Hitting a brick wall
 

Hey all, I've only been riding for 3 months now, and have over 1,100 miles on my road bike since then. After the few several rides I got massive cramps in my calves toward the end of 25 miles, I found out later that was down to dehydration (electrolytes) and poor stretching. I'm now onto longer rides like 30-50miles, but I'm running into a big issue. At about the 30 mile mark, the area beneath the sit bones become really irritated. I wear what I think are good bib shorts, and I use DZ nuts chamois cream. It gets to the point I just have to get off the bike and walk. After the ride the skin in that area is very painful as well as the underlying muscle and tendons. I'm also still using the stock seat on my '13 Specialized Allez Comp M2. What am I doing wrong?

That's unfortunately only one of two issues...

The other one is after that 30 or so miles depending on my exertion, I hit a figurative brick wall. I loose what seems to be all my energy and have hardly anything left in me. I eat well in the morning (3 egg omelet and coffee), stay hydrated, and stretch before a ride. During the ride of 30-50 miles, I bring 2 water bottles, one with gatorade and the other water. Heck I've even used a gel packet during a ride to no effect. How do I work past this barrier?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm just so determined to go past 50 miles but physically can't (weird).

Thanks for all the help guys.

a couple of things:
1) You're making good progress. Don't get too frustrated - it takes time.
2) Have you considered a fitting, or asking the shop to double check your saddle height and angle?
3) You might consider a different saddle.
4) Incorporate more carbs into your pre-ride meal and consider eating a gel or two every hour along the way. There are bottle mixes you can get that will include both carbs and electrolytes, so you're giving your body a steady feed of what it's burning.
5) Are you taking a rest day when you start to get worn down or before a big ride?

You are doing well for 3 months in. Patience, Grasshopper. A better fitted saddle and keep on riding and resting.

Can you post a photo of you on the bicycle? I'm thinking the fit of the bicycle might be part of the problem.

Oh hey guys, thanks for the tip and hints, keep them coming please!

Below is a video taken of me during some TT practice here in Ohio. I am the rider wearing the super bright green jacket or the all red jersey on the Specialized Allez. Will post screen shots below of the video too.

Sunday TTT Recon 9.14.14 - YouTube

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406438http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406439http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406440http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406441http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406442http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=406443

I see the problem. Get rid of the wheel weights and slam the stem. I'm sure that will solve all your problems! :)

Hard to tell from the pics, but the fit doesn't look terrible and might be just fine.

Give yourself time. Saddle sores will go away once you have built up calluses. Eat more carbs as was stated above and make sure you have rest/easy days.

You might consider moving the saddle forward just a touch. But check your knees ... when your pedal is in the forward position, and your leg is at a 90 degree bend, the front of your knee should be over the pedal spindle.

Another thing to consider are your tights ... have you been wearing tights on all your rides? If your tights are too tight, that can cause leg fatigue and knee issues.

And regarding food and water ...

One 750 ml bottle of water and/or sports drink every 1 to 1.5 hours
200-300 calories per hour of foods of your choice
Plus electrolytes.

Do you always wear tights under your shorts? That may be part of your problem. Poor saddle fit is likely the main reason though. that and lack of time for your body to adjust to the new stresses you're putting on it.

1100 miles in your first three months of riding is quite a bit.

Which is probably a factor in your lack of recent progress but nutrition is likely the main problem. You need carbs with breakfast to top up your glycogen stores, ideally at least 2 hours before your ride. Unless you ride really slowly one gel on a 2-3 hour ride won't cut it, especially if you're not fueled up enough to begin with. One gel typically has 100-150 calories, consume 2 per hour if you're pushing the pace.

Calf cramps are one of the symptoms of arsenic poisoning.

Just sayin' ...

Definitely this. OP: Try to add a nice bowl of oatmeal to your egg breakfast and you should see your energy levels improve and you'll likely enjoy the ride more.

So if I'm on the bike for 3 hours the two bottles of Gatorade should be fine? Also I had one of these and loved the flavor. I think the energy kicked in quicker too:
http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Stinger-...ct_top?ie=UTF8

What will "slamming" the stem do?

What's that supposed to mean?

NB: the advice is worth what you are Paying for it, and not a penny more.. :rolleyes:


that's nothing HTFU ..

And this helps me how?

I have simple questions that I know other people here have experienced and am using that to improve my performance. If you want to jack jaw, keep it to yourself.

Another possibility with this issue is the shorts (bibs) you're wearing. I have several pair of shorts. Two pair I can wear for 40 to 45 miles maximum. After that, my derriere is complaining. Another pair is OK for about 60 miles maximum before I start to notice problems. Two pair are good for 100 miles and perhaps a little more with no problems at all. The ones I wear for long distances have the most minimal chamois of the bunch.

I'm not discounting issues of fit/adjustment, but I think my bike fit is fairly well dialed in. For me and my derriere, the shorts make a big difference.

Oh, right. You want advice but aren't prepared to be good-humored about it. Good luck with that.

How to Measure Sit Bone Width For Bicycle Saddle Selection - YouTube

I would almost wager this is a big part of the problem. Also, when looking at saddles, look at the rear curvature of the sit area. Too much arc and the saddle is acting like a pelvis spreader straining the two small muscles that stabilize your tailbone. I did 43 of 60 miles and my tush was screaming: GET OFF THE BIKE NOW! I had to be sagged home and was sore for ten days. No joke. I surfed the internet so hard during that time and then found a wider saddle. I still get sore on longer jaunts. But it's a 3 as opposed to a do-I-really-want-to-ride-a-bike, pain. Measure your butt, man.

Yeah ... if you can stomach that much Gatorade.

Why don't you just stop after twenty or so miles , get off the bike stretch your legs or rest or eat and drink something? Then ride another fifteen or twenty miles and take another rest; or ride at a more comfortable pace? It's cycling not punishment.

You know you make a very good point there. I did buy a wider seat but the inner legs would rub on the down stroke so bad. So I think that's the solution for butt pain problem, a wider platform for the sit bones but a narrower saddle. I've been looking at the Fizik Arione and Antares. Seeing that they have the quicker transition from nose to the back vs the really gradual change in the Specialized seat, I think those would be a better fit.

Thanks for the tip man, I have tried this several times to give myself a rest. The effect is temporary for only a few minutes once I get back on and I'm right back where I started especially on the longer distance rides (40mi+). I'll try to take a it a bit easier as my body molds to the bike and I tone my muscles.

I tend to get congested in the throat after drinking Gatorade, no idea why though, got any alternatives?

Bite your tongue! Pain is pleasure!

In all seriousness, unless you're racing or training for a race, why not stop once an hour or so? Take a picture, stretch, give your legs and butt 5 minutes of rest.

That's the thing, I am training for racing next year. I've only been riding for 3 months, so we'll see how things progress.

Yeah me too ... and after a couple more I start developing mouth sores and a sore throat.

I use water ... and I eat my calories.