Jelly Core

[jlnc]

No, this is not a post about donuts...
I bought a new roadbike last week, after riding my FX for about a year.
The first ride on the new Lexa did not go well. I was very sore in my arms, shoulders and lower back. The saddle was horrible. I couldn't wait to get off the bike.
I took it to the LBS on Friday, distraught, thinking I should have gone with the 56 instead of the 58.
The LBS guys put me back up on the trainer on the 58 and re-evaluated the fit (they ended up not changing anything), took some pictures to show me what i looked like on it, explained how I should be positioned, etc.
They then put me on the 56 Lexa, and I could see right away it was too short for me. With the seat at the proper height for my legs, I had to bend way over at the waist to reach the bars.
After some discussion about my general fitness...well, I need to work on my mushy core.
I got a new saddle (Terry Butterfly), and took it out for another ride today. Things felt better...I think the change from upright hybrid to the road bike was just more than what I was expecting.
Just wondering if others had the same experience when moving from an upright bike to road? How long did it take to get used to it? Tips for strengthening core and lower back muscles?

[Owlie]

Part of the problem may have been the saddle. You'd be amazed how much you move around and shift weight to where it's not supposed in order to protect your girly parts.

Also, I absolutely had sore arms and back when I started. Some of it in my case is certainly a fit issue. (Giant's geometry doesn't seem to work with me.) Some of it was solved with a new saddle (see above), then another new saddle. Much of the rest was solved by just riding. I definitely notice a difference in the level of upper body unhappiness between now and the summer when I was riding at least 20 miles a couple times a week. I was still a little sore if I do long (for me) rides back-to-back (see fit issue).

Yoga's supposed to be good if you do it properly, as are those "core exercises"--I think Bicycling had an article on the subject, and that article is somewhere online.

[jlnc]

Thanks Owlie. I was thinking the same thing about the saddle...that maybe I was holding my body incorrectly to deal with the saddle pain.
I think a lot of it is my fitness level, and am going to dust off my yoga mat, and try to get some basic core work in. With the colder weather/shorter days coming, I won't be able to get too much riding in now.

[Grits]

I had something similar happen when I went to a road bike from a hybrid. I fixed it by having the LBS change the stem to give me slightly more upright position and got a new saddle - although I still haven't found "the one" 4 years out.

[Owlie]

You do realize, jlnc, that I now want a doughnut?

[rubysoho]

You do realize, jlnc, that I now want a doughnut?

me too. But I prefer Bavarian cream to jelly.