Road Cycling - did my first 200Km - sore rear end !

Distance: 218.86km = 136.8 miles
Riding Time: 9:03:52
Max: 71.6km/h (44.75m/h)
Average: 24.14km/h
Elapsed: 17:00 Sat -> 04:05 Sun

Well I did my first 200km ride on Saturday night. It was an Audax ride, 6 of us rode through most of the night. It was a glorious full moon, lovely still warm night. Roads were flat and empty. The cows were dozing. Our group sometimes looked surreal as our flashing rear LEDs danced our way through the countryside.

For those who know Perth, we started at Coogee beach, went through Rockingham, Mandurah, Clifton, Pinjarra and back to Coogee. It was a supported ride - so we had a cuppa and filled up a few times.

This was my first ride this long, and I loved it. It is really nice to get into rhythm and just ride. I have to say that my rear end was quite sore at the end, so much so that I really wanted to ride standing up every couple of minutes to give it a rest. I was riding a Trek 1000 with the factory seat which is firm and so far it has done me really well. So I don't think that the seat is the problem. I have been riding ~300Km a week so thought that my rear end might have been tough enough, but obviously not.

Does one's rear end (or wherever exactly in the `wear and tear' area you get sore) actually toughen over time ? How does one get to the point where you could do 200Km one day, have a rest and then do it again the next day ? Is it just building the K's as much as you can and then doing the full distances ?

Congratulations. Great ride.

Incidentally one of our conversions is incorrect.


Max: 71.6km/h (67.25m/h)

I don't think that is correct, and more likely about 48 mph.

Congratulations on the ride.

I know what you mean about the Trek 1000 seat (I have one). I find it makes my butt sore too, its one of the things that I plan to replace at the beginning of this season. Heck, maybe I should do it now.

Good ride. 24 kph is a nice rollicking speed for a 200k too.

I've found that on 200k and beyond I tend to average 5 hours per 100k, flats eats & controls included.

There's lots of good news. I've found that 200k is the hardest distance, beyond 200k its just more of the same, mental toughness becomes more important than physical fitness.

Saddle-sore - consider the Brookes leather saddles. They take just a little while to wear in, but once there, they become a perfect anatomical fit. The only truly ergonomic saddle. Its odd because they feel hard, compared to gel saddles, but very comfy.

Paris-Brest-paris beckons? If not this year then next time around - 2007

Stew

Originally posted by bfb2003
Does one's rear end (or wherever exactly in the `wear and tear' area you get sore) actually toughen over time ? How does one get to the point where you could do 200Km one day, have a rest and then do it again the next day ? Is it just building the K's as much as you can and then doing the full distances ?

Firstly congratulations on your ride!

In answer to your question, I've done a few 200km rides myself, one thing you could do to prevent the problem you've mentioned is get out of the saddle every so often (even if only for a few seconds) to allow greater blood flow to certain areas.

As far as doing it all again the next day, this is something I haven't yet tried. However, I would suggest finding some good stretching exercises in between times is the best option.