Just saying hi....sort of..... :) (Sorry - long)

[dmmckenzie]

Hi. I'm new here, so please don't get too bored with my questions and/or comments I'm Dawn, and I'm almost 40 - and ready to start riding - again. I dabbled in tri's (sprints) back in 2000, but I have gotten seriously out of shape since then. So....I decided to try riding again...and I found that I love it - why did I ever stop???? The problem is that I had never ridden more than 20 miles or so - and I just did a 200 k (over 2 days - on a regular tandem with hubby) fundraiser (Tour de Cure for Diabetes). I survived...but with problems!! I read some posts - but I guess I will just get to the point - I am still sore on my sit-bones (that's what they're called, right????). Now, a week and a half later, I feel like crying whenever I sit down - I rode a little bit a couple of days during the week after the ride (road - trek 2200), and then took the mountain bike (trek 4900) out for a short Memorial Day ride with the family...that was only 15 miles (on an asphalt trail). In any case, I feel horrible...Between my sit bones hurting so bad, the itch, and the actual numbness on my rear-end - I feel....well, as I already said - horrible. I actually thought I had a yeast infection, because the itch was bugging me ....but my doc confirmed today that everything looks fine - she said I was "perfect" down in that area. So what to do??? Hubby said something about "chamois butter"??? Is there a riding short better than others, as far as the chamois goes? I like longer shorts (thighs are still a bit larger than I would like them to be for "regular" shorts - and the longer length feels much less constricting on them). Do I need a different short? Would wearing panties help at all? HELP!!!! I'm sooo confused about what to try, or if I even need to try anything different - or just give it time? Please explain & give any & all tips, advice, etc... Thanks a bunch & I'm so sorry this was long & boring - as I said - I am new to this!!

[Nanci]

dmmk,

I think it was just a humongous jump in mileage, and if you go back to your previous comfortable length of ride, and gradually increase from there, you will naturally toughen things up without experiencing such discomfort. When mileage increases, or when you have been off the bike too long, it's normal to feel sore down there. Regular riding will eventually, in not too long of a time, accostomize (is that a word??) your parts and they will no longer hurt. Also, _if_ you do a long ride and hurt down there, when you ride the next day, it only hurts for a little while, then goes away, at least aslong as you are on the bike.

Nanci

[Tater]

No panties under your bike shorts! This will just add chaffng problems. I am in agreement with Nanci that the jump in mileage is what's making your rear sore. Your bum just wasn't ready for that amount of time in the saddle. If you gradually add your mileage, your sit bones and everything else gets used to being on the bike, then the whole thing becomes much more pleasant. As for shorts, you may end up having to try a few different pair to see which ones you like the best. Length-wise is up to you, which ever ones are comfortable for you.

[dmmckenzie]

Nanci & Tater - Thanks for the replies - you both said the same thing about mileage...I've been known to be stubborn about some things - and I am a procrastinator That's how I got into the mess...I am feeling a little better, and I plan on doing a 15-20 mile ride this weekend, to start over, so to speak. I'll go as far as I can, comfortably, and see how it goes. I'll take it from the pros....take it easy on myself! And, I'll try not to be so pig-headed!! Thanks again!!