Back in the saddle after far too long... ouch!
Discussion
Oksy, after realising I needed to get off my ass and do some exercise I decided to get myself a bike.
Living in Dubai, the biking culture is firmly split between lycra-clad road warriors and downhill mountain bikers. No-one really commutes on a bike, apart from the guys who bring me a can of dike pepsi from the local corner shop.
Now, rather foolhardedly it may seem, I have decided to chop in the car and get myself a bike to commute to the office in - after all, it's just a 7min drive...
Anyway, I'll get onto the delights of cycling in Dubai at a later date. What I just wanted some opinions on my bike and the pains I'm currently experiencing.
I've bought a Scott Sub 10 - yes, it's a hybrid, but with the amount of construction around here, I needed something that can take a bit of a beating without giving me too much drama.
I chose the XL frame as the L frame I rode in the shop felt a little tight. Now, afer my first couple of 10km rides, I'm finding my ass bones are seriously painful - in fact, I found I had to ride out of the saddle a lot today just to be comfortable.
I'm assuming it's going to be something to do with my saddle height, as I was pedalling along this morning I felt I was using my knees too much - if that makes sense. I adjusted the saddle up by about half an inch which seemed to help a bit, though I was still in pain from before to really make a definitive call.
So, what I was wondering was, do you think this pain (it's not chafing btw, but within the bone) is just a fact of not being in the saddle for so long, or do you think the saddle height is making it a lot more painful than it should be.
Any pointers gratefully received!
Cheers
Living in Dubai, the biking culture is firmly split between lycra-clad road warriors and downhill mountain bikers. No-one really commutes on a bike, apart from the guys who bring me a can of dike pepsi from the local corner shop.
Now, rather foolhardedly it may seem, I have decided to chop in the car and get myself a bike to commute to the office in - after all, it's just a 7min drive...
Anyway, I'll get onto the delights of cycling in Dubai at a later date. What I just wanted some opinions on my bike and the pains I'm currently experiencing.
I've bought a Scott Sub 10 - yes, it's a hybrid, but with the amount of construction around here, I needed something that can take a bit of a beating without giving me too much drama.
I chose the XL frame as the L frame I rode in the shop felt a little tight. Now, afer my first couple of 10km rides, I'm finding my ass bones are seriously painful - in fact, I found I had to ride out of the saddle a lot today just to be comfortable.
I'm assuming it's going to be something to do with my saddle height, as I was pedalling along this morning I felt I was using my knees too much - if that makes sense. I adjusted the saddle up by about half an inch which seemed to help a bit, though I was still in pain from before to really make a definitive call.
So, what I was wondering was, do you think this pain (it's not chafing btw, but within the bone) is just a fact of not being in the saddle for so long, or do you think the saddle height is making it a lot more painful than it should be.
Any pointers gratefully received!
Cheers
Many possible contributors to your pain:
1. Saddle is just not the right shape for you
2. You need to sit further back on the saddle - on the wider bit
3. Tilt the saddle forward more (no more than making it level though)
4. You just need reacquainting with a saddle and you'll get used to it
5. It's too high or too low
6. The bike's not the right size or shape for you
7. etc etc
I'd suggest changing the saddle for a gel-body-forming one or somesuch will sort you out the quickest.
1. Saddle is just not the right shape for you
2. You need to sit further back on the saddle - on the wider bit
3. Tilt the saddle forward more (no more than making it level though)
4. You just need reacquainting with a saddle and you'll get used to it
5. It's too high or too low
6. The bike's not the right size or shape for you
7. etc etc
I'd suggest changing the saddle for a gel-body-forming one or somesuch will sort you out the quickest.
I found the saddle on my Scott Sportster uncomfortable from new. Gave a few rides but sitting back on my old bike convinced me that the old Selle Royal Contour saddle I had was more suited to me. Swapped it over and haven't looked back. It doesn't look as cool but comfort wins over looks in that department....
Andy OH said:
May be a silly question, but are you wearing a pair of cycling shorts with a pad in? This may help if you currently are not wearing these.
Couldn't agree more. After a 8 year gap using my MTB my backside felt violated after the first couple of rides. Got myself some gel padded under-shorts and they made a word of difference.Gren said:
Andy OH said:
May be a silly question, but are you wearing a pair of cycling shorts with a pad in? This may help if you currently are not wearing these.
Couldn't agree more. After a 8 year gap using my MTB my backside felt violated after the first couple of rides. Got myself some gel padded under-shorts and they made a word of difference.djone101 said:
I found the saddle on my Scott Sportster uncomfortable from new. Gave a few rides but sitting back on my old bike convinced me that the old Selle Royal Contour saddle I had was more suited to me. Swapped it over and haven't looked back. It doesn't look as cool but comfort wins over looks in that department....
Interesting. I have a Sportster and it took me two years to work out that you could tilt the saddle fore/aft: it's really comfy now. I'm hoping the padding will help matters - let's see tomorrow with my planned early morning ride before work.
I got some lower back pain too today, but I think that's more down to using muscles that have not had a work out for a while and me keep shifting my weight to stay off the saddle
Once I get this sore problem sorted, I'm hoping my legs will do as good a job as they used to. I've found a nice run along the outer edge of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai that's 10k in total length, so over time I'm hoping to build up to being able to do a number of continuous back-and-forths.
It's pretty nice riding along with the sea on your side at all times and without much traffic to contend with - just dopey tourists taking pictures infront of the Atlantis hotel!
I got some lower back pain too today, but I think that's more down to using muscles that have not had a work out for a while and me keep shifting my weight to stay off the saddle
Once I get this sore problem sorted, I'm hoping my legs will do as good a job as they used to. I've found a nice run along the outer edge of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai that's 10k in total length, so over time I'm hoping to build up to being able to do a number of continuous back-and-forths.
It's pretty nice riding along with the sea on your side at all times and without much traffic to contend with - just dopey tourists taking pictures infront of the Atlantis hotel!
I'm pleased to say that with a proper pair of shorts, things are much more comfortable. I still feel the saddle needs to go up an extra cm or 2, but things were much better this morning.
Hitting the Dubai Autodrome with the bike on Wednesday night - that will be my first real test to see if my legs have got any stamina in them!
Hitting the Dubai Autodrome with the bike on Wednesday night - that will be my first real test to see if my legs have got any stamina in them!
thb said:
I'm pleased to say that with a proper pair of shorts, things are much more comfortable. I still feel the saddle needs to go up an extra cm or 2, but things were much better this morning.
Hitting the Dubai Autodrome with the bike on Wednesday night - that will be my first real test to see if my legs have got any stamina in them!
You can ride around the track? That sounds cool...Hitting the Dubai Autodrome with the bike on Wednesday night - that will be my first real test to see if my legs have got any stamina in them!
thb said:
Yup, every Wednesday from 6-9pm the Autodrome opens up its circuit to cyclists, bladers and runners - but from what I've heard, it's the cyclists that make up the majority.
Yas Marina do it too on Tuesday nights - on the full GP circuit no less!
Wish Brandsnatch would do that. Yas Marina do it too on Tuesday nights - on the full GP circuit no less!
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