mikemets5

Yesterday was a big day for me

I completed my first Double Century, 203+ I rode it with 2 other riders, and it really went very well. The route went from White Plains, NY to North Barrington, MA and back. It was quite warm, and very humid. My legs really felt great throughout, and even did some of my strongest riding after the 175 mile mark.

Some of the small problem spots, and feel free to advise:

Sore neck from mile 150 on (bike fits me great...its a C50 BTW)

The pinky and ring finger on my right hand are still a bit numb, but getting better

The skin, down there, is a little raw. (have argueably "great" shorts (Assos) saddle (Aliante) and use Assos chamois creme) Even re-applied some creme at 2 rest stops. Never really had this problem before, and its getting better, even plan on being on the bike again at 5:30 tomorrow morning, but never even had a hint of this problem before.

Just looking for some thoughts from some with experience.

Thanks,
Mike

oboeguy

Bravo for doing a double! I hope to join that club one day. Body Glide got me through 160 miles on the day of the Montauk Century. Good stuff. It even comes in a little travel size you can stuff in a jersey pocket to reapply when you, ahem, get a chance to do so.

55/Rad

Congratulations on your first double.

My neck gets sore on the very long rides as well and I've found that if I take 3 minutes to stretch at the rest stops, it helps a bunch. The best stretch for me is to lie on back and swing my legs over my head, really stretching out the upper back and neck.

55/Rad

Trekke

Mike, what I believe you are tring to say is that the old helmet had a little paint rubbed off it. Right! So that happens to me on > 150 milers too. Just haven't figured out a way to keep it from happening yet. Maybe someone will give us some great hints or suggestions.

aadhils

Bloimy the exact same numbness happens to me too. I rode two 50+ mile rides (most i've ever done in my life) and both times my pinkie and ring finger were numb. First time I went without gloves. The second time I had on some gloves and made sure to move my hands alot...it still went numb. Anyone have any suggestions?

Machka 

First of all ... CONGRATULATIONS!! It's a good feeling isn't it to finish your first double.

1. Sore neck - if the bicycle fits, and you are sure about that, try one of two things ... raise the handlebars a bit, or stretch more while you are on the bicycle. I do a series of on-bike stretches every so often as I ride.

2. Numb fingers - that's normal. It will come back. Again, maybe raising the handlebars a little bit might help.

3. Raw area - tonight, before you go to bed, apply zinc cream. You should be fine by morning. You can find zinc cream in the baby department of your local department store or pharmacy. Oh yes ... don't use zinc cream while you ride. It's messy and doesn't help. But using it after you ride works wonders! BTW - I use diaper rash cream (without zinc) when I ride and I find it works just fine.


Have you ever considered Randonneuring?

Thylacine

Hang on.....numb fingers are normal but a sore neck isn't? How does that work?

I think one thing to also remember is that riding 200 kms isn't a stroll in the park, and you're going to hurt regardless. The sore neck is from being in one position for a long time, and the hands are basically you pressurising a particular nerve. Anything to do to avoid these two scenarios will help.

As for the butt thing, that's anyones guess. Still trying various different things myself.....17 years later.

Congrats on the mega-ride though. Awesome accomplishment.

Guest

No dear, that wasn't 200 km, it was 200 MILES... 203 to be exact. That's about 327 km. Now that's no walk in the park!

Koffee

Machka 

No 200 MILES isn't a walk in the park. I know. I've done it several times. But a sore neck (or pain elsewhere) shouldn't be a part of a 200 mile ride. Lots of cyclists can cover that distance without a sore neck, and they do that with correct bicycle setup and especially with slightly raised handlebars (so they aren't leaning over and straining their necks to see the road), and with lots of stretching.

For me, however, slightly numb or sore hands is pretty much a normal part of long distance riding. I have made a few minor adjustments to my bicycle setup which have helped, and I stretch my arms and hands as much as possible, which also helps, but it is still a bit of a problem.

As for the butt thing, here's what works for me: a brooks saddle, padded shorts that cover my sitbones without padding that is too heavy, and diaper rash cream when I need it. Then zinc cream after the ride. It isn't guesswork. It's experience.

brianallan

Regarding the raw skin- This was probably the longest you've spent in the saddle at one time. You're skin isn't used to that kind of sustained rubbing. But I'd equate it to the first time you did 100 miles. Perhaps you were sore that time, but upon doing a century again, you might have been less sore. Point being - your skin probably has to get used to riding that distance, and if you're using chammy cream, I don't know what more you could do : )

Also, average speed and ride duration?

MrCjolsen

YOU want advice from US?
I think it should be the other way around.

MrCjolsen

And all the places you claim to be either sore or numb, are the same places I'm sore and numb after a 30 mile ride.

Machka 

You need to see someone about bicycle setup!! You should be able to ride at least a century without pain if everything is in the correct place.

my58vw

My neck dies after about 45 miles, I can not imaging after 200 miles, but then my bike is agressivly fitted and I have neck problems, getting better all the time!

Machka 

Right - your bicycle is set up for racing, which is fine, because that's what you do. I'm betting your handlebars are significantly below the height of the saddle.

If you raised your handlebars to the level of your saddle, or even a little higher, then you wouldn't have the neck problems, or at least not nearly as bad, on longer rides.

When you ride long distances the bicycle should be set up for long distance cycling, not racing. Unfortunately a lot of bicycle shops only seem to know the setup for racing, and it is like pulling teeth to get them to set a bicycle up for distance riding.

mikemets5

Thanks for the kind words and advice.
A few responses (I'm just back from an easy 20 miles, and have to get to work....but hope to get in a few hours this evening)

Got up at 3:50 AM because I had about a ½ hr. drive to the starting point, and the ride was scheduled to go off at 5:00 AM. Ride started at 5:05, was actaully still a little dark for the first 15 minutes, and I rolled into the parking lot at 7 PM. My average speed was 16.6, and the rest of the time was stopping, mostly for liquids. I'm not sure, but I was told that both the temperature and humidity were over 90.

My neck feels fine, and the numbness in my fingers is about 90% gone. Still a little raw, but not terrible, and will be putting some of that diaper rash creme on shortly. I think the heat and humididty had a lot to do with the skin irritation.

My bikes are set up as racing bikes, but not aggressively so. My saddle to bar drop is in the 4-5 CM area. Most of my spirited club rides go in the 50-80 mile range and its good for that.



Thanks again.

MrCjolsen

Wow! What a concept! You mean actually adjusting your bike setup to the kind of riding you are doing that day, rather than using some etched in stone formula based on what your LBS thinks you should have? Who would have imagined that!

But seriously, should I move my handlebars up if I know I'm going to ride for 50 or 60 miles or move my seat forward when I do a triathlon? Or move my handlebars down if I'm out to set a record on my 12.5 mile commute to work?

MrCjolsen

As far as numbness in the hands. Don't rule out the gloves. I find that when my gloves need replacing (due to being stretched out) my hands start getting numb.

When my hands are numb, I sit up and pull my gloves down my fingers a little, and the numbness goes away.

It also seems like different shorts affect whether I get numb in that one "special place" (in case you are a bit slow today, it's the place where men generally get worried about being numb there. If you're really slow, and you still don't get it, ask your gym teacher or scoutmaster)

MrCjolsen

BTW, Matchka, I think you are the authority on stuff like not being sore after a long ride.

recursive

Masking tape.

mfreyman

Great job on the double!!

I would say that a sore neck is somewhat normal if you're not used to riding that distance. As others have mentioned, if your bike is set up in an aggessive position, you will likely have more neck discomfort than a position set up for touring/long-distance riding. And if you have aerobars, it will be even harder on the neck. Nevertheless, there are several simple exercises you can do to strengthen your neck muscles so it won't be such an issue in the future (do a search on the web -- I can't put my hands on any materials at the moment).

I don't think numbness in your fingers is "normal" for a 200 mile ride. I would try a few different things such as maybe some gel gloves, or gel handlebar tape, or double wrapping the handlebars, or loosening/relaxing your grip on the bars while riding, or changing positions on the bars more often, or taking one hand off and shaking/stretching it more regularly while riding.

In my opinion, I don't think you should be so "raw" either. When it gets hot and humid, I would suggest using a "heavier" chamois lube such as Bag Balm (one that is more like a vaseline consistency), or a diaper rash creme (without the zinc, like someone already mentioned). The "creamy" lubes, such as Chamois Butt'r tend to wash away much quicker once it gets hot and wet. And continue to re-apply at rest stops during the ride.

Good luck and let us know what ends up working for you.

teamawe

Some chafe, some dont, and some chafe more then others. There is no rule on this since everyone has different skin, contant points, sensitivity ect. Find out what works best for you and go with it, sounds to me like you are already on the right path.

Not everyone is going to change stems or set their bike up every time they change discipliens. If all you had after a double is some numbness in one hand a little neck pain and your bike is a touch aggresive, good on you. My bike is the same and I only had a bit of chaffing after doing Davis this year. I'm thinking a couple more long rides and these will work themselves out for you.

telenick

I agree with this as a variance to the bike's fit. A tri bike/TT bike, a stage race bike, a crit bike and a randonneurs bike will all have a different saddle to bar drop. A classic fit puts the drop within 0-6 cm.

Etching in stone is never a good thing. They don't make stone erasers.

spacefuzz

To help keep my hands from going numb when I do doubles I always ride with aerobars. Regardless of the other benefits just the ability to take pressure off my hands for a while really helps them after 10 hours or so. Though being in the aero position creates a kink in my kneck so I guess it depends what bothers you more.

telenick

I've ridden a few 300 km brevets and a couple of double centuries. I adjusted my drop for all those rides so that the handle bars are 2 cm below the saddle. I normally ride at 4 cm below the saddle.