Viich

If 10 min is what you can do, do it. As far as other exercise, walking (assuming running would be worse than biking), unloaded squats, lunges, etc. Build some general fitness.

The seat - I'm lucky enough that I've never had major issues, but I definitely feel it in the spring (not a winter biker - too much snow and ice here). You can try a different seat, but that can get expensive quickly. In my experience, it gets better as I ride more, but I've never been in 'agony' from the seat.

The jelly - just means you had a good workout. Consecutive days is hard when you're first starting out, but getting into the routine is important as well. Don't be afraid to take a day off, but try not to do more than one in a row.

Get someone who knows a little about bike maintenance to take a look at your bike - either someone you know who rides and takes care of their own bike, or a shop. That doesn't sound right. Either you didn't have an easy enough gear or there is a mechanical issue.

Wilfred Laurier

Another issue not mentioned (AFAICS) is bike fit - if your bike is significantly too small or not set up properly for you then you will be working much harder than if it fit properly. And since Walmart bikes generally only come in one size, there is a set of people for whom they work, and the rest of us can pound sand. But if the brakes are not rubbing and the tires have enough pressure (around 50 - 65 psi for paved surfaces usually) than even a very inexpensive bike can function properly.

StanSeven

You don't want a gel seat cover. Despite what it seems like, saddles shouldn't be soft. You want the saddle to support your weight over the seat bones. It should be the saddle holds your butt so your legs can turn the pedal without friction. Softness like gel interferes with that.

If you are sore, try adjusting the saddle position. Start with the part you sit on being level. That works for the majority of riders. But expect some soreness until you get used to riding.

Good luck, don't do to much all at once, and enjoy the rides.

Miele Man

Avoid the gel covers or any other extra padding on the saddle. What happens with those is they compress under your sit bones but NOT under your family jewels and that puts a LOT of pressure on them.

Did you eat before your ride? Some days i get jelly legs early in a ride if I haven't eaten recently enough before heading out.

Even 10 miuntesa day beats 0 minutes a day. Also, some days are better than other days. Some days I just ride in a light gear (little pressure on the pedals) and ride slower.

Sore butt? It could be the saddle. A friend and i were riding a number of years ago and after about 20 miles his butt was very painful; so much so he was wondering how he'd be able to ride back to town. I switched my sadle with his and after a few miles his pain diminished quite a bit and he was able to ride back in reasonable comfort. His saddle had a strong transverse curve to it whereas my saddle was much flatter. Turned out that the strong transverse curve of his saddle and the fact that it was a bit narrow for him meant that his sit bones weren't properly supported and they were being spread apart by the saddle.

What clothes you wear on your bottom can also affect the comfort to a great degree. you want to avoid anything that has ridges or high seams. Bicycling shorts or liners have flat seams for the reason that they won't chafe. Check your butt for chafing. it shouldn't be that sore after only a short ride.

Sitting bolt upright puts a lot of weight on your butt and that position will worsen any other problems caused by a saddle or thick seams on clothing.

If your saddle is too low that will cause you to bounce and or rock as you pedal and that can lead to a sore butt too. So can a saddle that's too high.

When it gets really cold out or if I'm going to do a hard ride (effort or hills) I often wear a sanding mask as that allows me to breathe in pre-warmed air. I find it makes a HUGE difference. The one I use is like this one.

Dust mask by Miele Man, on Flickr

You can get a better quality maske if you ride in an area where there's a lot of motor vehicle polution especially diesel.

Cheers

JC1978

Thanks for all the advice. I don't eat before hand. I'm really sore my round back of legs than jewel area. Guess not used to it. Went for another ride again today and in pain on the seat.

billd76

IF you haven't had a good physical in all the those years, get one ASAP!! And tell the doc what's going on.

ColaJacket

It's possible that you weren't in an easy enough gear. If you're pedaling very slowly (mashing) you're more likely to have an issue than if you pedal very quickly (spinning).

GH

BlazingPedals

Don't worry about eating prior to the ride. A 10 or 20 minute ride will not deplete your energy stores no matter how hard you go. If you stick with it, your butt should toughen up and it will gradually bother you less and less.

Maelochs

I second the suggestion to get a physical. 99.9% chance you are just out of shape ... but speaking as one of the .1% that was out of shape plus had issues .... better to know sooner, and react sooner.

If the saddle Really hurts, something is wrong. You might get a big fat tricycle saddle at a yard sale to use for the next few weeks, until you get used to riding.

i also agree that doing 10 minutes is fine. Try going more slowly if you need to. Getting going after coming to a complete stop and sitting for a long time can be devastating, particularly as we age ... after a while our bodies just stop trying. Up until mid-20s or so you can be sedentary and your body will keep growing and stay strong ; after that, your body will waste away (except your waist.)

Keeping at it is what makes the difference. I know from experience there is some point beyond which your body stops hating you for making it work ... and then it starts hating you when you don't.

ltxi

Ill fitting saddle and use your gears/don't mash would my only constructive comments....other than thinking you most likely ought to get a doctor's opinion.

Miele Man

Now I'm not sure now where you're experiencing the pain. i thought it was your butt that was extremely painful. Is it your butt, your legs or is it both?


My comment about eating before you ride was made because I know peoplw who'll eat a very early Saturday night supper, do a lot afterwards and then try and ride Sunday morning before eating anything else. they get tired very quickly if there's any effort (hills) involved in their ride.

Cheers