Quote Originally Posted by jetsetmeg View Post
Since this afternoon was so beautiful (sometimes it pays to live in the desert), I decided to venture out for my first solo ride. My shorts just came in (Sheebest SSS) and I was excited to test them out. After being a little skittish at getting started, it felt wonderful to fly across the pavement

My half hour jaunt was lovely, except for a nagging pain that developed between my shoulder blades. Is this normal? It felt almost like maybe I was clenching my shoulder muscles backwards. The pain was alleviated when I held the top most part of the handlebars, instead of where I usually grab on down near the shifters. My hands were also a bit sore, but I've heard that's pretty typical for beginners.

Also, while my shorts beautifully saved me from saddle assault, I was still slightly uncomfortable at the very front most part anatomically speaking (sorry, trying to be sensitive!). My saddle has a cutout, which I've read relieves pressure from that area, but I also noticed that most chamois are not very thick in there. Is this just one of those "you'll get used to it" things?

Thank you so much for your support - without it I would have no clue what I was doing. From Walmart bike to a pretty little Trek 2200, I've come a long way
Congrats on your ride!

If your shoulders/upper back were sore, it is likely that you were unnecessarily tense. Try to relax your arms and shoulders while riding. You might have to consciously think about doing it for awhile, especially if you are a little nervous riding, but soon it will be second nature, and your body will be very relaxed on the bike. But you do need a strong core to really ride comfortably, so in keeping with what was said above, until your body adapts to the stresses of riding, your back/core will feel it. . .

However, you do want to rule out problems with fit. You don't want to be too stretched out (or too scrunched up). Since you had pain when on the hoods (as opposed to the tops), is it possible that you are too stretched out? Also, was the pain in your female parts greater when you were on the hoods? You need to lean over more to reach the hoods, and could be putting some extra pressure on your girl parts - again, this could be exacerbated by too long a reach.

. . . just some thoughts for your consideration . . . if you think the bike fits well (remember that minor adjustments can make a big difference), then you probably just need to keep riding, and as your body gets used to the activity, you will feel fewer little aches and pains. . .

Good luck!