Cycling Health & Safety: Eliminating Hazards with the Hierarchy of Controls
Saddle discomfort is a persistent challenge for both regular and casual cyclists, often ruining the enjoyment of longer rides. However, the risks go further than simple saddle soreness. Emerging evidence suggests cyclists are at risk of significant urogenital overuse injuries, including genital hypoesthesia (numbness), erectile dysfunction, and chronic compression of the pudendal nerve.
While this sounds technical, the takeaway is simple: long-term cycling on traditional saddles can cause injury. In this article, I explore how we applied the Hierarchy of Controls (HoC)—an Occupational Health and Safety framework—to design the vabsRider and eliminate these hazards at the source.
Understanding the Hierarchy of Controls
The Hierarchy of Control (HoC) is a safety management tool used to recognise and control hazards. It consists of five levels, ranked from most effective to least effective:
- Elimination (Most Effective)
- Substitution
- Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
- PPE (Least Effective)
Once a hazard (like perineal pressure) is identified, the goal is to work down the list until the best solution is found.
The Hazard: The Traditional Bicycle Saddle
The inherent design of a traditional saddle creates unavoidable pressure on sensitive soft tissue. As noted in European Urology:
“Pedalling while sitting on a slim hard saddle... generates extreme perineal pressure, which indirectly compresses the pudendal nerves.”
How the Industry Currently Manages the Risk
Unfortunately, most of the cycling industry relies on the bottom (least effective) tiers of the safety hierarchy.
Level 5: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Padded shorts and chamois creams are reactive. They don’t eliminate the pressure; they just cushion it. This is a "Band-Aid" solution that often fails during long rides.
Level 4: Administrative Controls
Changing how you ride—constantly shifting weight or tilting the saddle—is an administrative control. It relies on the rider to manage the pain actively, which is not a sustainable safety solution.
Level 3: Engineering Controls
This is where most modern saddle manufacturers sit. They modify shape, cutouts, and foam density. While better than nothing, the static nature of the saddle remains the same.
The vabsRider Approach: Level 1 Elimination
We didn't want to cushion the pain; we wanted to stop it. The vabsRider hits the gold standard of the Hierarchy of Controls: Elimination.
By splitting the saddle into two independent, dynamic seats, we created an intentional gap that eliminates all pressure from the genital area. The vabsRider isn't just a "comfier" seat; it is a safety device designed to prevent long-term injury.
Key Safety Benefits
- Pressure Relief: Reduces pressure on the perineal area by up to 80%.
- Dynamic Movement: The split seats move with your legs, reducing friction.
- Ventilation: Promotes airflow to reduce heat buildup and bacteria.
By asking "Why do we put up with this?", we utilised the Hierarchy of Controls to engineer a solution that no other saddle on the market can claim.
