RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/11/2008 12:21:06 PM
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Miss Giggles
Posts: 4131
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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Ok. I will try to adjust it today when I go to spin class. I will adjust the handlebars better.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/11/2008 3:23:49 PM
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phosadaud
Posts: 9827
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From: Washington State
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I tend to do that so I will just wiggle my hands now and again to get the circulation going again...
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/12/2008 12:19:54 AM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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About 70% of the women I know all use the Terry butterfly seat or the Terry liberator. They are both women specific seats and very popular among the women cyclists.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/12/2008 11:15:40 AM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: phosadaud
I can't afford that now, but I do know that my legs last longer than my seat on my rides... 
There are two factors that will cause that, one is a bad seat, and amazingly many of the so called "comfort" seats are among the worst on a long rides. Save up for a good one, it is definitely worth it. Some of the good saddles that I have, I have had since my days in college (and one even from high school). When ever I sell a bike, I put back the original saddle and keep the good one. One side note: When you are buying a seat for comfort, do some research and if possible see you can try one before buying. The seats that are truly designed to be comfortable look similar to the racing saddles, but they are often not the same. Many of the racing saddles will compromise comfort for other factors like weight, Q-factor, etc... and often they cost a lot more. If you are trying to find a seat for comfort you really can spend too much money, most of the really high cost saddles are not that comfortable. A good comfortable seat usually runs about $40-$150, many of the racing seats run about $70-$300. A $300 saddle will be light (very light), but it won't be comfortable at all!
The other factor is just time on the bike. When anyone first begins riding, they will get sore no matter what seat they use (or if the begin riding again after a long time off of the bike), but that usually passes in a week or two when you are regularly on the bike.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/12/2008 1:16:29 PM
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humbleinspirit
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Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Just Outside of Boston
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I have a nice plush seat on my bike. 
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 12:14:05 AM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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Hi there!
I'm new to cycling...been riding for only a year. We're planning on doing a lot of riding during our vacations. I'd like to know what is the most comfortable clothing for women when cycling? I don't want to wear spandex shorts because I feel too exposed. And is wearing runners just fine? I'm not really ready to invest in cycling shoes? We'll probably do about 200 kms during our vacations with the longest trail being 60 kms. I'd like to feel really comfortable. I have a lot of running/hiking/climbing gears, but no cycling gears.
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Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 1:47:33 AM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
Hi there!
I'm new to cycling...been riding for only a year. We're planning on doing a lot of riding during our vacations. I'd like to know what is the most comfortable clothing for women when cycling? I don't want to wear spandex shorts because I feel too exposed. And is wearing runners just fine? I'm not really ready to invest in cycling shoes? We'll probably do about 200 kms during our vacations with the longest trail being 60 kms. I'd like to feel really comfortable. I have a lot of running/hiking/climbing gears, but no cycling gears.
200K is definitely long enough to reconsider both shorts and cycling shoes. Cycling shorts have two aspects that really can be important on a longer rider. First, they are padded in all of the right places, and that padding is entirely for comfort. Second, they fit tightly to prevent chaffing on the inside of your thighs. For shorter rides these things don't matter that much, but for longer riders it can make a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. Anything longer than about 60 miles (100K) in one day, or more than 100 MI over a couple of days and you will wish you had the right gear. The comfort factor is why you find women who ware very modest and loose tops but still ware the skin tight shorts. Skin tight tops are not as comfortable, and only really have a benefit for racers traveling at speeds near 30MPH (wind resistance is less); for everyone else comfort would mean looser clothing. Having the pockets in the back of the jersey is nice, because they are easier to access when riding, but that is more a convince issue that a comfort issue. Also cycling shoes can make a difference in comfort on longer rides because the soles of the shoes are designed to distribute the pedal pressure across the entire foot. There are not cleated cycling shoes that you can use if you are uncomfortable with cleats that do the same thing (and the even look like normal shoes  ), but they have plates in the soles to distribute the pedal pressure. Other considerations: get a good helmet, they are safer, and cooler, the cheaper helmets are often not ventilated very well and can be hot and uncomfortable in the summer, and a good pair of cycling gloves is also a must for comfort, the padding in the palms really helps on longer rides.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 9:06:14 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: benelchi
quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
Hi there!
I'm new to cycling...been riding for only a year. We're planning on doing a lot of riding during our vacations. I'd like to know what is the most comfortable clothing for women when cycling? I don't want to wear spandex shorts because I feel too exposed. And is wearing runners just fine? I'm not really ready to invest in cycling shoes? We'll probably do about 200 kms during our vacations with the longest trail being 60 kms. I'd like to feel really comfortable. I have a lot of running/hiking/climbing gears, but no cycling gears.
200K is definitely long enough to reconsider both shorts and cycling shoes. Cycling shorts have two aspects that really can be important on a longer rider. First, they are padded in all of the right places, and that padding is entirely for comfort. Second, they fit tightly to prevent chaffing on the inside of your thighs. For shorter rides these things don't matter that much, but for longer riders it can make a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. Anything longer than about 60 miles (100K) in one day, or more than 100 MI over a couple of days and you will wish you had the right gear. The comfort factor is why you find women who ware very modest and loose tops but still ware the skin tight shorts. Skin tight tops are not as comfortable, and only really have a benefit for racers traveling at speeds near 30MPH (wind resistance is less); for everyone else comfort would mean looser clothing. Having the pockets in the back of the jersey is nice, because they are easier to access when riding, but that is more a convince issue that a comfort issue. Also cycling shoes can make a difference in comfort on longer rides because the soles of the shoes are designed to distribute the pedal pressure across the entire foot. There are not cleated cycling shoes that you can use if you are uncomfortable with cleats that do the same thing (and the even look like normal shoes ), but they have plates in the soles to distribute the pedal pressure. Other considerations: get a good helmet, they are safer, and cooler, the cheaper helmets are often not ventilated very well and can be hot and uncomfortable in the summer, and a good pair of cycling gloves is also a must for comfort, the padding in the palms really helps on longer rides.
Oh goodie, more gears to buy, lol. I'm seriously enjoying riding. I only got into it last year, and for the most part, I'm just using riding to heal my injured knee so I can ski again. But I'm loving it and I'm probably going to start investing in some gears. I have a great helmet. When I ride, I use either my trail running shoes, or my regular hiker. I have a lot of cycling jersey (more for fashion, lol. They were great for hiking due to their moisture wicking capacity), and I do have a lot of running shorts. I looked around for cycling shorts and man, are they expensive. They're starting at $60 here.
So far, I've been enjoying long bike rides and my regular running gears aren't bothering me much. I did 60 last week on one day, and I did about 20 today without any problems. But if it's gonna add any more comfort, I'd probably start investing in them. So, I guess I'll forgo the climbing gears since I barely climb, and start on the cycling gears.
_____________________________
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Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 9:12:13 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
quote:
ORIGINAL: benelchi
quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
Hi there!
I'm new to cycling...been riding for only a year. We're planning on doing a lot of riding during our vacations. I'd like to know what is the most comfortable clothing for women when cycling? I don't want to wear spandex shorts because I feel too exposed. And is wearing runners just fine? I'm not really ready to invest in cycling shoes? We'll probably do about 200 kms during our vacations with the longest trail being 60 kms. I'd like to feel really comfortable. I have a lot of running/hiking/climbing gears, but no cycling gears.
200K is definitely long enough to reconsider both shorts and cycling shoes. Cycling shorts have two aspects that really can be important on a longer rider. First, they are padded in all of the right places, and that padding is entirely for comfort. Second, they fit tightly to prevent chaffing on the inside of your thighs. For shorter rides these things don't matter that much, but for longer riders it can make a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. Anything longer than about 60 miles (100K) in one day, or more than 100 MI over a couple of days and you will wish you had the right gear. The comfort factor is why you find women who ware very modest and loose tops but still ware the skin tight shorts. Skin tight tops are not as comfortable, and only really have a benefit for racers traveling at speeds near 30MPH (wind resistance is less); for everyone else comfort would mean looser clothing. Having the pockets in the back of the jersey is nice, because they are easier to access when riding, but that is more a convince issue that a comfort issue. Also cycling shoes can make a difference in comfort on longer rides because the soles of the shoes are designed to distribute the pedal pressure across the entire foot. There are not cleated cycling shoes that you can use if you are uncomfortable with cleats that do the same thing (and the even look like normal shoes ), but they have plates in the soles to distribute the pedal pressure. Other considerations: get a good helmet, they are safer, and cooler, the cheaper helmets are often not ventilated very well and can be hot and uncomfortable in the summer, and a good pair of cycling gloves is also a must for comfort, the padding in the palms really helps on longer rides.
Oh goodie, more gears to buy, lol. I'm seriously enjoying riding. I only got into it last year, and for the most part, I'm just using riding to heal my injured knee so I can ski again. But I'm loving it and I'm probably going to start investing in some gears. I have a great helmet. When I ride, I use either my trail running shoes, or my regular hiker. I have a lot of cycling jersey (more for fashion, lol. They were great for hiking due to their moisture wicking capacity), and I do have a lot of running shorts. I looked around for cycling shorts and man, are they expensive. They're starting at $60 here.
So far, I've been enjoying long bike rides and my regular running gears aren't bothering me much. I did 60 last week on one day, and I did about 20 today without any problems. But if it's gonna add any more comfort, I'd probably start investing in them. So, I guess I'll forgo the climbing gears since I barely climb, and start on the cycling gears.
Here is a place you can buy them cheaper, and if they have a local store in your area the will always match the web price.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat_estores.cfm?subcategory_id=1220&estore_ID=1056
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 9:16:15 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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quote:
Here is a place you can buy them cheaper, and if they have a local store in your area the will always match the web price.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat_estores.cfm?subcategory_id=1220&estore_ID=1056
Do you guys ship to Canada?
_____________________________
________________________________
Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/13/2008 9:24:54 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
quote:
Here is a place you can buy them cheaper, and if they have a local store in your area the will always match the web price.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat_estores.cfm?subcategory_id=1220&estore_ID=1056
Do you guys ship to Canada?
I think THEY do, but I only buy from there. I don't work there!
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/14/2008 10:18:25 AM
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his_chosen
Posts: 990
Joined: 4/11/2005
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I have a couple pairs of Performance shorts and I HATE them. Way too much padding that tends to wad up. I like Canari. Also, Velowear. I ahve two Velowear trisuits that I really like. Check out their on sale items. Early in the season you can get salesman samples for cheap. I got a $125 trisuit for $20. http://www.velowear.com/Category.aspx?cat=CAT-SALE-ALL
As far as saddles. More padding is not better! You only need support on your "sit" bones. Anything else puts pressure where you don't want pressure. I have a Specialized woman's saddle. Very little padding, and with the split, I am not sitting on my girly parts. I have a marshmallow saddle on my other bike and I can't stand it.
Ops--guess I should introduce myself... I'm into long distance cycling. I've just started with triathlons, which I really enjoy. I just did my first Olympic distance last weekend and will be doing a half ironman late next month. Oh, and that's me in the avatar. It was taken at Deer Creek, my second sprint tri.
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You have a choice. You can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/14/2008 2:20:31 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: his_chosen
I have a couple pairs of Performance shorts and I HATE them. Way too much padding that tends to wad up. I like Canari. Also, Velowear. I ahve two Velowear trisuits that I really like. Check out their on sale items. Early in the season you can get salesman samples for cheap. I got a $125 trisuit for $20. http://www.velowear.com/Category.aspx?cat=CAT-SALE-ALL
As far as saddles. More padding is not better! You only need support on your "sit" bones. Anything else puts pressure where you don't want pressure. I have a Specialized woman's saddle. Very little padding, and with the split, I am not sitting on my girly parts. I have a marshmallow saddle on my other bike and I can't stand it.
Ops--guess I should introduce myself... I'm into long distance cycling. I've just started with triathlons, which I really enjoy. I just did my first Olympic distance last weekend and will be doing a half ironman late next month. Oh, and that's me in the avatar. It was taken at Deer Creek, my second sprint tri.
A couple of notes:
My daughter has and likes the specialized saddle, but she is very petite. Most of the other women I know prefer the Terry; especially the butterfly which is the originator of the split saddle.
Veloware is Good, our team clothing has been made by them in the past, but it tends to be a bit pricey. We have also used Hincapie (but again pricey). Most of my kids clothing is either veloware or Hincapie, mine is mostly performance; Performance has a very wide range of clothing, some with lots of padding and even gel in the shorts (too much for me, and I don't own any of these), and some very similar to the veloware/hincapie stuff for a lot less.
Suggestion: If you want some of the veloware/hincapie or equiv stuff for cheap. Contact some of the local race clubs and see if they have any of their last years kits for sale. Sometimes they will sell leftover clothing really cheep. Race clubs buy new clothing every year because the sponsors change every year; one of the fun parts of being on a race club is seeing what the new kits look like each year. Most clubs do over order each year because people crash and need to get clothing replacements (or maybe a member joins mid year). Demos from the factory are a lot more hit and miss, because typically the only demos are the ones that were made but the order went to someone else. If a club places an order after approving the demo, the demo typically goes to the club. If the manufacture has a lot of demos on hand, it usually means they lost a lot of sales.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/18/2008 8:50:26 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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I heard this before, and heard this before and I thought it's quite inspirational in life, as well as in riding. I'll remember this when I'm in one of those long bike rides.
A Tandem Ride With God
I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.
But later on, when I met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me pedal. I didn't know just when it was He suggested we change, but life has not been the same since I took the back-seat to Jesus, my Lord. He makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at break-through speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I was worried and anxious and asked,"Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch
my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found in giving I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus.
And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says... "Pedal."
_____________________________
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Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/19/2008 1:18:46 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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What do you do if you bonked during one of your rides? What do you do if your kid bonked?
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Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/19/2008 6:58:05 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2410
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
What do you do if you bonked during one of your rides? What do you do if your kid bonked?
The best way to avoid the "bonk" is to make sure that you are well hydrated, and take in enough calories and electrolytes. If it is hot sports drinks are a must, and make sure to have plenty of food on a longer ride.
For recreational cyclists the biggest cause of the "bonk" is dehydration and loss of electrolytes, but from a racer's perspective eating is a requirement for anything longer that about 1:45 because you body typically has no more that about a 2hrs supply of carbohydrates. At a slower pace your body utilizes a larger percentage of fat for energy allowing your carbohydrate stores to last longer, but as you increase the speed and your body cannot supply enough oxygen to your muscles to keep up with the demand, your body shifts to using carbs as the primary source. If you have already "bonked", stop and rest while replenishing water, electrolytes, and calories. And you should feel much better within 30 min.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/19/2008 9:38:05 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 1405
Joined: 12/11/2007
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Thanks Benelchi. I've never bonked in running before and I've done marathon distances. But with cycling, if we're covering long distances, I'm afraid of bonking. Thanks for all the tips. I guess I'm just trying to get some tips on what to put in my pack for those long rides during our trip.
I took my daughter on a ride today in a moderately difficult trail and she did ok. When we got home, she wanted to do some more riding, so I took her on another trail. I'm so proud of her. The trail was narrow and somewhat difficult with a lot of hills (not that high) and a lot of downhill. Whenever she crashes, she would go back to the bottom or the top (depending on where we were ) and she'd try it again. SHe's so determined. I think she's tired of the flat, wide trail that I've taken her before and she's ready for some challenge. She seemed to truly enjoy it. I am so looking forward to our hiking/biking trip next week.
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Money in the bank may be nice, but it will never beat sunrise from a sleeping bag in the mountains. " - climbhard511
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/20/2008 6:24:21 AM
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his_chosen
Posts: 990
Joined: 4/11/2005
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Prairie--to aviod bonking, stay on top of your fluids and nutrition. Sip on your waterbottle. You can use either water or sports drink. When you stop, have a snack. When I ride with my little guys, we always stop for ice cream!
Heading out for a ride now. It's 6:20, the sun isn't up yet and it's already 75*. It's gonna be a hot one!
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You have a choice. You can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
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