Shawn Gossman

Howdy all,

Been a bit since I posted but I finally made it out to cycle today, the first time in 10 years. I bought me a 2012 Gravity Base Camp 2.0 mountain bike I so far it was an extremely smart purchase. I rode a total of near 20 miles (long for a guy just starting out again) at Tunnel Hill Bike Trail in southern Illinois. Had a lot of fun but I think I need a new seat because I am very sore, lol. Instantly fell in love with cycling today... plan to make it a big part of my life!

If any of you make it near Karnak, IL or Harrisburg, IL or in between... Tunnel Hill Bike Trail is worth the ride! The full trail is about 45 miles long and its on an old rail road track path!

Mondo734

Being saddle sore is normal especially if its your first time riding in a long time. I would wait at least a hand full more rides before replacing it just to see if maybe your body just needs to adjust to being on a bike; should this be the case you would be sore on almost any saddle.

a1penguin

Yep, give the seat a chance. I had the same issue when I started biking again after several years of no biking. When I had a forced 10 month off the bike (broke my shoulder) my butt complained about the seat. Congrats! 20 miles *is* a long ride! You may feel a bit more soreness elsewhere tomorrow. Stretching will help some of the creaks.

Shawn Gossman

Thanks folks! I also wonder if its my bike shorts too. I purchase the Pro shorts from AeroTech Designs because the pad was thinner. I didn't wan't to feel like I was wearing a diaper haha. I wonder though if getting a thicker pad short would be better on my backside, haha.

I had a memory foam seat cover on the seat today as well but a "expert" cyclist buddy of mine said those do more damage than good. I probably will just take your all advice and work with the seat itself for a few rides and see if it starts to feel any better.

I fear I will be sore tomorrow, lol. Especially in my hands... I know know for sure that I need to get a pair of cycling gloves, I bet those will make a big difference.

Mondo734

Yea getting shorts with a little more padding my help out too but first I would try to get used to the seat before spending more money. I personally am like you in that I dont want shorts with a maxipad look. The ones I wear have very little padding but so long as I am doing less than 50-60 miles they work great.

Shawn Gossman

I have a pair of bib shorts with a thicker pad but it seems like it would be hot to wear them when the temps are warm. I will just rely on a few more bike rides to get used to it, haha. I know one thing, my knees are a bit bad with some minor arthritis and this ride today seemed to have done them good That is a great thing because they get to bothering me at times.

a1penguin

Thicker != better. Just like seats.... Padding != better. I've never seen positive reviews for shorts with gel padding.

Shawn Gossman

Well its the next day and I am feeling to 20 mile ride... my legs are stiff and my rear end is swelled up (trying to say that as polite as possible, lol). I am still in love though. I did however, went ahead and spent the money on some shorts with a thicker chamois. I buy from Aero Tech Designs, they got reliable and comfortable cycling shorts but with a better price tag so it wasn't like it was breaking the bank. After work at night, I am also going to try to ride my bicycle every night for an hour or two around town just to get used to it. I live in a small rural town and when I get off work, no one is hardly on the road so it will be fairly safe to ride.

a1penguin

I'm not surprised that you feel the ride the next morning. 20 miles is a lot of riding if you haven't ridden in ages. Don't forget to take a day off if you are sore. I started out commuting every other day to work, 8.5 miles each way.

Shawn Gossman

Well I rode again today except I pushed myself to do 30 miles. It was 91 degrees (F) today, mainly sunny and most of my ride was uphill. Plus the state trail workers shut off the water because of some line break so I was unable to get any drinking water for about 15 of the 30 miles, it sucked very much LOL. I tried my new shorts out (thicker chamois) and they really helped a lot, didn't get sore until 15 miles back to my truck. The last shorts, I was sore about the first 2 miles >_< I also got bike gloves and those did WONDERS for me today!

Hey hey! I got a trophy too...the cyclist tan

I am beat tonight, I bet I sleep like a baby. However, I wish I was going cycling again tomorrow instead of going to work, I really think cycling is going to be a big part of my life now

tonyjaja

cycling is a happy things

WickedThump

Congrats on your new bike. As others have said, give the saddle you have a chance, but don't wait too long to try another either. You could also try adjusting the seat angle (if your post allows it), and position on the rails. Small adjustments here can make a difference. Initial fitting and adjusting is one area a LBS can be of great help.

a1penguin

Wow! 30 miles in 90ş heat?! Make sure you have enough water and electrolytes. I think we have a new cycling convert. Pretty soon the N+1 bug will bite!

Shawn Gossman

Update... The other day I rode my very first organized bike ride (Superman Bike Ride - Metropolis, IL). I chose to do the 60 mile ride because it was the highest and I wanted a challenge. I only accomplished 45 miles... At first, I was a bit disappointed in myself because I failed to do what I set out to accomplish. There were a lot of older folks doing the 60 miles and here I am a 27 year old who quit early... However, one cyclist assured me that I shouldn't be upset with myself. He said I worked harder than everyone there because I was riding a big heavy mountain bike on the road and everyone else was on road bikes. My friend from down south also rode the 60 and he told me he was amazed I made 45 miles out of it. So I am not so upset now... The funny thing was, I was at least 10 miles behind everyone else, haha. It was a weird experience though, getting chased by dogs, cars and semis flying past you and the occasional group of punks laughing at you for being clad in Lycra LOL. However, I enjoyed it a lot! I just started a gym membership so I can get into spinning now. It was a lot of fun and I got a great tan! I know one thing that saved me... the jersey I bought, those three extra pockets in the back are great for carrying a bunch of water bottles

Before the organized ride, get this -- I am sure many of you will giggle at this, haha. I was going to night ride from my town to another but riding on a rural country highway freaked me out a bit because drivers not seeing you until they are right up on you regardless of my bike lights... Anyways, I decided to ride down this old country road outside of town, its a rough road but I have a good mountain bike so I thought, bring it on... I get all the way to the end (its a dead end gravel farm road) and then get halfway back (about 4 miles from my house) and POP, chain snaps off and I cannot repair it... I am 4 miles away from home, its 2:00 AM and I am out in the boonies, alone. So as I start pushing my bike, I hear the most God awful growl right next to me... Scared to death, I turn my bike light to the woods next to me and not even but 3 feet from me are eye glaring at me and more growling. It had to either be a coyote or a wild mean freaking stray dog! But we also have had cougar sighting around here as well! I couldn't see really what it was because I was running for dear life, I got myself and my bike going fast by running that I got to a downhill slope, jumped on the bike and coasted all the way back to the city roads. Had I of had my pistol, I'd of unloaded it into those woods LOL. I didn't have nothing though, would of been an easy treat for whatever the beast was... maybe it was a yeti! :-|

Anyways, that's my new cycling tales

Retro Grouch 

I think that finding the "right" saddle is a hunt and peck process. It's personal too. What works for one rider might feel like a picket fence to another. Some thoughts, some of which which may be counter-intuitive:

1. Don't be afraid to fool around with the adjustment of the saddle you have. It'll move up-down, front-back, tip up-down and even angle side-to-side. The best saddle in the world won't be comfortable unless it's adjusted properly to you.

2. Unless you have your seat way too low, wide saddles look like a better deal than they really are. Your leg straightens as you pedal and the back of your leg pushes you forward. Even though the saddle may be wide in back, you aren't using that part. You're only using the narrow front part of the seat. A narrower saddle lets you use the whole seat.

3. Lots of padding sounds like a good idea but cyclists who ride a lot generally use seats that don't have much. In my case, the issue is "numb manhood". The padding compresses at your butt's high spots and pushes against the nerves and blood vessels that are normally protected. A firmer saddle lets your body protect itself in the way that it's designed.

For me personally, the solution is spelled "Brooks" but they're expensive and, even at that, they don't work for everybody. Good luck.

Shawn Gossman

I am actually starting to get fairly used to my saddle now. I did feel pain from the 45 mile road ride but that was the most miles I have went yet, so I am sure being on the bike that long had something to do with it. But when I trail ride (which is what I usually will do), I don't hurt anymore hardly at all.

hillyman

Howdy there Shawn from another Southern Illinoisan. Been awhile since I rode the Tunnel Hill Trail but planning to this weekend. Was wondering if trail was in good shape since state is broke.

Shawn Gossman

Hey there! Where ya at in southern IL?

The trail from Vienna to Tunnel Hill is fine because its the most popular and used section. The trail from Vienna and up is a bit grown up because no one ever uses it. Now from Vienna to wetlands center is nice and very scenic, I like checking out Heron Pond when I go that route.

Plum_Crazy

Hi Shawn!
Are you talking about the wetlands center south of Cypress on State Route 37?

hillyman

Marion. But seldom there anymore. Im a OTR truck driver. I take a Dahon Matrix folding bike with me and cause cycling trouble wherever I be.

Shawn Gossman

Yes'em

I lived in Marion for a few years off of old 13 near the airport. I am in Hurst now as you can read I grew up in this small rural town and missed it, so I came back haha