I may have completely disintegrated my ischiopubic ramus on today’s ride, but at least I’m properly fueled and hydrated….

First let’s talk anatomy. Conundrum is as follows: As many of you know, I very much love my Rilo (enough so to name my baby bicicleta). However, the original saddle that came on said Rilo does not love me. It is hard, unforgiving, and according to my boyfriend, possibly anatomically dangerous for my female parts. Although I’m not sure biomedical physicis works that way, it is pretty damn uncomfortable.

But it’s BEAUTIFUL though! At least in my eyes. The embroidered “Q Roo” across the seat in matching blue and gold puts a smile on my face every time I sit down (as long as I’m not sitting for too long…) – I just can’t change it out!! Though according to various Q.Roo Kilo reviews, I’m not the only one who finds the original saddle a little, um….

firm. solid. rigid. stiff. resistant. unbreakable. inflexible. impenetrable. unyelding. solidified. hardened. compact. compacted. dense. close-packed. compressed. steely. tough. strong. stony. rocklike. flinty. hard as stone. frozen. adamantine. (?)

¡Gracias iDiccionario!

There are two options to making your ride more comfortable:

1. Get a new saddle. (Get real.. I’m not going to change it. I am too stubborn in love.)
2. PADDING!

Today I rode 43 miles, and I wore absolutely zero padding. It’s not like I’ve never done a multi-hour ride without padded pants/shorts before, so I knew what I was getting in to before I left. Here is another dumb theory of mine: I feel like if I’m going to race in a next-to-nothing two-piece tri suit, without padding, I better get used to that feel. I have the words of my best Boston buddies shouting in my head….

H. T. F. U.

I believe there is room for compromise here. In my rides over 20 miles, I think it’s rational, logical, sensible, intelligible, commonsensical, sound, prudent, pragmatic (OK! Ok… jeeez.) that I protect my “female parts” with some proper saddle padding.

Bikesport Michigan Online is a website I initially found when looking up tri bikes, before I adopted Rilo. Not only did they have a very detailed write up of the Quintana Roo Kilo (and many other brands/models of bikes), they also have a HUGE inventory of road/tri bike equipment, gear, whatever you could want, AND tons of good articles! One of them I find rather timely to share with you today.

Three Steps to Saddle Comfort

As written by Tom Demerly in the appropriately named article, ”Three Steps to Saddle Comfort.” Article photos from BikeSport Michigan.

Although I might say it’s inability to clip out when approaching busy intersection at Lake and Hennipen, Tom Demerly would say that “Saddle discomfort is the most common complaints among cyclists.” And he’s probably right. Not everyone is as challenged as I am when it comes to NOT-clipping-out-with-the-left/stepping-down-with-the-right. From numb genitalia and saddle sores to erectile disfunction, none of the [real or hyped] after effects of an uncomfortable saddle are very pleasant. Demerly states that developing tolerable saddle comfort can be broken down into three categories:

1. Allowing enough time to adapt to your saddle (especially key for new cyclists!)
2. Wearing quality bike shorts, and wearing them correctly
3. Making sure your bike is fitted to you, and keeping good posture

Although I’m supposed to be working on a VO2 max lab right now (I have “priorities on a schedule”…) lets take a second to go into a little more detail:

1. Allow enough time to adapt to your saddle.

As I mentioned (because Mr. Demerly mentioned….) this is especially important for new cyclists. If you’re not used to sitting on a road bike for three hours, then no sh!t Sherlock, it’s going to be uncomfortable your first time out. My words, not his. Demerly states that it’s important to let your crotch and buttocks acclimate to supporting the majority of your body weight – a process known as “getting your seat.” He details that this typically happens over the course of 400 to 600 miles, and would be better done with short but more frequent rides rather than cramming all of your buttock-acclimation into a few weekend warrior rides. It takes time, it will be uncomfortable, but you know what they I say, “Toughen up, buttercup!”

2. Wear quality bike shorts, and wear them correctly.

According to Demerly, cyclists will shell out anywhere from $90 to $239 on quality bike shorts. While I find $239 to be a pretty specific price quote, I do agree that good shorts are gonna cost a pretty penny. What makes it “quality” you ask?

• precise cut patterns for better fit
• sophisticated, seamless, anti-bacterial moisture wicking pads
• highly breathable
• reduce friction
• transport moisture effectively away from tender, inflamed tissues

Once you’ve tasted TESTED (!!) the good stuff, there’s no turning back. Demerly recommends bibs (shorts with suspenders, keeping the shorts and padding in place) for longer rides, but notes that they are less convenient if you need to make a quick pit stop.

The next bit of information is written in bold, so I to, will emphasize in Demerly fashion:

Never wear any underwear with bike shorts.

(Says the article. Don’t come crying to me if you get a yeast infection…) Alright – this is something I have heard many times. Something that I’ve brushed off as, “ok… you go ahead and go commando. I like my undies right where they are.” The reason people say not to wear underwear with bike shorts is that quality shorts are supposedly designed to be worn against the skin, and underwear only traps in moisture and increases friction and chafing. I am still wary, and I promise you if I do attempt a commando ride I wont be sharing my plans on Twitter ahead of time.

Demerly also says to make sure your shorts are snug. Use a chamois lubricant. Good. To. Go.

3. Make sure your bike is fitted for YOU, and maintain good posture.

You might think you need a new saddle, but in reality, your discomfort could really be due to improper fitting of your bike, or improper posture. You could spend bucco bucks on a “comfort” oriented saddle, and still come off with a traumatized tush if your posture is no good or your bike doesn’t fit you correctly. Look to the pros, Demerly says. They don’t use saddles with ventilated “relief” slots or big gel cushions. Their seats are solid, and you know they’re out there riding for hours at a time. The angle of your saddle, the angle of your handelbars (this influences the way your weight is distributed over the saddle) and the position of your seat all contribute to a “proper fit”. A triathlete who is down on their aero bars will sit farther rotated on the nose of their saddle than road cyclist does. Moral of the story: Fit. Is. Important. A bike fitting can be done at most quality bike stores, and prices vary widely, but are well worth it.

And to end the article, Demerly summarizes with a checklist of “Good Saddle Habits”

• Get used to sitting on a bike seat with consistent, short rides over a period of weeks.
  
• Always wear form fitting bike shorts, the best you can afford.
  
• Be sure your shorts are tight enough with no wrinkles.
  
• Never wear any kind of underwear with bike shorts.
  
• Try bib style bike shorts for better fit, especially for long rides.
  
• Always wash cycling shorts between wearing.
  
• Put your shorts on right before you ride and take them off right after. Don’t stand around or drive to events in bike shorts.
  
• Always use a chamois lubricant cream to increase comfort.
  
• Use powder inside your underwear in the saddle area when wearing street clothes to keep your crotch dry and speed acclimation.
  
• Be certain your bicycle fit, position and posture are correct.
  
• Focus on the fundamentals of saddle comfort instead of giving in to to marketing claims of gimmicky saddles.

Annnnd that, my friends, is what there is to say about Saddle Comfort. I’d definitely encourage you to check out more of the training articles at BikeSport Michigan! As always, you  can find this and other training advice under the Train on Top tab at the top of the page!

Didn’t I say something about hydration? Yess. I found this situation rather comical when I realized how many hydration options were surrounding me when I sat down to my McMac this afternoon.

Left to right:

Banana Nuun (drank full bottle on ride), Lemon Lime Nuun (drank half on ride), Strawberry Apricot Sobe Life plain Water (oops! Drank that one last night. It was GOOD! drank half bottle of water before ride, half once home), Black Cherry Dragonfruit Sobe Life Water (drank full bottle once back home), Best ever amazing citrus orange heaven protein shake from God (slammed. Can you savor something and slam it at the same time?)

There will indeed be a FUELING-ON-THE-RIDE post to come in the near future! For now though, this post has been written in three installments and I am beyond ready to hit Publish. My tummy is full of PHO, my pubic bones have started to reform over the last couple of hours, and I am ready for a solid night’s sleep. That’s “recovery” time!! Rest up, find your seat, and ride on my friends.

-E

Giveaways: Erica’s got the goods. I mean.. the Gu!