Soothing your Saddle Soreness During Biking Vacations
Cycling is an excellent form of exercise–not to mention tons of fun. However, cycling can also lead to a host of aches and pains. Soreness in the seat can be one of the worst pains for a cyclist to have.
The key to treating soreness in the seat is to understand where it comes from. Sitting on the saddle the wrong way can cause soreness in the seat. When a cyclist leans forward to ride they put pressure on the perineal area. The perineal is a super sensitive area of the body. It is not hard to cause pain in this spot. You can also cause pain in the shoulders and neck bun leaning forward. So how could you ride on your bike? Well, the sit points of the bottom should be close to the back of the saddle. The sit points or ishial tubunosites will take a few rides to get used to this position so expect a bit of soreness initially.
This of course is not the only cause of seat soreness. There are several reasons that may cause soreness in the seat. However, many cyclists maintain the idea that the actual addle does not matter. Instead, it is the way that you sit on it. Most saddles are designed to give the perineal area a break. SO most saddles are going to be designed for the optimum comfort.
Check the seat of your cycle to be sure that it is comfortable. Once you have ruled out the saddle as the problem, there are several other things that could be wrong.
Another major reason for soreness in the seat is wearing the wrong type of clothing. Be sure that when you are cycling you have the right clothing on. GO to a sporting store or a bike shop and purchase the proper equipment and clothing for biking. Anyone that is riding their bike for a significant amount of time will need biking clothes. Wearing jeans will never do for a cyclist.
Lack of proper conditioning is also a cause of seat soreness. If some of the muscles in your groin or bottom are not as strong as others, soreness will ensue. Whenever some muscles have to overcompensate for other muscles, there will be pain.
Extremely dry air will cause the skin to crack. The groin is one of the first areas to chap. That means that cyclist must be prepared for such weather. Keeping the skin moist with moisturizer or lotions should provide some relief.
Soreness in the bottom can also be a sign of fatigue. Often the signs of exhaustion are masked by pain. Having soreness in the seat can be a sign that it is time to take a break or end the ride.
No matter what the cause of seat soreness is, there are certain steps you can take to help relieve yourself. Take a break and get off of the bike. Try some minor stretches of simply walk around a bit. Grab a drink and try to relax for some time before getting back on the bike.
Once you are back on the bike, try to ride in a different position. Adjust the seat or handlebars before continuing to ride. If after some rest and adjustments things do not improve, perhaps the ride should end there–at least for a little while.
Take some time to practice sitting properly on the saddle before embarking on a long journey. Cycling is so much more fun if it is not painful. A few short rides around the neighborhood should get your bottom used to the saddle. Don’t give up on mastering your seat positioning. Remember professional cyclists cover great distances. Surely they have mastered the proper sitting position. You can, too!
