Rode my first century...now pain down there!!
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toni posted 1 year ago.
Hi fellow Seattle-ite -
That type of pain is typical of long rides. It only lasts a few days and then everything is happy again. Until you do it again. I've found the pain lessens more and more after every long ride as long as you're not doing them a couple times a week. I did three in a week and a half period and it actually got worse each time. You are wearing padded bike shorts, correct?
I would just go ahead and change out your seat. Get it over with. I hear from a lot of women that they love the Butterfly seat. Hopefully that will decrease you symptoms. I also found that putting body glide in those areas helps with any rubbing.
I'm also doing STP. I don't remember having too bad of issues with it the last time I did it since you get to get off your bike every 15-20 miles to eat at the rest stops. Perhap I'll see you out there. What time are you starting at?
-Toni
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - FDR
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blonde_lawyer posted 1 year ago.
Thanks for the encouragement and advice Toni. I did wear padded biking shorts and some Chamosis Butt'r. I am hoping that it gets better. A friend of mine has the Butterfly and loves it so I am hoping that it works well for me.
I am not sure exactly what time we will be starting, but aim to start pretty early. Our goal is Castlerock on day 1 and I am really slow, so I need to make sure that I get out early enough to make it there by dark :)
Good luck to you with the STP--if you see a really slow person struggling, it is probably me so say hi! lol
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
Hey there! I get the same thing after long rides. Having a better saddle helps (I am on a Terry Butterfly Tri right now, and although better than my other saddle I might start looking again). Another thing that helps is being used to being in the saddle for that long. It just takes time -- I'm not sure how you trained for the century, but that can be part of it.
Best of luck finding one that works for you!
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toni posted 1 year ago.
One of my friends is riding with me as well. She's not into endurance sports so this will be a challenge for her. We're going to start around 5am. Let me know if you'd like to join us. We can have our own little slow pace line. ;)
-Toni
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - FDR
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Star posted 1 year ago.
I have felt your pain, my friend. It was so bad that I didn't want to ride ever again! I did my first IM on a lousy saddle :eek: Anyway, I finally (after 5 years!!!) found the Selle SMP saddle. It has been a godsend for me. It relieves pressure in all the right places...I know you know what I mean! There are cushy as well as race versions of the saddle. I go for the cush, 'cause that hard, lite saddle isn't going to make me any quicker. So check it out and see if that makes everyone a little more happy after the long rides :p
"I'm more fun than an iPod!"
My blog: http://star.trifuel.net
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blonde_lawyer posted 1 year ago.
Star;72171 wrote:
I have felt your pain, my friend. It was so bad that I didn't want to ride ever again!
That is exactly how I felt! I was secretely hoping that someone would steal my bike while we were inside grabbing a snack at one of our stops!!
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
Star -- I seem to remember you once rode a Terry Tri saddle and liked it better than your previous saddle, but that the SMP was even better? Was that you? I'm curious since my Terry was much better, but lately I'm wondering if I could find even better with an SMP.
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brittda posted 1 year ago.
I have the terry butterfly tri and it works great for me---everyone is different though,and it took me like 3 to get it right finally.
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jennifergee posted 1 year ago.
having suffered through a few longer rides with a bad saddle- ICE works wonders...just best to ice the girl bits at home-not at the office lol.
Do, or do not, there is no try.
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
I was doing just that last night and my boyfriend was shocked. But man... it felt GOOD ;)
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craigery posted 1 year ago.
I have done a few centuries. I have experienced the pain and discomfort during the ride but it should subside shortly after the ride. I havent had any swelling and I would not consider that normal. I am not a feather-weight. I'm 6' and about 185-190 and closer to 200 at the time of my last century. If you get some nice decents during the ride, try standing to help blood flow to the area. Also, adjust yourself so you are comfortable or at least not in pain. Another thing that can really help on long rides is chamois cream of some kind. I only use it for really long rides or really hot rides. Best of luck to you.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
I'd put the butterfly seat on and see if that helps (after some healing days). I have a butterfly on my tri bike and have never experienced that kind of pain or discomfort after 100+ milers. I hope it works as well for you!
Oh yeah, and I discovered that for me, riding with thinner padded shorts is actually more comfortable than the thickly padded ones. I did all my 100+ mile rides last year in tri race-type shorts with a very thin pad. That was a surprising finding for me, but it has really helped.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
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brittda posted 1 year ago.
Ironmom;72945 wrote:
I'd put the butterfly seat on and see if that helps (after some healing days). I have a butterfly on my tri bike and have never experienced that kind of pain or discomfort after 100+ milers. I hope it works as well for you!Oh yeah, and I discovered that for me, riding with thinner padded shorts is actually more comfortable than the thickly padded ones. I did all my 100+ mile rides last year in tri race-type shorts with a very thin pad. That was a surprising finding for me, but it has really helped.
Ironmom--I am with you! I wear tri shorts for all my riding , even the 100+. Less is more for me and I don't do well with the bulky pad "down there". That and the butterfly tri seat works great for me.
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
I'll third the "thin pad, terry butterfly tri saddle" comments :)
Test out the thin pad part carefully if you haven't tried it before -- it really isn't for everyone!
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Ken B. posted 1 year ago.
kyillee;72753 wrote:
I was doing just that last night and my boyfriend was shocked. But man... it felt GOOD ;)
Oh. Thanks. Now. I'm. Hyper. Ventil. Lating.
Okay, so I rode my very first century yesterday. It was very challenging for me...I felt like I was having "off" day and had to work really hard even on the flats. I am not sure what was going on...I seriously felt like quitting several times, but stuck with it and finished.
I am feeling okay today, a little tight/sore in the calves, but nothing worse than if I had a heavy weight lifting day.
But...I am having A LOT of pain for seat contact. I knew that my seat had to be changed, because I had some discomfort on other rides, but I was breaking in the bike and changing things slowly, etc. etc. So, I actually purchased a new seat--the Terry Butterfly--but because of time, etc. I was faced with the situation of taking that unknown seat out onto a 100 mile ride, or dealing with what I thought would be some discomfort with the other, and I chose the later. Anyway, much more than a little discomfort...it HURTS! There is some redness and swelling particularly up "front."
So, what can I do to help speed along healing and have less pain? I only have about 2 weeks until my big event (a two day 205 mile ride from Seattle to Portland), so I need to heal and give the new seat a spin. Any suggestions?