Sex, sperm & saddles

DEBUNKING CYCLING'S SEXUAL HEALTH MYTHS

- Chris Marshall-Bell

From saddle sores to sperm count, cycling and sexual health have long been the subject of much speculation. Does riding a bike improve your performance in bed? Can it cause F erectile dysfunction or fertility issues? And should cyclists really avoid shaving their pubic hair?

With so much conflicting advice, we set out to separate fact from fiction. To help us do so, we consulted Matthew Matson, a sports physiotherapist at Marylebone Health, London, who specialises in men's health, and his colleague Grace Covington, a pelvic health physiotherapist, to get the truth behind some of the most common cycling-related health claims.

The claim: Cycling turns you into a sex machine

Most cyclists are innately driven by a desire to perform better. You might be able to push out high watts, but can you satisfy your partner under the covers? It must be said, there is no direct correlation between cycling and better sex, but there are many mutually compatible benefits.

Matson explains: "We know that any exercise improves cardiovascular health, and that correlates with better sexual function." Positive start, and what about cyclists in particular? "In cycling, if you have enhanced blood flow, you might have increased stamina and increased core strength, which might give you better flexibility. Those two things indirectly feed into events in the bedroom."

Those giddy smiles and general happiness after a bike ride has an effect, too. "Elevated mood and reduced stress through the endorphin release that we get from exercise can indirectly improve our sex lives," Matson adds. "If you're exercising more, it's likely that you'll be more confident, and that definitely feeds into having improved sexual relations." We feel pretty confident in declaring that, yup, cycling does indeed improve one's sex life.

Verdict: Mostly true

The claim: Cycling boosts testosterone