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I started a blog post this week, basically gushing about the awesomeness of my new bike. Ohhh it’s so pretty, oh it’s so light, it fits me like a glove, look at me, weeee!
And then today, reality hit. And since reality is always more entertaining than fairy tales (just check the Jersey Shore ratings) I’ll tell you this little, umm, “life experience” instead. And just like Jersey Shore, I’ll probably share things that are totally too much information and entirely inappropriate. So here goes nothing.
I showed up this morning for my first group ride with the Grand Strand Bicycles group, also my first REAL ride on my new bike. I felt like an a-hole being the ONLY one with a tri bike. I know road bikes are way more group ride friendly, but I wanted to (who am I kidding, NEED to) put miles in on the new bike if I have any chance of racing on it this year. Besides, my road bike is now pedal-less, as I stripped the poor thing for my new bike. To make matters even more embarrassing, I took my super fast, super light, aerodynamic bike and joined the waaaay back of the pack C group. I am not ready for this bike, and I totally felt it right then and there. I know, I know, who cares. Normally, not me. I’ll show up to a group run with a bunch of strangers in some crazy neon-getup and not bat an eyelash. Running is my “happy place”.
Heather in the middle of a pack of cyclists is about as foreign as if you dropped me off in the middle of China. I’ve got no idea what’s going on, and I feel like I sorely stick out. But anyway.
We took off. Made it about half a mile down the road and came to the first stop sign. I clipped out on the left. Clipped out on the right. And apparently, silently and unkown to me, clipped back in on the left. Unknown, that is, until I fell over at the stop sign. In the whole year I’ve been riding (if you can call it a year, I can probably count on both hands how many times I took the road bike out *sigh*) I have yet to fall. So as soon as I hit the pavement and felt the gravel embed itself into my kneecap, I felt relieved. Everyone gasped and asked if I was ok, and I said “THAT WAS MY FIRST FALL, WOOHOO!!” It was actually a weight off my shoulders to get that over with. Yes, I’ll fall again, and yes, I’m sure sometimes it will hurt even worse, but at least a little bit of that “when I’m gonna fall while clipped in” anxiety is done.
So onward we go, fresh bloody road rash knee badge of honor in tow. Somewhere in the first few miles, I got separated from back half of the C group, who was only going about 14 or 15 miles (what I wanted to do on this first outing) and wound up with part of theC group going 25 ish…not what I wanted to be doing. But I didn’t know where the heck I was (the ride is in Murrells Inlet, and I’m totally unfamiliar with the area), so 25 mile group it would be. Sort of.
Somewhere within the first half mile my uhhh, “saddle” was becoming sore. I believe the bike world differentiates two parts that can hurt on your saddle: sit bones and soft tissue. I know sit bone pain. This is what took me a while to get used to on my road bike saddle, where I was cursing myself for not having a bigger butt to compensate. But no no, today’s pain was not sit bone pain. It was straight up “soft tissue”, or as Oprah so catchily coined it, my “va-jay-jay”. (I warned you this was a “too much information” post). I tried to push through it, I mean, what was I going to do, hitch hike back?
I won’t lie, though there were many times I could have easily gone into aero position, because we didn’t have a tight pace line, I was too terrified. We were riding in traffic, something I’m not used to, and quite frankly, switching back and forth from aero to brakes scares the living day lights out of me. So I stayed in the same gear, the entire ride. I’d tell you my cadence but guess who was too scared to let go of her bike to turn on the garmin on her wrist? ME.
So here I am, not able to keep up with the front of the C group because I don’t have enough cahones to reach the 6 inches forward to shift my bike. The aforementioned pain never started dull, and instead quickly turned to excruciating pain. I’m talking, that “area” has not been so SORE since I gave birth to my 8lb babies. I started this horrible cycle of “peddle peddle peddle, stand up in the saddle, breathe a momentary sigh of relief, sit back down and curse myself because it hurt even more than it did before I stood up, readjust, find a still painful but not so much that I’m going to scream position, peddle peddle peddle, repeat”.
For 18.5 miles. Thank the good Lord that the very sweet Tasha was ready to head back the shop early, led us back, and I was spared the entire 25 miles, or whatever the rest of the C group did.
I hate my saddle. I hate it so much that if I only knew how to take it off (I don’t, I know nothing about bikes) I would throw it into traffic. Or the ocean, a fire, a pit of hungry crocodiles. I know that part of the reason it hurt so horrifically is because it’s probably designed for me to ride aero , and ride aeroI did not.
Offending saddle on the left: old saddle, which I never thought I would compare to an amazing fluffy comfortable cloud, on the right.
I ditched Dawn for the post ride run, waddled back to my car and went home. Where I discovered the pain was only going to get worse, from the chafing (can you even put tri-slide down there?) and the swelling. Yes, SWELLING. Do not tell me that “discomfort and getting used to the saddle” involves swelling, I don’t buy it.
I cried. Yes, I cried. Part of me blames the hormones (PMS, what the heck might as well throw caution to the wind and tell you every personal detail. I did , after all, blog about hemorrhoids once, so what am worried about). I cried that I would rather seriously go run a 100 mile ultra marathon RIGHT NOW than ever allow my girl bits to endure that sort of pain again. Triathlon, to me, seems like a constant battle of two steps forward, one step back. Am I even cut out for this? Why do I keep subjecting myself to triathlon when I suck at swimming and cycling is so dang intimidating?
On my way home, I stopped at the gas station. As I was paying, the cashier asked me about my cycling jersey, one from the Ulman Cancer Fund’s “10” event. As soon as I started telling her about UCF…I noticed her hair. It was short, and not just trendy hair cut short. I knew before she even said it. She started telling me that she is 3 radiation treatments away from being finished with her battle against breast cancer. A battle that she told me she won. Diagnosed last summer, surgery, chemotherapy, and now radiation, all while managing a gas station. She told me some days, she would go just a ways up the road to the local Cancer Center, get her treatment, and come right back to work a 10 hour shift. She told me she had no other choice, and that she DREAMS of one day a cure, and/or vaccination or anyway to prevent this, so that others don’t have to endure what she did. And then she thanked me. Thanked me for raising awareness and funds to help people like her. I congratulated her on winning her battle and went out to my car.
And I cried again.
If a sore va-jay-jay, self inflicted by pursuing one of MY dreams is the sort of pain I have to endure right now, then I’m one lucky son-of-a-gun.
Perspective is an amazing thing. I’m going to ice the bits (I can’t help but laugh), get my old saddle switched out to the new bike, and next Saturday, I’ll be back to that group ride. I swear I will conquer this cycling thing…
Happy (and pain free) running and riding my friends!
christy says
This made me feel so much better! I went out on my new tri bike for the first time last week. I was so scared. It is totally different than a road bike. I felt like an idiot on this $2000 bike, not knowing how to ride it. Glad I wasn’t the only one.
kat says
Sorry to hear your bits got so battered, icing sounds like it might just do the trick, really can’t imagine how paniful that mush be. Glad someone elses story was able to make you feel better.
Teamarcia says
This all just scares me. I am such a novice I don’t even know the diff between tri and road bikes. I still put my feet in those ridiculous basket things…and I fell off in my driveway with those.
It will get better for all of us….right??
Melissa Cunningham says
lovely post!!!!
hope your girl bits get to feeling better ASAP!!
things can only get easier from here,right?
or is the saying things will get worse before it gets better????
either weay,you can and WILL get the whole swim,bike,run thing down,you WILL conquer your fear of aero position,and next week WILL be better!!!
😀
Kelly says
You are so funny!! I hope the bits get better…a new saddle will do wonders. ALSO, after you switch the saddle, if you are still having trouble you might want to go back to where you got it fit and let them know what is going on…
Thanks for sharing the perspective…isn’t it funny how it always pops up right when we really need it?
thea says
Great post. I don’t ride, but had some horrendous chafing issues from running. Can’t imagine swelling too! Funny how perspective changes things. I’m collecting my old running shoes to donate to the Japanese tsunami survivors and have been thinking the same thing. Suddenly my blisters feel like a luxury. Good luck on your next ride!
Carolina John says
I was in myrtle beach this morning, would have been glad to switch that saddle out for you. oops.
Your old saddle will be fine on the new bike. It has a cavity in the center and a cradled midpoint that are more comfortable for more upright riding. People that are very flexible and can/like to ride aero a lot find the new saddle’s style more comfortable. Personally, I prefer the new saddle style, as the midpoint cradle always makes me uncomfortable.
Beginner Tri Baby says
Two words….GReat post!!!
Andrew Opala says
“Nooooooo! the bike is melting … it’s melting”
mickiruns says
Oh Lordy. 🙁 Hope you feel better soon!!
Catey says
Love this post! Amazing how life has a way of helping us remember what’s really important isn’t it?
So sorry for you pain, hopefully it resolves quickly! Oh, and yes, you can put triglide there. 🙂
SupermomE12 says
I have no advice because due to reasons similar to the ones you wrote about, I just hate riding a bike… so I don’t. 🙂 But you are totally hard core! I am sorry it was such a rough day and I hope it gets better. Before you know it you will be the ones leading the new riders and dishing out advice. 🙂
Jeff - DangleTheCarrot says
Great attitude Heather! Two words for you: Adamo Saddle.
Google it and look at the goofy looking design and then go to your LBS and ask if they will let you try one out. My man bits were in pain on the old saddle – this thing is a godsend!
Lisa says
switching the saddle is really a piece of cake. do it.
Kathy says
Easy to do with an allen wrench. Or your friendly neighborhood bike mechanic will probably do it for free in 2 minutes. Especially if you are in there buying some chamois cream, which I highly recommend.
Keep at it with the bike – you’ll get used to the tri bike before you know it.
tribirdie says
you poor thing! I thank my lucky stars every day that my butt is nice and cushy. Don’t worry, pretty soon the bike will feel totally natural! and yes, you CAN put tri-slide down there!
barklesstrimore says
I think your old saddle is going to be much better for you. It has this gap in the middle, which really helps with the lady parts…. I actually think, the gap is a lady specific saddle.. Has something to do with the pubic bone…. Can’t remember the specifics now.
Melissa C says
I put a comment on your daily mile post. Swap that saddle, or get a new Women’s specific one. you likely have a men’s one. Get a bike multi tool, and it should have the allen wrench you need to swap the saddle. Good luck next weekend, and I appreciate the honesty of this post. I have yet to get my new baby off the trainer and onto the real road, and I know it will be an adjustment as well.
P says
Oh, I feel ya on the “soft tissue” pain!! Chamois cream is the stuff of gods – I wear it even on short rides and it helps SO much! You put it right on your bare skin lady parts and/or the chamois of your bike shorts (I’m assuming you don’t wear skivvies under your shorts). I don’t know how it works, but it does. You can use plain old Desitin (yes, the diaper cream!) and it does the same thing.
glutenfreetri says
OMG – my Tri-slide goes on all those ‘special’ parts when I bike!! PS- ditch that saddle NOW!!!
mostlyfitmom says
What a post – I laughed, I cried. Hope your bits are feeling better soon!
Meredith says
Practice, time in the saddle, helps the lady parts. I swear. This is something that I had to overcome to switch to triathlon. Also, a really good saddle can make all the difference. Many triathlon shops will let you try before you buy. Do it! I personally love my ISM Adamo. Made for boy parts but works really well for many women too.
Mike says
Really cool about the gas station attendant and cancer awareness. So many cancer victims.
x2 what Jeff said about checking Adamo saddles. I had guy issues with my stock saddle and switched to Adamo a couple weeks after later.
Heather F. says
Yes perspective is a beautiful thing! This made me tear up a little towards the end. I love your blogs some might find it TMI however life is life and becoming a mom took away my TMI in mmost cases. Sorry about the fall and I know you will conquer this!!!
cjw says
what an wonderful post! you’re right, it’s all about perspective
Jen says
I have had 3 rides on my road bike… and my lady bits still get sore. I am trying to find a group that is a little closer to my level, most ride at 20-25, and I am more comfortable with 12-15…. soon.
TutuRunner says
wow. it always happens that way. whenever you’re having one of those “why am i doing this!!??” moments, a gentle reminder comes your way. this week i was handing out flyers for a garage sale to benefit LLS, and asking neighbors for donations. i only was able to get in touch with folks at about half of the houses within a one block radius, and learned that 4 of the homes are directly affected by leukemia or lymphoma. crazy. it definitely keeps me going.
Elizabeth says
Heather,
First buy some Hoo-Ha Ride Glide! Second slather it EVERYWHERE down there.
Next get a new saddle. I recommend the Cobb saddles or the Selle Womens saddles with the cutouts in the middle. You can PM me and I can send you some links.
CB
Crystal says
my first time riding after having not riden for awhile is always super painful, but after the first time it gets better and i dont wear cycling shorts. i always get them stuck on the seat when i go to sit down. i’m sure the old saddle will help wonders!
Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman says
Great post! You don’t see it often, but you know every person has had that type of experience. You just have the cahones to say it.
Once the weather clears up, I’m getting my road bike re-fit and looking for a new saddle for the same reason – just not comfortable enough! I agree though on the suggestion of going back to the shop you got it fit at. They may very well be able to adjust it or suggest another option if not simply fit your old seat to the new bike.
Jenn (junkmiles.org) says
I feel I must tell you, when I got my Cervelo a few years ago and took her out for the 1st time I fell of 6 times during a 2 hour ride. The 1st fall I hit my helemt so hard it actually cracked. I just knew I was hemmorrhaging was going to die before the ride was over. To add insult to injury, my compadres were peeing their pants laughing so hard AT ME that I began throwing rocks back at them, from the ground !! At least I still had bladder control!!!! It has taken a yar of different pedal systems and adjustments to get it right, for me, but we are finally there and I will NEVER change. No matter how may times the bike shop dude tells me I need to do so for better power and to preserve my metatarsals..WTF ever…I just need to stay upright!! Enjoy your rides!!
Jeff Vanis says
Ohhh that bike looks MEAN! Looking forward to seeing how you like it as the season goes on!
Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman says
This comment has been removed by the author.
TriGirl says
Ohhhh wow. I’m on the same track as you. I run ok, but swimming and biking are not my strengths. I replaced my beautiful road bike too…with a hybrid. Your post made me laugh so many times. And you are a brave soul with your tri bike and clip ins…I don’t even have baskets on my pedals (but still manage to fall). I hope the ice is doing the trick, maybe try some advil? Not the best way to spend your morning, but you put it all into perspective beautifully, and hey, you have a story to tell!!
Debbie says
Great post. And yes us crazy trigirls, have to endure “girl bit” tender moments. Your old saddle looks like it will be much better, but if you are in the market for a saddle:
John Cobb Flow saddles are wonderful. Similar to the adamo line.
Happy “tri” training!
Kendra says
That red saddle looks VERY painful. Is that the Specialized Jett/Ruby on the right? Love those. Adamo is pretty perfect for a tri bike though! FYI, your bike shop can squeeze the pieces together with a clamp if the Adamo is too wide for you, then get your perfect width. Plus Adamo comes in lots of colors, so you could get a red one to match. I use Adamo on my racing bike and the Jett on my commuter road bike. And if you don’t already have some – Chamois Butt’r!