Limestone Ledger

BLOOMINGTON, IN – In a bold new initiative aimed at addressing what experts are calling “the silent crisis between the saddle and the soul,” the Bloomington Bicycle Club announced Tuesday that it has partnered with the nonprofit advocacy group Perineum Injury Survivor Services (PISS) to launch a community awareness campaign about the often-overlooked risks that cycling poses to the human taint.

The campaign, titled “Ride Proud, Sit Carefully,” will include educational seminars, saddle safety demonstrations, and a traveling support tent staffed by trained counselors and what organizers describe as “extremely patient physical therapists.”

“For too long, cyclists have suffered in silence,” said club president Trevor Halverson while carefully adjusting a padded saddle cover during a press conference at Switchyard Park. “We talk endlessly about tire pressure, hydration, and cadence. But nobody wants to discuss what happens when 40 miles of aggressive hill climbs turns the perineum into a microwaved bratwurst.”

Halverson acknowledged that many riders initially resist the topic.

“There’s a stigma,” he said. “You can brag about your Strava time up Mount Tabor, but the moment someone mentions numbness in the gooch region, the whole group suddenly gets very interested in their water bottles.”

According to PISS founder and self-described “taint trauma advocate” Dr. Leonard Stribling, the problem is far more widespread than cyclists realize.

“Our research suggests that roughly 1 in 3 recreational cyclists experiences some form of perineal distress during their riding career,” Stribling said while unveiling a laminated anatomical diagram titled ‘The Danger Zone.’ “Unfortunately, the culture of cycling often discourages open discussion about saddle-related injuries. Riders will spend $9,000 on a carbon fiber bike but refuse to acknowledge that their undercarriage feels like it’s been sandblasted.”

The new partnership will fund outreach programs including:

• Perineum Wellness Screenings at local group rides
• Emergency Chamois Relief Stations during long-distance events
• A peer support network called “Saddle Survivors”
• Distribution of informational pamphlets titled “When the Ride Hurts in Ways You Didn’t Expect.”

The campaign will culminate in Bloomington’s first-ever “Tour de Taint,” a community ride intended to promote safer cycling habits and normalize conversations about undercarriage health.

Participants will stop at educational checkpoints where volunteers demonstrate proper saddle positioning and distribute what organizers describe as “dignity-preserving ice packs.”

Local cyclist Darren Lutz said he plans to attend the ride, though he admitted the issue hits close to home.

“I thought the numbness was just part of the sport,” Lutz said quietly. “But after a 60-mile ride last summer I had to sit on a donut pillow for two weeks.

Bloomington Bicycle Club leaders say the campaign is ultimately about building a stronger cycling community—one that isn’t afraid to confront the realities of saddle life.

“We want riders to know they’re not alone,” Halverson said. “Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just commuting to campus, your perineum matters.”

He paused briefly before adding:

“And frankly, it deserves a lot more respect than we’ve been giving it.”