Quote Originally Posted by cherinyc
Hi everyone - I am hoping for some "comfort" type advice to help me with riding distance
I started cycling in June - actually my first ride on a roadbike was June 29th - and I have been progressing well, I think, but I have some concerns.
I know my legs and lungs are getting stonger, and I can feel my body adjusting to the awkwardness I felt on my first ride (hands on hoods, using those shifters and brakes, shifting in general, clippin in and out of my pedals, crotch pain - ugghh) I've really adapted to those things.
But last night after work, I went on my first (long for me) 20 mile ride alone - and went on a route I planned on routeslip.com (awesome site). Some of the climbs were rough on me - didn't realize that one of the roads I mapped (at around mile 15 - I was already tired) had a climb of 200 feet in 1/2 mile. I had to walk up due to the fact I was wheezing, but it still counts kinda right? Otherwise - I was very proud of myself for doing it.
However - by about mile 9 or 10, I was feeling various non-muscular pains - ALL OVER THE PLACE. Obviously tolerable, but uncomfortable - and I don't know how I will be able to progress to do a century (eventually) with my body hurting like that.
Here's the rundown: Gloves were wedging into my finger webs which stung. My fingers kept getting numb.
My lower back was KILLING me. Stopped and stretched a couple of times, and I kept trying to flatten my back out, but.....it kept hurting. I think this may be a fit issue, but I am not sure.
My pubic area was really....hot? I think?...I don't even know what to call the feeling - my crotch was just hurting me. Not chafing - just pain. The saddle seems to press on my labia (i think that's what it's called).
Lastly, my big toes were hurting me. The shoes aren't too small, maybe my foot was sliding?

ANYWAY - to wrap up this novel - since I am still learning how to cycle, does anyone have advice to help me with my comfort?
Thanks for reading ladies!!
cheri - the girl who wrote too much.
I'm too much of a cycling newbie to be of any help but will add my recent experience.

I took my new road bike out for the first time this weekend (coming from a mountain bike..but still only regularly riding 1 x per week for past 2 months)....I went about 17 miles...relaxed pace with some "sprints" thrown in for fun to see how fast I could go on the new bike.

I did notice the glove thing (not the numbness but the gloves were cutting into web part of my thumb when my hands were on the hoods)...so would wiggle my hands a bit and the gloves around and that seemed to help. First time ever wearing gloves while riding.

Also, noticed that "hot" feeling you are referring to in the pubic area so shifted my weight a little bit back and that also helped. I'm assuming no saddle is going to feel completely great at first and don't know enough about it to upgrade yet. Also, I think some of it will be just "getting used to" the new position/cycling/saddle. If it continues then I'll consider upgrading at some point. Especially if I want to go on longer rides more regularly.

But yes, I know what you mean when you say "hot". That's exactly what I was thinking....weird feeling to say the least.

To our advance cycling friends....there is some time needed in the saddle before it starts to feel better right? Or at the first signs of discomfort should we be out looking for a new saddle? And, furthermore...how do you pick a new saddle when it takes at least 1/2 hour to begin to really feel how it's going to feel on the long ride.