General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How much is bike "supposed" to hurt? Rss Feed  
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2006-02-03 3:54 PM

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Subject: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

I started the cycling portion of my training a few weeks ago...

and my @$$ is killing me!

I did a two hour trainer ride on Sunday no problem, then on Tuesday I had to do another hour and I wanted to cry! I have to do another hour tonight and I'm skurred...

I have an old MTB but the saddle is decent (2-year old Terry Liberator) and I've got new bike shorts with super techno chamois...

Is this:

a) just something I have to get used to and will get better

b) me sitting wrong since my core is weak

c) sign I need a different saddle

d) sign my butt's too fat to ride a bike since my sit bones have extra padding

Help!



2006-02-03 4:01 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Champion
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
I'm not the cycling expert on par with some here, but...

It should get significantly better with time.
2 hours to start was probably too much.
2006-02-03 4:04 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Expert
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
It gets better with time...ditto the 2 hour starting point
2006-02-03 4:17 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

I'm doing the couch-to-oly plan from Slowtwitch and it does seem to be ramping up the bike portion awfully fast...

bike started on week 5 - 2 sessions 30-60 minutes

week 6 - 1 session 30-60 minutes, 1 session 2 hours

week 7 (this week) - 1 or 2 sessions 60 minutes each, 1 30 mile ride 

2006-02-03 4:24 PM
in reply to: #338434

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
tr3crabby - 2006-02-03 4:17 PM

I'm doing the couch-to-oly plan from Slowtwitch and it does seem to be ramping up the bike portion awfully fast...

Especially since two hours on the bike should take you around an Olympic course twice.

Cycling should not hurt at all. Anywhere. Well, maybe the legs if you're pushing hard.

Give it some time, then maybe investigate alternative seats.

2006-02-03 4:27 PM
in reply to: #338439

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
the bear - 2006-02-03 5:24 PM

Especially since two hours on the bike should take you around an Olympic course twice.

Well... maybe YOUR two hours on the bike Mine ain't gettin' me very far yet.

(*has visions of 17-hour Oly*)

Must be because my bike isn't the right color.



Edited by tr3crabby 2006-02-03 4:35 PM


2006-02-03 4:30 PM
in reply to: #338421

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over a barrier
Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
My butt hurt at first too, that will disappear in a week or so (at least it did for me)...
2006-02-03 4:35 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

Hardening of the butt area. It will improve immensely. Just stick with it... and don't get discouraged. It all improves with TITS....That's Time In The Saddle... perverts.

 

2006-02-03 4:36 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

Your butt will hurt for your first few weeks. It should get better. Right now I would check bike fit. If after riding for a couple of weeks you dont see this problem getting better I would check your saddle and possibly try another.

Seriously though... When I started riding I was convinced I needed a new saddle. Now I easily knock out 3-4 hr rides with no pain from the very same saddle. You butt just isn't use to siting on something that small. It will get better over time.

2006-02-03 4:50 PM
in reply to: #338447

Elite
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
i was in the same boat for about a week after starting riding again. You just need to build up you butt to take the abuse.

If in about 2 weeks it's still really bad there are some things that may be wrong:

1. You may be sitting too far up on the seat. Your saddle is designed to support your sit bones which are further back on your rear. Sitting too far foreward on the saddle puts pressure in places it shouldn't be. So you may need to reassess your seat position, your stem length or your posture.

2. bad saddle. People's butts are different. One saddle cannot fit all. If everything is copeasetic then start shopping. There are some skeletanized saddles out there that are supposed to support you where it counts and have no material where it shouldn't be touching. For guys they look like like they've been split in two. I've heard people that claim they LOVE them. Me personally, I like the gel saddles. I have one on my MTB and it's the most comfortable thing ever. Unfortunatly it's kind of heavy and I like my road bike weighing UNDER 20 lbs.
2006-02-03 4:56 PM
in reply to: #338434

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
tr3crabby - 2006-02-03 4:17 PM

I'm doing the couch-to-oly plan from Slowtwitch and it does seem to be ramping up the bike portion awfully fast...

bike started on week 5 - 2 sessions 30-60 minutes

week 6 - 1 session 30-60 minutes, 1 session 2 hours

week 7 (this week) - 1 or 2 sessions 60 minutes each, 1 30 mile rideĀ 



It may (incorrectly) assume that you already ride an hour at a time, several times a week. From the descriptions of the plans here (OLY-3X balanced) and a minimum base of 40min swim, 40min run and 80min bike. If you don't have the base, 80 minutes the first time out might not seem to bad at the time, but definitely shows up the next day.



2006-02-03 5:11 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Master
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
Cycling is supposed to hurt, but only the people who are trying to keep up with you. Maybe the saddle, maybe the fit, try experimenting a little. I think I would go insane riding on a trainer for 2 hours.
2006-02-03 5:12 PM
in reply to: #338464

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

McFuzz - 2006-02-03 5:56 PM  It may (incorrectly) assume that you already ride an hour at a time, several times a week. 


Supposedly... "Simply put, if you can walk 20 minutes and not expire from it, you're a candidate for this training program. This will be a five-month program. It is designed to get you from zero to the completion of an international distance race, also known as the Olympic distance."

The swim & run portions seem to be balanced fine, haven't had any problems there (except for me being slooow) But yeah, all your base do not belong to me.

I did get a brief bike fit when I got clipless pedals put on, but it was pretty much the plumb-bob-off-the-knee thing...

Maybe I should e-mail Dan Empfield and ask him why he's trying to make me cry  

Thanks for all the advice... from the bottom of my... well... bottom!  

2006-02-03 5:42 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Master
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

Here is a great article about saddles.

http://bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/saddle.shtml

2006-02-03 6:47 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
Do some research on the best saddle for your body style.
(what I wanted didn't fit me)

Then get a professional bike fit and then buy a really good set bike shorts with really good padding. (which you have)

Mileage will only make you so hard....I suffered without the rest.

Indoor trainer is tough on the body. Get comfort squared away there and riding outdoors will be easy and pleasant.

Here is what I learned this winter.

I no longer ride a mini, super light race saddle
I no longer train in my tri gear with a thin tri pad
I am now real "anal" about a perfect bike fit
2006-02-03 8:00 PM
in reply to: #338446

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
You couldn't have said it better. Time in the saddle is the only way to be comfortable on the bike, assuming that it is set up correctly in the first place.


2006-02-03 10:57 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

thanks all!

tonight's ride wasn't as bad, it was only horribly painful for the last 10 minutes

I concentrated on sitting well back on my sit bones (although looks like I was TOO far back as now I've got chafing in the one spot I DIDNT Bodyglide, grr)   I think my fancy new bike shorts are TOO BIG! The fabric is really stretchy and it seems to have too much give in it.

Also I think I've been trying to sit too upright so I'm sliding forward ...

This may need to be my new quote:

"At best, a saddle will be tolerable and not exert substantial pain on the rider."

2006-02-03 11:03 PM
in reply to: #338599

Elite
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
your shorts might be too big. If you don't have to peel them off when you're done, they are too big. Also sounds like you saddle may be tilting down a little if you are sliding.

Do you feel stretched out at all when out on the hoods?
2006-02-03 11:21 PM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

Silly giganto uber-stretchy shorts! (Pearl Izumi Attack, if anyone was wondering) You'd think a large would not be loose on someone my size...

Got a flat bar on the MTB... it's entirely possible bike doesn't fit me since I think they went by standover height back in the day when I bought it (dinosaurs were still roaming the earth then)

Mebbe I'll swing by the LBS and have them show me a road bike that fits so I know what I SHOULD feel like... right now I'm just guessing.

2006-02-04 7:21 AM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?

The answer IMO is (a)

It is a fact of cycling, but will get better the more you ride.  Try not riding two days in a row to start with - that might help too

Pedal On--



Edited by suziq_623 2006-02-04 7:22 AM
2006-02-04 10:18 AM
in reply to: #338421

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
Warning Slight hijack,

How about that numbness that seems to attack my bits and pieces, does that get better with time or do you get used to it? I was already professionaly fit and believe it to have been a good one. I just get a bit numb on my longer trainer rides.


2006-02-04 10:39 AM
in reply to: #338735

Elite
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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
If you're getting numb, I'd probably look into a new saddle. Either a artery or a nerve is getting pinched, and they don't toughen up with time. I remember seeing some articles on that somewhere on the web a while back. You may try google.
2006-02-04 3:46 PM
in reply to: #338608

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Subject: RE: How much is bike "supposed" to hurt?
Yes I think your shorts are too big, I have the same short in a large and I am a 200 pound 6'1 guy. I am not really good with girl sizes, but you weight seems like you should be a medium.

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How much is bike "supposed" to hurt? Rss Feed