This morning marked my first time on the bike since mid November. In typical fashion I forgot something at home and had to double back, extending my maiden voyage this morning. I am in terrible shape. I didn't push it at all and yet my ass is sore and my muscles hurt in various places. It is truly fantastic. It is fantastic because I know from experience that soon I will be feeling much healthier, with greater endurance and energy. My ass will also adjust once more to the saddle and be capable of riding for great distances with negligible pain. I hate sore bum so much that I started riding year round to avoid it, which will be the plan when next winter comes.
Today's ride marks a full return to the kind of life that has always given me the greatest joy. I couldn't be happier to be sore and worn right out.
Speaking of sore bums, I would like to say one other thing. People often seem to search for saddles that don't hurt. A big squishy saddle is a nice idea if you don't plan to ride much at all but otherwise most are best off with a smaller, firmer saddle and the only cure for butt pain is riding more often. The truth literally hurts, but not for long. I'm betting my bum will feel much better even after just one week of commuting.
That, of course, is only my opinion. Can I get an Amen, cycling brothers and sisters? Or, if you've got some for me, DISSENT? Surely not...
Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K 
9 comments:
Welcome back!
i agree that the only real cure for saddle soreness is more time in the saddle. The second ride is usually the worst, but backsides heal quick. After years on the semi-padded Turbo, i went back to Brooks. The Turbo is a good saddle, but wears out relatively quickly.
i've been trying to get my wife to give up on her squishy saddle but to no avail- she doesn't believe that it could be the trouble.
Lately, I've noticed that saddle soreness reappears occasionally when moving to a bike with a different saddle, regardless of riding frequency or distance. Apparently, the bum adapts to a particular saddle...
Thanks Mike, and Steve, I hear you. I'm glad I don't have too many saddles in play!
Amen, and welcome back. I saw some Brooks saddles at the new London Bicycle Cafe, though I have no experience with them.
With some Youtube assistance (not exactly right, but it pointed me in the right direction), I fixed/bled my hydraulic brake for the first time this weekend, so, yay me!
Hey RS, yay you indeed! I'm still a rim brake guy, largely because I don't want to learn anything new. If I get a fat bike someday, that will have to change.
Glad to see you're back in the saddle. The bum forgets too quickly, but recovers quickly as well.
Regarding disc brakes, hydraulic fluid is the new Kool Aid. You may be perfectly well served with a mechanical disc brake, depending on the steepness of the trails you'll be riding and the willingness of the industry to keep supporting them. I've seen ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS in a couple of recent examples, rather than the usual increased complexity for debatable gains that seem to pass for progress in the modern industry.
If you go for a Brooks saddle, be sure to get and use the rain cover.
Great to see you are back and riding the bike...
I agree with your thoughts on saddles.....
I have found that the firmer the saddle the more comfortable it is and it becomes even more comfortable the longer the ride....
My touring bike and my training/audax bike both have Brooks saddles and they are so comfortable. The only bike I own that doesn't have a Brooks is my Felt Z1 and I tried four superlight saddles before I found one that passed a reasonable comfort test.....
Like you I am still a rim brake man....can't see that changing anytime soon...
Trevor, thanks for coming by! Validation is such an awesome thing. When you crave it like a weirdo, anyway.
=)
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