Tell me the truth about pain

[TsPoet]

Can you post a picture of a performance high racer bent? I've never seen one.

Um, no, that requires an (albeit tiny) amount of technical savvy that I've never bothered to figure out.
Here is a link to the Bicycle Man - showing the brand I really like (and own) with the "developer" of the modern high racer.
http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents...ta_aero_ti.htm
Mine is the "inexpensive" aluminum Corsa - love it.

The dual 26" high racers are being accepted in some of the longer races, such as race across Florida
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?...apr04/apr20baf
which was won by someone on a Bacchetta (a co-owner of the company). In fact, a Bacchetta rider has finished in the top 3 places in that race the last 3 years, John Schlitter won in 2004 and 2006 and (I think) 5 of the top 6 finishers in 2006 were riding high racers.
The winner at Seabring was also on a Bacchetta (he just had to drop out of RAAM due to lung illness)
I'll be crewing for the Race Across Oregon Bacchetta team next month.

TS

[KnottedYet]

Someday I want a Bacchetta. (or the Volae copy of a Bacchetta)

I went from a wedgie-bike (Trek FastTrack) to a 'bent (BikeE) and now am back to a wedgie (Kona Dew). I loved my 'bent, could ride forever (or at least 85 miles), but oh my was it slow and inefficient on hills.

Everyone told me it was the bike, not me, and that I'd be happier with a high-racer.

Meanwhile I'm loving my Kona and looking into other uprights. Like I've said before in other threads, I'd like to have 3 bikes: a commuter, a steel-frame tourer, and a 'bent.

I've got the Kona to where it's pretty darn comfy. I want to put a wider/firmer saddle on it now. Brooks B67 or B72. www.wallbike.com

[TsPoet]

Lets see if I've done this right.

[WrensMom]

How long did you ride before deciding to switch to a bent?

Alas, I toughed it out for 8-9 years with a $300 Giant MTB with slicks before I got the 'bent

Also, TsPoet, there's nothing wrong with the 'bent. I love that pic of the high racer you posted. Mine is a '98 Haluzak Leprechaun. The reason I am still looking into a comfortable upright is just I just like both kinds of bikes, really, and would like to have a wedgie that fits and is fun to ride also.

Speaking of which, while I was cruising around the web in search of fit and comfort answers, I ran across these Bikes of Great Beauty called Rivendells. Has anyone seen these? They look really sweet, and their retroness (is that a word) really has some appeal as well. They appear to have been designed with comfort and practicality foremost. Actually, those saddles that Mimi mentioned would go great with them, too

[Kathi]

Do you know if your bike really fits you? Find a reputable fitter and find out for sure. You can read books about fit and use online fit systems but they won't spot individual differences like a fitter can.

When your sure you have a properly fitting bike then seek a good saddle.

An almost good enough fit won't do it. Sometimes a small adjustment makes the difference between a comfortable bike and one that is miserable.

[MomOnBike]

Here:

http://photos.jefforlowski.com/galle...26733446/Large

is another high-performance 'bent. From last year's RAAM.

[TsPoet]

Here:

http://photos.jefforlowski.com/galle...26733446/Large

is another high-performance 'bent. From last year's RAAM.

Yep, that's called a low racer. They are fast, many think faster on a track, but the high racers can handle road conditions better, that's what "they" say, I'm just repeating it. I think low racers look more cool than high racers, but high racers give more visibility.
and, since I didn't mean to hijack this thread, that's all I'll say

[Andi]

I agree with TS. My DF now hangs from the ceiling in the garage. I now have a bent and love it. It's not a high performance model, but it is so nice to ride. I agree it's not fast going up hill but is steady and it's fast going down hill and on the flat. Hope I never have to go back to the DF.

[Aint Doody]

Back on the pain front--y'all might check out my post on the Falcon X saddle about a new "strategy" I have..............

[pooks]

Do you know if your bike really fits you? Find a reputable fitter and find out for sure.

How do you find a reputable fitter?

[emily_in_nc]

Is it inevitable? Or are there any of you out there that truthfully do not experience any pain (crotch) when riding?

Pain is entirely unnecessary! I could relate to your story because I always, always had crotch pain during and after riding on upright bikes back in the days before saddles with cutouts. I finally said "enough", and my husband and I traded in our upright tandem for a recumbent tandem. We later bought single recumbents (Easy Racers Toureasys). But I quickly became frustrated because whenever I tried to ride with anyone else, I'd whiz by them on the descents only to get left in the dust on the climbs. The bike was comfortable in many ways (to the neck, shoulders, hands, and yes, the girlie bits), but I developed tailbone pain, which was just as bad as anything I'd experienced on an upright bike, just shifted back a few inches!

I finally realized that since my bike weighed 38 lbs. and I weighed 105, I was never going to be able to keep up with my peers on hills, so I decided to give upright bikes another try. I bought a 21-lb. Terry Isis with a Butterfly saddle, and after the first few rides (where everyone will experience sitbone pain as that area "toughens up") I experienced absolutely NO pain in the nether regions. I rode my first century on this bike, and while other parts of me hurt, my crotch never did. And in 2004 I went on to do a nine-day, 565-mile tour (averaging close to 63 miles a day) on a Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe (and Butterfly saddle) without crotch pain.

So to answer your question, once you have a well-fitting bike, the proper position on it, and an appropriate saddle for your anatomy, you should no longer have pain in the girlie bits from riding an upright bike.

And I am not knocking recumbents; if I had had a light-weight one, I might still be riding it. But I'm really happy with upright bikes now and the recumbents have all been sold.

Hope this helps!
Emily

[pyxichick]

Seat angle makes a huge difference. I had mine adjusted so it was level rather than slightly up at the front, and the pain went away. After a few rides, the pain returned, and my boyfriend looked at my saddle one day and said "your saddle shifted back." He was right. When I moved it back to level, it was comfortable again. I probably wouldn't have noticed by looking at it, so now I use a level to make sure it's where it should be.

[Geonz]

You've gotten some good advice... I just want to add that my crotch doesn't hurt from riding my diamond frame - I did a 48 miles today, though there were a couple of breaks, and that was without cycling shorts. (Of course, that might just mean I have no nerve endings... 'cept I know that's not true either ) However, that is true of my steel bike, and not really true of the aljuminum one...but it's my butt that hurts on that one.
The wrong saddle does bug me ... but the right bike, saddle and fit should mean no pain.

[WrensMom]

Thank you for your replies! I am really feeling encouraged now. I have been out bike shopping for a new upright bike (I have another thread about that). So far I have found a couple that might be ok, but I am still looking for "the one". I plan on riding some more this weekend.

Emily--your story sounds quite similar to mine, even the tailbone pain. The tailbone started acting up after the birth of my daughter, and while it is less painful than the crotch pain, it's not fun either. I still really like my 'bent though, and I don't plan on selling it, at least not yet. Your success with uprights gives me hope!

[ellenclary]

Years ago I stopped biking much due to hand and crotch pain.
The hand pain I've addressed but was never successful at solving the crotch pain. I went through about 10 saddles and still routinely buy them though one of my bikes was stolen so not so much any more.

I've since bought a recumbent and happily ride without crotch pain but I miss climbing hills as climbing in a recumbent is doable but tough.

Enter the internet and this forum. (I should have looked here a long time ago but was obsessing on mountain climbing and dog agility). I'm following this thread with much interest. The person that pointed out that you don't sit on your "girlie bits" when you're sitting in a chair got my attention and also that over reaching may also cause problems.

Does this mean that you're only supposed to sit on your butt and never on your pubic bone? (Even with a saddle that has a hole cut in it?) When sitting in a chair I sit on my butt and thighs. Since on a regular bike I don't have the use of my thighs is there any pressure on the front at all (in a perfect world?)

Still pondering this,

Ellen