Triathletes

[SoonerTexan]

I couldn't go 10mins without wanting to get out of saddle. Goes to show you the right saddle can really make or break the ride. So I rode on it today. It's def better than my old saddle, but not sure if it's a keeper.

DH used to do 60 mile rides on a tiny piece of plastic...because a normal padded saddle was *too heavy* He finally upgraded to something that is still ridiculous, but at least it isn't an 8 inch long piece of plastic.

I did sign up for a tri in late October--just a fun sprint one with costumes, etc. So I'm starting to actually work out again. It hurts.

[spotty_dog]

I raced on an older Fizik Vitesse. I feel your pain, I had to take months off the bike to heal my saddle sores before I got that saddle. It's not just the saddle either it's your position. You need to try to make your buttbones the only points of contact, and get your tenderest bits out of the picture, by keeping your pelvis tilted back even as you bend down and forward for aero compactness. It takes a really unique set of core muscles, I think, to obtain and hold that position. If you don't have that position, the seats with cut-outs can be some of the worst ones, because they actually put *more* pressure on the areas that touch the edge of the cut-out.

Make sure to measure your own buttbone distance too, to make sure that your sit points land at the right parts of the saddle. If you have a narrow pelvis, a women's saddle might not even be right for you.

Alison help me! I think my "tender bits" are better now than before. But the saddle I have doesn't have a cut out, but a concave indention. Now this indention helps my "tender bits" but now puts pressure on the outside part of the "tender bits" you know where the bone meets the edge near your thigh? One side more than the other (which makes me think I have odd anatomy), and I'm trying to make sure my seat bones are the only thing touching, but honestly I didn't even really know that until you told me. I just figured that it was the main part that should be "in the action." So I guess I need to work on my positioning, it may not be the saddle. I at least have the distance of the seat and handlebars all checked on a "special fit machine" but no one told me how to ride it lol. I feel like one of those people walking around with their bathingsuit on backwards, but no one is telling me. I see cyclist just passing me like crazy and I'm like...my legs are moving as fast a candence as theirs, but yet they pass me! I think they are way more comfortable on their bikes than I am. I know I'm learning but I wish I had some instruction and feedback; because nothing like doing it wrong for weeks and miles at a time, and learning after painful consequences you were doing it wrong from the beginning.

Thanks for your help. I'll try to focus on my pelvis on my ride home from work. If a woman's saddle is not ideal, then do I try a mans or unisex?

[spotty_dog]

Well, a fast cyclist is choosing the most efficient gear for the terrain, using the most efficient pedal stroke, and has trained enough to have a decent VO2max and to be pumping plenty of oxygen through that ol' cardiovascular system. They also are quite good at pushing through the lactate burn -- and at keeping a poker face while they do it. So they might be smiling at 60 pedal strokes per minute, but they're pushing their biggest gear and groaning internally through every revolution.

It's been a long time since I've even been on a bike so I might not be the best to give advice. But yeah, those are some pretty tender bits down there and they were never meant to be weight-bearing. You need each of your sitbones to be landing on the proper part of the saddle. If your saddle is 150 mm wide, then if you have sitbones 160 mm apart, your saddle will not provide any support to your hard parts but instead will push your pelvis apart while your tissue takes a beating. Yeaow! On the other hand if your booty is just 140 mm wide, you could have pressure points from having just too much saddle leather back there, and might do better on a narrower seat. Men's or unisex doesn't really matter as much as width, although unisex will also have the narrower nose that will help conform to your anatomy. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html and the whole site is pretty awesome, by the way.

[SoonerTexan]

I'm assuming you're wearing padded shorts too, right? Did a couple spin classes before I discovered those...ow ow ow ow!

Thanks Alison I'm going to look at that link! Yeah I'm wearing the shorts, thankfully Sooner!! I tell you though, my butt never felt more boney than when I'm on the bike! I do have a 150mm saddle. I was between the pink (140mm) and the blue (150mm). I didn't realize that a bigger saddle may make it worse. For some reason in my mind I figured it would make it easier. I picked the 150mm because I was between the two. I think I may have to exchange it for a smaller one if I continue to be uncomfortable. That's a better question: should I feel comfortable and pain free?? lol I understand some saddle soreness to start. How will I know that the saddle is right if they all hurt?? lol Save me Alison!

[spotty_dog]

Hm. I'd say build up slowly in ride duration. Try some chamois butter too. (DH swears by Noxema but I think that might be a little too mentholated for girl parts!) Start with no more than an hour; that might exacerbate existing issues but shouldn't cause any new ones, if the fit is good. I think it's reasonable to be ready for some, y'know, personal attention from your partner after a 45 minute ride, but if you need to put a hold on all activities for 24 hours after a longer ride, that's reasonable (and it happens to the guys too, they just experience...different...symptoms).

To help you decide if you need to go bigger or smaller, measure! Really, it's not the most elegant maneuver to be doing in public, but in private try bending over, finding your sit bones, poking around through the muscle to find the boniest parts, and then run a measuring tape between them.

I think I need some of that butter lol. I didn't even know it existed until this past weekend at HTO, and I was like what is this?? I don't really have any current issues, just some soreness once on the bike, but no saddle sores now. Mostly worried about getting some from not being on the right seat!

*laughs* I did read this post this morning, and actually pulled out my measuring tape and did the ole bend over and stick it out lol. Needless to say my dog was looking at me very strangely. I can't even imagine if my SO was home lol. He would have thought I was crazy! But I did get around the 140-150 mark: e.g 5 inches or so. But no greater than 6 inches. So my saddle might the the right size, but I need to work on my form.

Can your padded shorts be the problem? I mean I never really worn padded shorts before. I have I think a good pair: Sugoi with a decent padded seat, but the Inner thigh part seems to be a bit too much. Not the back part, that's ok, but it's like I feel like it's bulky? How do you know you have the right shorts? Mind you I had no idea there was such a complex scheme behind all these things. What is a good pair of women's shorts? Mind you I'm a short petite kinda gal

Alison PS: Silly question, but what do you wear under your bike shorts?? I have experimented with several options lol.

[medpedspouse]

Just passing on the info because I know nothing of this exercise you speak of . According to DH, the pads do matter. This is the reason why the boy owns more spandex than I do and has padded bibs (the shorts were not enough) that cost more than any outfit I own.

[spotty_dog]

Oh, my! Absolutely nothing between you and the chamois!! This could actually be the root of the problem. Anything that can bunch up, can chafe. Commando under the bike shorts!

Yes, the style of the shorts can be an issue, and they're a personal thing too. Seams in the chamois are a no-no, as are seams in the wrong parts of your legs. I actually liked my Sugoi best, had some Pearl Izumi and Trek that were my second choice, and I liked my team shorts pretty well too...I'll dig around and see if I can find a brand on them.

lol well I did do the Commando a few times, then with panties, and wasn't sure which was better! But. I think my Chamois has seams?? Maybe that is the root of it all Alison! Or the placement of said seams. I'll have to investigate when I get home. Yeah Alison, let me know which ones are good ones!

MPS: what are padded bibs? I am not that savvy yet!

Thanks guys!

[medpedspouse]

Bibs = a short but with straps. Like this one http://www.velogear.com/prodinfo.asp?number=622BMC9012

Speaking of, DH just came home and caught me doing his laundry.

Me: Hey your home early
DH: Yeah but I just got a consult so I need to head back... (a few seconds later)...thanks for doing my laundry
Me Thinking: "he's so sweet"
DH: Um - Did you put my bibs in your lingerie bags?
Me: Why?
DH: I put them in there so that they last longer.
Me: (pulls out bibs out of the washer) - I am only washing your cycling stuff in there, in cold, active wear as you requested last time.
DH: Yeah but I want to make sure they are protected (digs out mesh bags - which BTW, I did not even know he knew what they were)

EYEROLL. I guess when you spend that much on a little bit of spandex and padding it is a good thing he cares for it.

LOL! That's totally awesome!

[spotty_dog]

LOL, mine only cares that I hang his stuff to dry. But then, he doesn't do Assos or any of those top-end brands any more, he has dozens of pairs of Voler that he buys on eBay so that when I get behind on the laundry, he's not stuck searching for shorts.

Pebbles, on chamois and seams, I have a pair of bib knickers that DH passed down to me because they were too small, and they have a seam STRAIGHT down the middle of the chamois. NO GOOD! Thank goodness I didn't do much cool weather riding!

I dug through the shorts drawer, just for you. The team shorts were Pactimo. But I think they were a men's design (I was the first woman on the team so they didn't really have women's kit) and didn't do well for long rides. Another pair I forgot I had were Shebeest. Very cushy padding -- too cushy, I think. I seem to recall only using those ones for spinning classes. Really the Sugoi and the Trek were the ones that worked for me, I think.

[SoonerTexan]

Speaking of, DH just came home and caught me doing his laundry.

Me: Hey your home early
DH: Yeah but I just got a consult so I need to head back... (a few seconds later)...thanks for doing my laundry
Me Thinking: "he's so sweet"
DH: Um - Did you put my bibs in your lingerie bags?
Me: Why?
DH: I put them in there so that they last longer.
Me: (pulls out bibs out of the washer) - I am only washing your cycling stuff in there, in cold, active wear as you requested last time.
DH: Yeah but I want to make sure they are protected (digs out mesh bags - which BTW, I did not even know he knew what they were)

EYEROLL. I guess when you spend that much on a little bit of spandex and padding it is a good thing he cares for it.

Bwahaha! I just shove J's stuff in with the rest of it. There is no way in hell I'm digging out the lingerie bag. I don't even use it for my own lingerie...

Pebbles...now that I think of it, the one pair of padded shorts I own are actually J's hand me downs...maybe the guy stuff is good? And yes...commando is the way to go Ugh...I wore a swimsuit under bike shorts for a triathlon once and had a horrible, nasty rub mark in a very inconvenient place. *shivers*