Soreness

[greengirl]

Ok, like bikeless in WI, I just got my first bike, and rode it for the first time yesterday, on the trainer. A Javelin Parma (I'm a roadie...or hoping to be). I only lasted about 20 minutes, playing around with the gears, etc. Here's the question, how much soreness should I expect? I am going commando, with a seamless chamois, so friction isn't the problem. I even expect the sit bone soreness. But should I be sore up front? I feel like the saddle was all up in there, and I had to get off at 20 min. not because I was tired, but because my nether regions needed a break. I know this isn't the most pleasant of topics, but I don't know if it's the saddle, how I'm sitting on it, or just a part of the sport. Any input would be appreciated.

Brand spanking new greengirl

[SadieKate]

First of all, a trainer is not the place to make these determinations. A trainer is a false environment. However, you should not be sore on the soft tissue so your saddle may need some adjustment (tip the nose up so you sit back on your sit bones). You're in San Diego!!! Take the bike out on the road with a wrench and stop every mile and tweak it. Then, decide if the saddle is right or wrong for you.

I have very few saddle issues on the road, but my trainer?? One reason I actually do love Evil Coach Troy. He makes me stand regularly during a trainer session.

[Yasmin]

Hi Greengirl. All seats feel hard after a while, but yours doesn't sound right to me. You should not be sore up front... I agree with SadieKate. When you bought your bike were you fitted to it? I don't know what bike shops are like in the States, but here in Australia the shops don't mind how many times you go back for minor adjustments until your bike feels comfortable. Your seat could be angled wrong, slid forward too much (toward handlebars), seat post up too high, frame size too small...any number of factors or combination of factors. When the bike fits you well you & it should feel "as one". Cycling will be a much more pleasant experience for you when you're comfortable. Good luck!

[Lise]

Hi, greengirl! Welcome. These gals know a lot more about saddles than I do, so take their advice. My tidbit is this--my mom, who rides a lot, and is nearly 70, told me that even with great chamois and no seams, there's friction. It wouldn't hurt to put some lube (Desitin, chamois butter, Eucerin, etc) "up front" and see if that helps, too. It's made a difference for me. Lise

[shadon]

Hi, greengirl! Welcome. These gals know a lot more about saddles than I do, so take their advice. My tidbit is this--my mom, who rides a lot, and is nearly 70, told me that even with great chamois and no seams, there's friction. It wouldn't hurt to put some lube (Desitin, chamois butter, Eucerin, etc) "up front" and see if that helps, too. It's made a difference for me. Lise

Your Mom rides at 70?!!! How very cool! Go Mom!

[Squirrel 2]

I wouldn't suggest too much tweaking on your own. The gals who have responded are all experienced riders. If you've never ridden before, you will have to expect a certain amount of soreness as your butt toughens up. Even the pros go through this at the beginning of the season if they have taken the winter off.

First step I would suggest is to take the bike back to the shop to have the saddle set up right for you. Then take it out on the road for short rides. And don't stop to change the position every few minutes. Leave it alone, do a short ride, and give yourself an overnight rest to recover. If you feel you need to adjust, do it the next day before you ride. If you keep on changing mid-ride, and you have no point of reference because you have never ridden before, you will just end up confused. So as you experiment, ask questions.

You shouldn't be sore in the soft-tissue. If the store sets you up & you hurt up front, try something else. The sit bones will get used to a saddle, soft-tissue will not.

And if you must tweak on your own, you tilt the nose down to alleviate pressure on the soft-tissue, tilt it up to ease up on the sit bones. Please tread carefully here. Dead-level is considered neutral and a good place to start. If you start tilting, you will put pressure somewhere else, too much tilt down & your arms & shoulders might start hurting.

[greengirl]

Thank you all for the advice! I will have to get out there for a road ride and see if the soreness is still there. And then take it in to get it properly fitted. This is all so new to me...there are so many variables involved. I am a runner, and I have never needed anything but a good pair of shoes. As time goes by, and I get a few hundred more rides in, hopefully I won't be so 'green'

[SadieKate]

And if you must tweak on your own, you tilt the nose down to alleviate pressure on the soft-tissue, tilt it up to ease up on the sit bones. Please tread carefully here. Dead-level is considered neutral and a good place to start. If you start tilting, you will put pressure somewhere else, too much tilt down & your arms & shoulders might start hurting.

OK, I will somewhat agree with this but the tilt is specific to the saddle. Depending on the saddle, pointing your saddle nose down can cause you to slide forward on to your soft tissue as well as your arms. Tweaking is fine just do it in very, very small increments. Try to find a flat road to do your test rides because climbing and descending take you out of a neutual position and you'll be lifting off the seat a lot.

Did you get the bike fit at the shop by them placing it in a trainer or just sending you out for a ride after each tweak? Fit is really best done on a trainer, but final saddle position has to be done on the road by you. If you bought it recently, they'll probably swap saddles also.

[wabisabi]

Hey, Lise, maybe we could hook up your 70 yr. old riding mom with my 94 yr. old riding dad (although she may be spoken for) !

[bikerHen]

When I first started on my trainer, I didn't have the front wheel elevated. This pushed the seat into me more, at put more pressure on my hands and arms. Riding for any length of time was just plain painful! I got a plastic support thingy from the Performance catalog that is made for riding on the trainer. It has made all the difference. You can try this out with just a block of wood under the wheel to see if that might help. BikerHen

[RoadRaven]

We use telephone books under the front wheel as a block of wood was a bit tough on the carpet.

Remember that any changes to your saddle, either in angle or in stem height must be done millimetres at a time... a tiny bit can make a HUGE difference

[Lise]

Hey, Lise, maybe we could hook up your 70 yr. old riding mom with my 94 yr. old riding dad (although she may be spoken for) !

No, no! She's free! 94 and riding. That is impressive. I'll tell Mom. She started riding when she quit smoking and her best friend got married and had a lot less time to spend with her. She's ridden less in the past two years, but she's finally getting her diabetes under control, and I hope she'll be riding much more come next spring and summer. How's your dad doing? 94. Wow. L.

[wabisabi]

He's doing well, thanks for asking; he had some increased prostate numbers and did some therapy that involved somehow lowering testerone and raising estrogen (and joined my sister in having hot flashes!), and it worked incredibly well. Yea, genes. He rides when the weather is OK (lives in Phoenix), and also swims and walks in the mall, and is still the alpha computer geek in the family. We are all happy to be part of his gene pool. Still likes the women, and, I must say, the women still like him!!