My Queen Victoria hurts! (Or, I rode a bike for the first time in 15 years today)

[Rebekah H]

Today was the first time I've been on a bike in at least fifteen years and I probably wish I'd waited another week for my Butterfly to come in. My husband set me up on his mountain bike with city tires to break me in, but he had his razor thin, super hard saddle still on it and MAN. I knew it was coming, but my Principessa is hurting like she went a couple rounds with Mike Tyson!

On a much more positive and not so south of the border note, I am SO excited that I rode today! I think I might be addicted already and I only rode five miles.

[Owlie]

Congrats on getting on the bike and riding so long on a painful saddle. (Two miles on the torture device that came with my bike was quite enough...) Careful, it's an addicting hobby!

Hopefully your new saddle will be much more comfy and you won't be so sore after your ride. If you've got questions, there are lots of saddle threads on here.

[Rebekah H]

Thanks! I'm so excited. I have a stress fracture from pushing a pretty bad case of shin splints on my way overly rotund behind and I was going stir crazy from not being able to get more exercise than walking, so I'm over the moon at being able to ride.

My husband will be riding with me next week and I can't wait! He is an awesome rider who hasn't ridden in ten years and it's going to be great to have him to bounce questions off of on the spot. I think he was just as tickled as I was when I was able to stop the right way (not on clip-ins) the second time I stopped.

[Rebekah H]

Fifteen miles today, day two on the bike! I'm so hooked! I can't wait until my Butterfly saddle gets here.

(And a little too liberal with the exclamation points.)

[KatzPajamas]

Rebekah H~There is no such thing as being too liberal with exclamation marks!!!! Especially when talking about cycling!!!! I too have returned to cycling after many years. Rode a nice Trek hybrid 20 years ago, but since May I have been on my new Synapse. Everytime I talk about it or post about cycling, the exclamation marks roll out like a couple of Shimano wheels with Schwalbe Lugano tires powered by the BB30 bottom bracket!!!!...see, what I mean!!!!

[Orange utopia]

I agree!!!! You can't exclaim enough when sharing your new joy in cycling!!!

Glad you are having fun, I have a butterfly on my road bike and no matter how long I have been away from the bike I never have pain after my first ride back in the saddle. A well fitted saddle is a beautiful thing!

[Owlie]

Just be careful about riding with a saddle that's too narrow for you.

Glad you're having fun.

[Bike Chick]

Glad you are enjoying it. It's addicting.

[KathiCville]

Fifteen miles today, day two on the bike! I'm so hooked! I can't wait until my Butterfly saddle gets here.

15 miles? On your second day? Kudos! When I returned to cycling three or four years ago I think I didn't break double digits until I had at least a month of riding under my belt.

Enjoy your newfound passion!! It IS addicting!

[ny biker]

I'm still stuck on "Queen Victoria" and "Principessa." Do these terms refer to the general hoohoo area, or something more specific?

[Miranda]

Good for you. It took me a while to work out my discomforts in cycling. Even with them, I still knew it was my passion. Where there is a will, there is a way. Just think how much more fun it will be when you are comfortable.

[Rebekah H]

I couldn't believe it either, but I was having so much fun. Yesterday was drinking day down here on the river so I only got in five miles. Yup, Principessa is my lady bidness. It still hurts like the Octomom after half of her deliveries but I can manage. The thing that's getting me the most is my hands. Even with gloves and repositioning, they keep going to sleep and are hurting like crazy. I'm assuming that my body will get used to this stuff and adapt.

At this point, I'm so out of shape that you could use me as Silly Putty and get some great images out of the comics on Sundays, so I'm just being patient and sucking down my trusty Aleve/Diet Coke cocktail that brings the relief.

Thanks so much for the encouragement and understanding about the !!!! Haha!

[Owlie]

The hand pain may resolve itself with a new saddle. With a saddle that's too narrow, you end up sitting on soft tissue that's not supposed to bear weight, and in order to take some of the pressure off, you automatically shift your weight to your hands. (Been there, done that.)

Hopefully the Butterfly gets there soon!

[Rebekah H]

It will be here on the 18th. Boohiss, but whaddyagonnado?

Shifting my weight makes complete sense and thinking about it, that's exactly what I do.

[channlluv]

I just want to say welcome and I love the way you talk. Congrats on the new saddle!

Roxy