new bike, training, all sorts of stuff...help!!

I'm new here, and it looks like a great forum. I'm fairly new into cycling, and I need some help. I did RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) for the first time last summer, and it was both the best and worst week of my life. Here are my issues...

1. I have had my Trek 7100 hybrid for several years and have used it for commuting around town and for weekend rides. The problem is that this thing weighs a TON! I'm looking at purchasing another bike. I think I want another hybrid (cost and versatility in an area where many of the trails aren't paved, including my route to work), but I want something light. Any suggestions?

2. I felt undertrained last year. I also trained for a marathon at the same time, so maybe that has something to do with it. Any suggestions for training? I have a trainer, and it bores me to death. My cycling buddies aren't nearby, so a lot of my training is solo.

3. My poor bottom. Oh dear, was it painful! What started out as minor chafing turned into major blisters and open sores. There was nothing to do but keep on riding and then deal with the wounds later. Besides more time in the saddle, what else can I do? I used a lot of chamois butter, and I have Pearl Izumi short attack shorts. I have a very tiny backside and hips, and a fuller abdomen - could it be that the shorts I bought to fit my belly were too big for the rest of me, thus causing much more friction that was expected?

4. A knee and a hip, on opposite legs, are causing me problems. It actually started with all my running last winter/spring, but it has continued on. I do have clipless pedals and have done some minor adjustments, but that doesn't seem to help. Have been to PT, had various imagings done of the joints, etc. It's not completely debillitating, but it doesn't always make for comfy riding. Any suggestions?

I think that's all for now (and it sure is plenty). Thanks for your answers!

4.

1. How about a cyclocross bike instead? Off road capability, road ability too, and not much more $$ than a really good hybrid. Keep an extra set of tires and you can really kick. Surly Cross Check, Kona Jake, Jamis Aurora, and more!

2. What was it Eddie Merckxx said? "Ride lots."?

3. New saddle that fits you better? Low-rise shorts that fit your butt better?

4. What kind of wedges did your PT put in your running shoes and your cycling shoes? They may need to be adjusted, or you may need a footbed that suits your foot better.

1) As you can see from all my recent posts, I'm a newbie here too. So, I don't have much to offer here - other than pass along information from my recent threads: which is that the Surly Cross-Check, a wonderfully great bike, can be faster and lighter with select components. It fits cyclocross tires and fatter tires for harsher weather/terrain, so no worries for those unpaved paths.

2) Newbie = no training advice here.

3) I've never reached the point of sores, but I have been in serious pain that needs not to be detailed here. Like you, I've used tons of chamois butter - which didn't fix it. Due to the sensitivity of girly parts and other areas - I have tested many a bike short, and love the chamois' on the Izumi's...so I'd stick with finding the right saddle for your own issues. I finally found a saddle that deals with mine - and everything got better.

4) When I went slacker from doing my PT exercises (after I stopped seeing the PT), my knee issues came back. Maybe keep up with the exercises your PT gave you and have a professional analyze your cycling to see if there's something you can change in your stroke/positioning to ease the pressure on your hip and knee?? For me, my knees tend to go inward (or wobble side to side) and when I don't consciously fight to keep them straight in my pedal strokes - I always end up with knee pain afterwards...same issue comes up when I run if I don't try to keep my knees straight on each stride. Since you already goofed around with the cleats - I'd focus on your body mechanics and see what's going on there.

Good luck with everything!

Just a couple of things:

Your shorts should be picked to fit your butt. If the belly being squished is a real issue, take a look at bib shorts.

For training purposes, there are lots of programs both online and in books. Take a look at some century training programs for example. Riding the trainer is boring, especially if you are just pedaling. There are DVDs, Spinervals and Carmicheal Training for example, to use with the trainer. Also if you have anything you used with running, like mp3s with intervals, they work with the bike.

Ditto what was said about possibly needing a different saddle as well as you may need to be properly fit on your bike.

Also agree with the suggestion that a road bike of some kind will make a ride like RAGBRAI much easier. That come in models for all types of terrains. Mine's pure road and I've ridden it on some pretty rough terrain.

BTW, congrats on doing RAGBRAI. Did you see Lance?

What was your training plan last year?
What are your cycling goals for this year?

I did a hilly century on a hybrid and bought a road bike after that. It is a triple (extra gears) and carbon fiber (super light). What you should buy now depends on what your cycling goals are. A hybrid makes you sit more upright, something you may now want if you are doing long rides and trying to improve times. Anything with suspension may be nice on trails but slows you down overall.

A new bike with a new riding position and new fit will change all of your seat, knee, and hip issues. Make sure you get a bike that fits. A good bike fit and time in the saddle should leave you with no pains.

I have never used chamois butter. Could it be you were using too much?

I am not a fan of chamois butter. The one time I used it was the one time I got a sore. Go figure. I know lots of folks like it, though.

I second the idea of a 'cross bike, or even a road bike. Could you keep your hybrid and use it for the short trips around town and trails (if it fits, that is).

At the very least TEST lots of bikes, including some nice road bikes. You might find that the different position and bike are such a nice change that you are out there training on the roads before you know it. You could keep your hybrid for commuting.

Sounds like you are enticed to do the longer rides. If you enjoy the longer endurance riding, a nice road bike will be a treat for you, and actually help you improve faster, IMO. And, Knot's right...a nice 'cross bike could do double duty.

Good luck, and great for you getting out there! :)

Edited to add: you might check the ingredients in the chamois butter. Some people are irritated by things like lanolin...maybe a different lube would help?

Why are you considering replacing the hybrid with a lighter hybrid?
If it's a problem with or fear of riding in the drops check out something along the lines of the Trek Pilot It's an affordable entry level road bike with a more upright position.

Keep the hybrid for around town.

ETA-never mind, I reread your post and saw why you want a different bike. Put in my vote for a cross bike too.

I would suggest a professional bike fitting.

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1. I have had my Trek 7100 hybrid for several years and have used it for commuting around town and for weekend rides. The problem is that this thing weighs a TON! I'm looking at purchasing another bike. I think I want another hybrid (cost and versatility in an area where many of the trails aren't paved, including my route to work), but I want something light. Any suggestions?

I too started out on a Trek 7100 - but as my weight dropped and my riding needs changed, so started the changes to my beloved hybrid (well, actually a car/bike 'incident' started the first major change :rolleyes:). To make a long story short, I basically turned my 7100 into an FX model - ditching the suspension fork dropped 3-4 lbs in one fell swoop! If you want a hybrid, you could do alot worse than look at the FX series. Also, don't discount the idea of a road bike - a cyclocross bike or something like a Surly LHT sounds great. I still love my hybrid as an around town and commuting bike, but the drop bars on my new road bike are sure more comfortable for longer rides. BTW the Trek Pilot mentioned in a previous post is close to a drop bar version of an FX.........

3. My poor bottom. Oh dear, was it painful! What started out as minor chafing turned into major blisters and open sores. There was nothing to do but keep on riding and then deal with the wounds later. Besides more time in the saddle, what else can I do? .........

The stock saddle on the 7100 was horrible for me. I thought with my size that a bigger, cushier saddle would be better - WRONG! It took me four tries to find the right saddle, but it was worth it. Also as already mentioned - good quality bike shorts that fit.
4. A knee and a hip, on opposite legs, are causing me problems. ......

Bike fit...Bike fit...Bike fit.

I keep thinking ... get a bike that fits... get a bike that fits... get a bike that fits... (so I'd suggest working with that 7100 too, especially if you are still going to tool aroudn town on it).
I have a Trek 7500FX that is light and fast, tho' I don't take it off road because ... well, I don't like off road and it's got fairly skinny (25) tires.
Basically there's a conflict between off-road and on-road riding right there in the tires. Weight is one factor but in my opinion tires are at least as important. If you're pushing fat knobby ones around you are working a lot harder than you could be. Great for training... but wearing on the bod!
So in your saddle I'd adjust the saddle and what have you on the 7100 and use it for all and sundry gravel-hopping.
If you really prefer a hybrid fit - but it doesn't sound like what you've got now is comfortable - there are light ones (like the 7.5 Trek), and there are bikes like the Pilot that have a more upright position. (I'm an upright kinda gal myself.) I'd give some of those road and cross bikes a try, though... basically I'd ride lots of bikes until I foudn one that my legs and other body parts said "yes!" to :D

If you like the position of a hybrid but want something lighter, consider a flat bar road bike like the Jamis Coda or the Specialized Sirrus.

I highly recommend you try out cyclocross bikes. They are so darn cool. BUT, if you prefer a more upright position, I also agree with the flat-bar road bike idea. You would just have to make sure to get the right tires for the unpaved road. The Trek FX series comes with beefy tires.

Congrats on doing RAGBRAI! With a hybrid that's quite an accomplishment.

Agree with the others on looking at a cross bike, it would probably be able to handle unpaved trails pretty well.

As for training, I've never done RAGRBAI, but I've done Bike Across Kansas. The more miles before you go, the better. However, some periodization with high mile weeks and low mile weeks, as well as interval training can help. I followed the endurance plans in this book:

The Female Cyclist

Or one of the century training plans that you can find online could also help.

Some of your other problems would probably be helped by a good bike fit, as well as some experimenting with different saddles and shorts.

Good luck.

so, weathergal... where'd that sign in the avatar come from? (Or is it one of those graphic arts exploits?)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geonz

so, weathergal... where'd that sign in the avatar come from? (Or is it one of those graphic arts exploits?)

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I can't really remember where I found it. It was on one of those avatar collection sites. From what I can tell I think it's a real sign somewhere.