[sprzepiora]

Well, I looked into what it would take to repair it, and found a used Trek 700 at the local bike shop for a little more than the parts it would take to repair the old one. I bought it, a helmet, and a water bottle and went for a ride today. Since I live in a very hilly area the really low gears were VERY welcome (it's a 21 speed).

I can tell you right now I am not happy with the seat at all I also think I need to hold my hand differently as they kept going numb and tingly after only 30 minutes. The grips on the handlebars are very rough on my hands and I am not sure gloves would fix that, but I will try it out.

I must say I had one heck of a workout and look forward to riding along with two of my kids. I picked up a really nice Mongoose mountain bike for my oldest son and I actually like his better. It has really nice brakes and shifters and weighs about half of what mine does. O well, it was his birthday present.

[Ronin]

Hi Sprzepiora!

The saddle issue is counter-intuitive. You will probably seek out a soft-cushy saddle --WRONG MOVE! With a painful butt you probably think I'm crazy but here is the issue: Soft and cushy saddles have lots of padding. When your sit-bones push down on the padding it feels pretty good but all that padding pushes up on other parts of your crotch. While it doesn't feel bad for the first few miles, it starts to shift, rub and cause your nether-regions to go numb. The padding also can cause the formation of blisters in them nether-regions and that is really painful.

What you want is a saddle with minimal padding but one that fits your sit bones exactly - check out the Specialized line of saddles for fit they come in three sizes and most shops have the tool to measure your sit bones so you get the correct saddle. If you doubt me - check out my current 2008 miles and I ride one of thesa saddles and could never have done them on a soft-cushy saddle. The sorness goes away after about a week.

[sprzepiora]

Yeah it has a "cushy" one on it now, but I had done some reading and will visit the higher end shop this week when I get paid and look for a better one. Not that I want to pay a lot of money, but the place I got the bikes at haven't left me feeling warm and fuzzy. I went to pick up my sons bike and luckily I took it for a spin right there as the chain kept slipping on the front gears. When I looked closely you could see they were worn out pretty good. Something I feel they should have discovered when they "tuned it up" before selling it to us. I have to take it back to them later when they get the parts in. I have also been reading a lot and they didn't offer to help in fitting the bikes to us, but I do not know if this is standard or not on used bikes.
The boys and I did a 10k today and we all felt we could have done more, there where four LARGE mountains we had to climb We took it easy and did it in just under an hour and a half. We discussed it and will probably try another, longer route next weekend with probably a short trip during the week. All in all it has been a lot of fun.

[Ronin]

There is one way to get a decent saddle cheap. Most shops have a box filled with sadddles that people have removed from their new bikes. More often than not, these saddles are not the soft and cushy versions and the shop just throws the originals in a box. They might even give you one.

[Gordonm]

I agree on the saddle big time. My saddle has very little if any padding and it is fine after riding man ymiles at once. The soft saddles are good for about 1 mile. Get a good fitting saddle and it will reward you with many pain free miles. It will take some getting used to but in the long run will be much better. Most people look at it and say how can you ride on that, I say very well thank you.

[dar917]

Originally Posted by Ronin

There is one way to get a decent saddle cheap. Most shops have a box filled with sadddles that people have removed from their new bikes. More often than not, these saddles are not the soft and cushy versions and the shop just throws the originals in a box. They might even give you one.

Really?? I'll have to check that out; I need to get a different saddle for mine too. The original one on mine is hard, so I got a gel seat cover for it. It works, but my sit bones made dents in it already and the gel is oozing out. Guess I've been riding it too hard.

[Ronin]

Hi Dar!

Yes, most bike purchasers go for a different saddle than the one that came with the bicycle -- usually going for ultra-cushy although the high-end riders just don't like the stock saddle (I personally love Specialized Alias saddles).

You mentioned that you put a gel pad on your saddle -- could that be because your saddle is the wrong size for your sit bones? Also what kind of riding and what is your position on the bike? That all makes a difference but I have found that most people prefer a harder saddle (yes, there has to be some give) to the cushy saddles when they ride a lot.

Just visit your LBS and ask if they have a box of saddles that came with bikes that the customer didn't want -- you may find just the saddle for you. Okay, some shops want to sell them for a tidy profit but seeing as they were included in the box with the original bike they really didn't cost them anything.

[Carwy]

This is why I wear a helmet and full gloves.
I just wreaked at about 10mph. My front tire hit something on the trail and my bike went one way and I went the other. It was in a curve on cement. This is the only thing that got hurt. My head, hand and the rest on me are fine. Even my bike is okay.
Before I cleaned my arm.


After I cleaned it.

Now to get the pain to stop. Any help.

[Gordonm]

Whew! As long as the bike is OK!

Good rash there. Wipeouts sure do stink. Part of biking.

[Carwy]

Originally Posted by Gordonm

Whew! As long as the bike is OK!

Good rash there. Wipeouts sure do stink. Part of biking.

Yes they do and yes it is. Dewey does not know yet about it. She's at work. It also ripped a whole in the finger tip of my glove.
I'm just glade I landed on my right arm. The Rotator Cuff in my left arm is messed up bad.

[sprzepiora]

yeowch! I hope it heals fast for you.


I did 10.5 miles today as a trial to and from work and I think maybe I can do it once in a while, but there is four steep hills that would leave me less than refreshed when I get there. It was a nice ride though, but my butt really hurts (not as much as Carwy does I'm sure) I think I have a blister in a not so nice spot so a new saddle is definitely in the works along with some locks and a pair of gloves. I have a bar much like an MTB does with grip shifters (which I do not like) and the grips on the bars are very rough on the hands.

I will say I had a lot of fun making the trip, I did have to walk part way up the last hill before home, I tried, but my legs just couldn't do it anymore.

To keep this D related As I have never worked out this hard before I tested at 90 before I left so I drank 8 ounces of soda (30g carbs) which in hind site I should probably had some better carbs that would release slowly. Anyway I made it to work tested again at 100, so I ate a box of raisins (33g) and had a short walk to the pharmacy. When I got back to the office I was 80, so I ate a small pudding (20g) and another box of raisins (33g) and took off. I made it home and tested at 90. Not too bad at guessing if you ask me.

I could have had some better carbs before leaving, but the amounts seemed ok. What surprised me was the drop after the short walk I had.

[dar917]

Originally Posted by Ronin

You mentioned that you put a gel pad on your saddle -- could that be because your saddle is the wrong size for your sit bones?

It probably is, I have no idea; I just know it's too hard.

Also what kind of riding and what is your position on the bike? That all makes a difference but I have found that most people prefer a harder saddle (yes, there has to be some give) to the cushy saddles when they ride a lot.

Well it's a mountain bike and I sit slightly leaning forward. I ride around my city a lot, on sidewalks and streets, some streets kinda suck for potholes and I go over a lot of railroad tracks. When I had it at my parents' place I just rode on their long driveway (gravel) and the state trail that runs past their place; I didn't ride it too often.

I need to get 'er all souped up before fall/winter anyway, get the brakes and gears checked out and the whole deal. Does anyone know if those oval seats with no front part are any good? I kinda want one of those.

Ouch Carwy!! Maybe put ice on it for pain?

[Gordonm]

Originally Posted by sprzepiora

yeowch! I hope it heals fast for you.


I did 10.5 miles today as a trial to and from work and I think maybe I can do it once in a while, but there is four steep hills that would leave me less than refreshed when I get there. It was a nice ride though, but my butt really hurts (not as much as Carwy does I'm sure) I think I have a blister in a not so nice spot so a new saddle is definitely in the works along with some locks and a pair of gloves. I have a bar much like an MTB does with grip shifters (which I do not like) and the grips on the bars are very rough on the hands.

I will say I had a lot of fun making the trip, I did have to walk part way up the last hill before home, I tried, but my legs just couldn't do it anymore.

To keep this D related As I have never worked out this hard before I tested at 90 before I left so I drank 8 ounces of soda (30g carbs) which in hind site I should probably had some better carbs that would release slowly. Anyway I made it to work tested again at 100, so I ate a box of raisins (33g) and had a short walk to the pharmacy. When I got back to the office I was 80, so I ate a small pudding (20g) and another box of raisins (33g) and took off. I made it home and tested at 90. Not too bad at guessing if you ask me.

I could have had some better carbs before leaving, but the amounts seemed ok. What surprised me was the drop after the short walk I had.

The excercise for me keeps on working most of the day. My BG stays a lot lower or I should say I can reduce my basal about 20% for a good 8 hours and stay pretty stable. Yes you should have some Better carbs. I use the powder drinks for my carbs. They are slower release and provide better carbs tha njust sugared soda. I also carry a few GU packs with me for even more carbs. I have been doing a few 50 mile rides and can consume 100G of carbs and not bolus for it. I just let my basal stay the same it my BS rarely rises at all. For anything under an hour your body will work off its reserves so "extra" food is really not needed but for us diabetics it is sometimes needed to keep our BS up. For rides over and hour you should be eating something to replenish your reserves. Keep up the good work. Before long that last hill will become easier.

[sprzepiora]

Yeah, I can't reduce my basal as I'm on Lantus I can't get insurance to cover a pump until I have been on insulin for six months and with an A1c of 6.3 they may try to argue that it's not needed, but what they don't understand is that I do not eat like a normal person. Enough of my rant

I think I am going to give my butt and legs a rest until this weekend, I may go for a short ride again but nothing major and not for a day or two.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by Carwy

This is why I wear a helmet and full gloves.
I just wrecked at about 10mph. My front tire hit something on the trail and my bike went one way and I went the other. It was in a curve on cement. This is the only thing that got hurt. My head, hand and the rest on me are fine. Even my bike is okay.
Before I cleaned my arm.


After I cleaned it.

Now to get the pain to stop. Any help.

When I saw him, I about threw up (& believe me when I say I normally have a strong stomach!!! I took care of him through a lot Worse)!!! And guess who had to clean & dress it!?

Carwy, did you test your blood before you went biking? Did you test after? What was it (if so)?

Sorry, didn't mean to take away from the rest of the thread. I like to go biking, but I use a recumbent bike.



It's fun & not a bad way to ride.