[Ronin]

Hi Danielle!

Recumbents are a way to return to cycling with less pressure on your glutes. However, recumbents are particularly difficult if you have any significant hills because there is no way to stand-on-the-pedals to get over a steep grade.

As to butt pain, a proper saddle should be only wide enough to provide a support to your sit-bones (those bumps on your pelvis) and strange as it may sound, the harder the saddle the better. Why, you ask? Becuase those nice cushy saddles have padding that moves around as you pedal creating friction on your butt cheeks and inner thighs (as well as some parts we won't discuss on a public forum). Yes, it takes about a week to get used to the hard saddle but once that week is over you won't have the discomfort from the padding shifting around. I know you probably cannot beleive this but it is true -- just ask any serious cyclist about why the ride on the hard saddles and they will tell you the same thing. Now you may want a woman-specific saddle like a Terry (which is designed to eliminate pressure on the places we won't discuss).

As I mentioned, the bicycle has the double benefit of not only being exercise but transportation.

[natayo]

Danielle,

I use a rowing machine. Low impact, and no rear-end pain like on a bike. Works your legs and back muscles. You'd probably have to join a gym to use one, they aren't sold at most sporting goods stores. By far the best are ones made by a company called Concept II and you can order them online. They are very easy to put together, great engineering. They cost around $800. They also make oars and the like for real rowers. Rowing is very popular in Seattle, so you might be able to find a used one.