t imagine doing any long distance riding without one now. For me it’s 16 miles to work and back, so I love my handle. Mine was made by Paul Wyganowski. I didn’t find any of these custom jobs listed on Unicycle.com, but you can use a simpler handle from George Barnes (http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=576).
I’m attaching a picture of mine. I’m not using it as it was originally intended. I’ve stuck some bar-ends onto what was intended as a front bumper. I like getting into the slight “tuck” I get down there. Someday I’ll get a set designed for me, which will offer a more aerodynamic position, and an actual rack on the back.
