3 Cheers for a Happy Butt!

I found out the hard way that the wrong saddle can really put a damper on one's cycling enjoyment. The saddle that came with my bike (Cannondale Raven saddle) was a better overall shape and size for my needs, but had sort of domed, squishy padding that had me poorly supported and put pressure on places where no woman wants it.

After reading some reviews I thought the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow sounded like a good candidate--after all, it's essentially identical to the Terry Butterfly saddle--the best-selling women's saddle on the market. But, as I have found with a lot of running shoes, just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's best for me (Asics is the top-selling brand of running shoe, but I have never found a single Asics model that worked for me, either).

The Selle Italia saddle is 160mm wide and "pear-shaped." My sit-bones appear to be in the 120-130mm range (based-upon several unscientific measurements using a flexible measuring tape). Most recommendations for proper saddle fit suggest that one should have no more than 10mm of saddle beyond the outer edge of each sit-bone. So my 160mm saddle was likely at least 10mm too wide. Perhaps this wouldn't have been so problematic by itself, but with the more gradual flaring from nose to butt area meant that the saddle was cutting into the backs of my upper thigh area with each pedal-stroke.

In addition to that issue I had to keep scooting my butt back to keep my sensitive frontal area from being squished and pinched against the front of the cut-out. Instead of the cut-out offering relief from saddle pressure it was probably causing more issues...numbness, pain, raw tissues--even after just a single hour in the saddle. Hubby was convinced that once I got on the road that this would be remedied, but after asking some fellow female riders about my issues it was pretty unanimous that discomfort and injury should not be synonymous with rides using the indoor trainer.

After some further research I decided to give the Specialized Body Geometry Jett saddle a try (in part because Specialized offers a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, so I knew I could return it if I didn't love it). It comes in 3 sizes (130, 143, 155). Most women fit the 143 and my own rudimentary sit-bone measurements suggested that was a good fit for me, as well.

I have completed 2 1 hour rides with this saddle and cannot believe the difference in comfort. No pain, numbness or raw skin up front--even without Chamois Butter. My sit bones are happy, and I don't need to squirm around on the saddle much at all, since my sit bones are actually being supported by the widest part of the saddle without my having to keep scootching back. Nor do I feel the need to get my butt off the saddle so frequently--the areas that need to align over the cut-out are aligning properly. And no upper thigh/butt chafing, either. The narrower nose is also comfier for this girl with chunky thighs.

The only discomfort after yesterday's 1 hour ride came in the form of a 3 mile progression run. Man, do these brick workouts make my legs feel like Jell-O for about the first mile!

She's a Brick (duh duh daa duh) HOWSE!

Today the exercise agenda calls for a brick workout--first an hour on the bike, then 5 miles outdoors (2 mile warm-up followed by 3 miles at increasing pace). As I sit here it's still pretty cold outside, but it is gorgeous...I don't ever recall seeing this much sun at this time of the year. I hope we won't be paying for this relatively mild Winter with a miserable Spring and Summer.

I really can't wait to get outdoors on my bike and I have enough warm running and cycling clothes that I could get out right now, but the kicker is that I'm not yet ready to be venturing out by myself. I really need to change a few tires under supervision and make sure I have that skill mastered long before I consider going solo. Finding opportunities for both the hubby and I to go out together is tricky with a 9 year old, too. He's not yet old/mature enough to be left alone. Maybe in a year or so we can consider that option.

I look forward to the day that he can ride WITH us, too. He's just about big enough to fit a junior-sized road bike, but it will be a while before he has the speed and endurance to keep up with adults...though I'm guessing that day will come within just a couple of years. He definitely has energy to spare (yay, ADHD--it's good for something!). He really enjoys riding his clunky old (when I say "old" I'm not kidding...it was his dad's bike when he was the same age) BMX bike. He's going to be a little monster on a lighter-weight bike with better components and larger wheels.

Rabbit Rabbit!

It's the first of March! In like a lion, out like a lamb...and so far it's looking like it's going to be in like a lamb. Hopefully the entire month is lamb-like. March is one of my favorite months...not because it's all that fabulous on its own, but because it marks the end of Winter and entry into Spring. Compared to May March's weather is still pretty crappy, but relative to the 3 months that precede it it friggin' rocks my socks!

Today it is brilliant and sunny...and it's a rest day for me. Too bad. The last 2 days were pretty gross, but they wore me out and I need to take it easy today. On Saturday I ran 11 miles with a couple of local running friends and yesterday I did 22 miles on the nowhere bike. I had planned to go a full 2 hours, but after 1:40 my butt and girly bits cried uncle. And Zombieland (our choice of indoor ride entertainment) ended, anyhow.

When I say butt I don't mean the obvious culprit--the sit bones. I mean raw chafing along the front crease where my butt meats my thigh, especially on the left side. In the same spot where I chafe if I wear undies while running (which is why this gal goes commando under running tights).

I asked around on a women's cycling support board with a lot of knowledgeable riders and it's been suggested that my saddle (Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow) is too pear-shaped for my my booty shape and biomechanics (as opposed to more T-shaped, which has a less gradual transition from nose to butt-area). I'm also suspicious that it's too big/wide. My sit-bone width appears to be ~120-130mm apart, but my current saddle is 160mm wide, I should probably be on something closer to 140-150mm.

The saddle that came on my bike was likely a better shape/size, but it was very squishy and domed and without a cut-out to help relieve pressure for the girl parts, so that wasn't ideal, either. I find with the current saddle that I have to keep pushing my butt back, but keep sliding forward and the cut-out ends up being too-far back to do me much good. Stuff that shouldn't get pinched and smooshed gets pinched and smooshed. Adjusting saddle angle and placement relative to the handlebars doesn't seem to make much difference.

In some ways finding the perfect saddle is very much like finding the perfect running shoe--except saddle designs/models don't change every 9-12 months and a saddle should last me a couple of years, UNLIKE a pair of running shoes.

Murphy's Law

I just got new running shoes (Mizuno Wave Elixir 5)...I already prefer the overall fit and features to the Elixir 4s. Several of the silly traction dots on the forefoot of the 4s were worn completely flat after only 125 miles or so. And they were always just a hair firm. The update is a bit softer (at least according to Mizuno and early reviewers) and the forefoot tread is no longer comprised of those fragile little rubber dots.

The Murphy's Law part...the roads are kinda crappy, again. I don't know that I want to wear brand new shoes in that garbage. I like to keep my new shoes new-looking for maybe the first 50 miles. After that point I'm not so careful about weather/road conditions. But I would like to get one shorter "break-in" run in before my 11 miler on Sat. Always nice to make sure a shoe doesn't have any trouble areas, like weird seams or overlays--at least when it's a brand new model.

Winter can go bye-bye any time, now. Not only is tomorrow supposed to be cold, but we are also predicted to have sustained 25mph winds with 36mph gusts. Add that to temps just below freezing and the wind-chills end up pretty bitter. Gross. My planned 7 miler in that is going to be rough, especially since it's an interval workout. I will definitely be making certain that the intervals portion is with the wind at my back after my initial warm-up miles.

Today I logged 14 miles on the nowhere bike with 4 rounds of one-legs. Those are tough. I much prefer pedaling with BOTH legs. I do think they make me stronger, though, so I will keep doing them.

$45k of FUN!

So yesterday was the big 24 hour Ultimate Cycle Challenge, of which I covered 2 hours for our JDRF West MI team. The entire event raised that big dollar amount in the title above--all going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Wow. I'm not really sure exactly how many people participated in the event, but at any given time there appeared to be 40-50 people pedaling.

I went into this with some trepidation. This was to be my longest indoor ride and I knew I'd likely have my bike mounted on the same fluid trainer model my hubby has, which provides markedly more resistance than the old magnetic trainer I use. I figured I would have to really ease-up on the gearing and that I'd be lucky to crank out 20 miles in that 2 hours.

Turns out the trainer I was on had noticeably less resistance than mine and that Derek must simply have his tension set higher. So in 1:57 I easily managed 30 miles. Yay, me! That trainer was so much smoother than my own, too. I think next Winter I will have to replace the ancient magnetic trainer for a newer, smoother fluid trainer.

I had so much fun...I think I could have gone a 3rd hour without much trouble. Next year I am definitely in for 3-4 hours! I'd like to be there at night when they have the DJs and videos. I missed some great 80s pop. Hubby also rode 2 hours and our son was really a trooper. He read and refilled water bottles and brought us snacks as we pedaled. I think next year he may have his own bike on a trainer and be able to pedal for at least an hour, too. That would be really fun to have him alongside one of us.

Today I dragged my butt through 5 running miles. I'm still dealing with some sort of weird low-grade cold that I am suspicious may actually be allergies--all these above-freezing days almost certainly have encouraged some mold growth. I've also not slept well the last few nights and yesterday was a long day--went to bed too late Fri. night, up to early yesterday, the UCC ride, then restless sleep last night. I'm wiped-out! Luckily I have a rest day in the works either tomorrow or Tues.

Ultimate Cycle Challenge

In about 13 hours my bike will be right where that foreground bike is sitting...and my butt will be on the saddle for the following 3 hours. Ack! My longest indoor ride, ever. I have ridden 2.5 outdoors, but that's a lot kinder to the girly-bits and the brain. And it's likely to be hot in there. I'm gonna be a sweaty mess by the end of things, I think.

Already our team has had a cyclist pedaling for nearly 2 hours. For 24 hours we will have someone pedaling--most of us in 2 hour blocks. We have raised a paltry $10 as a team (not including the registration fees, which help support the Lance Armstrong Foundation, as well). If you'd like to financially help our JDRF West Michigan team we'd greatly appreciate the support.

Fashion focus: I plan to wear an orange sleeveless jersey and orange wicking do-rag thingy...to match my flashy handlebar tape. A girl's gotta look put-together when she is sweating like a horse!

I'm IN!

For the 2010 Las Vegas Half Marathon on Dec. 5! Running with me will be 20-30 of my best running girlfriends. Some will do the full, but most of us are there for the half. I don't expect to PR with that crowd or all of the revelry in the days and nights prior to the race.

Last night I booked my flights, hotel, and registered for the race...most expensive race, ever. Sheesh. Both the full and half marathon distances are $135. I think the most I've ever paid for a race prior to this was maybe $85, and that was for a full marathon. That race registration is going to cost more than my share of the hotel room for 4 nights...really.

The group of women I'll be spending the weekend with in Vegas are all planning to wear plaid running skirts and white compression socks/sleeves...when in Vegas dressing as naughty school girls seems appropriate (plus the RunningSkirts.com skirts are super comfy. I've worn one of these skirts for 2 of my 3 marathons and for literally thousands of miles of training over the past 4 years).

Yesterday I had one of those "oh shit" moments that briefly had me mentally canceling my running/cycling goals for the next few months. Hidden under the slush was a rock or hunk of ice that laid in wait for my left foot. I landed on the evil object, felt blinding pain shoot up the lower quarter of my leg and ankle, hobbled for a few steps, then was forced to stop to catch my breath and assess the damage. It hurt, but nothing felt broken or seriously injured. I walked for a couple of minutes, until the pain subsided. Once I was certain there was no serious damage I finished up my run, though I did cut it short a mile, just to be safe. Thank goodness for my sturdy cankles! I've never once broken or sprained either ankle. *knocks on wood* I am certain having stocky leg and ankle bones is an asset when it comes to durability.

My ankle continued to be a bit tender and stiff for the rest of the day and into this morning, but no swelling or serious damage seemed to be present, so I pressed-on with my planned 7 miler today (I just had to--it was gorgeous and sunny...these days are few and far between, this time of the year. Gotta take advantage of that source of vitamin D!). Ankle felt great while I was running, but is still a little "off" while at rest, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye on things for the next few days.