[Idealmuse]

Hi guys just posted this in the 100+ NSV thread, but I'm not sure how many of you hang out in both places, so I thought I'd post it here too along with a question:

My NSV for the day.

I haven't been on my bike since last fall. So I dusted it off and we went out for a ride today w/ the husband.

The NSV part of this is even though I haven't biked since I don't know 10 months or more I was wizzing along in 3rd gear on the 5/6 setting at about 12mph, which is almost as high as my bike gears will go! And here I was worried I was going to slow down my husband.

Again for anyone who doubts that walking isn't a great workout here is a good example of how fit it's made me in only 3 months. I didn't do anything else until last week when I started using my DVDs again.

Almost makes me wish I had a gym membership so i could take spinning classes.

Woot!

Okay, now for the question: My palms always hurt when riding. I have good Gel gloves and it only helps a wee bit. Anything a larger girl can do to help make this less hurtful besides working her core muscles?

[Jasmine31]

Nopt sure on your question but WTG on the biking! I walk alot and keep telling myself to get on the bike but Haven't yet. *sigh*

[Ratkitten]

Yay Jas!!

Congrats on your ride!!!! I just bought a new bike and am back in the saddle as well, YAY for us!! I was riding sporatically this past year and doing more treadmill walking for exercise (foot surgery in April didn't help either). Cycling has always been my exercise of choice and even rode at my highest weight. I am a bit of a cycling geek, so I'll try to help with your question.

You didn't say what type of bicycle you have, but the rams bars on the road bikes are actually made so you have many different hand positions. It's good to move your hands around a bit on the bars. The straight bars of the hybrid and mountain bikes feel sturdy, but there aren't any other hand positions, leaving your hands fatigued. Putting bar ends on that type of handlebar helps.

Another suggestion is to make sure you have your seat be either level with the top of your handlebars or a tad lower. This will make you sit slightly more upright and relieve the pressure off your palms. Don't lower your seat too much, you should have a slight bend in your leg when your pedal is at its lowest position. Many people quit riding because their bicycle isn't fit properly. Just a few adjustments can make a world of difference and your riding much more enjoyable!

Try prying your vulcan death grip on your handlebars and ride on the flats with one hand.. shake out the other. That helps on long rides for me.

Happy riding!!

Luv,
Ratkitten

[Idealmuse]

Rat - Glad I'm not the only big girl who bikes. Sometimes I FEEL like I am I never see any others out there on the road.

It's a male moutain bike or maybe hybrid I'm not sure (I'm female) and yeah I don't think the handlebars adjust at all, but I'll look into those extenders but then my mirror would be too far off the the side wouldn't it? I guess I should go into a bike shop and ask them if my seat is in an okay position. I have one of those embarassing larger seats with good shocks in them for my um, big butt.

I'm TOYING with the idea of training for a mini-trianthalon when I drop another 40-50lbs (I can't run yet) so if I do I will have to get me a road bike, but I'm stuck with this one for now.

[BattleAx]

Good for you, idealmuse!

[sidhe]

I'm beginning riding, too. I've just been at it for about two months. What I've noticed with my hands is that if I tighten my back muscles it really helps. Yes, it works your core muscles (obviously) but it's not a gym exercise. Just tighten up occasionally, and you'll start to be tighter overall. You'll start to not to have to think about tightening, too, your body will just naturally do it. I hope that makes sense! I have lots of problems with my left hand/arm due to multiple bad breaks, but I swear "just tightening up" is really helping.

Bikes rock, don't they?

[Heather]

Muse -- That's AWESOME!!! I think it really helps when we find things to move our bods that we LOVE to do!! And it really is awesome to see how far we've come.

[Robin41]

Definitely get the seat checked and adjusted. You're probably carrying too much of your weight on your hands when it should be on your seat. Some people get pain and some get numb hands but the cause is basically the same. It's also possible that if the bike is designed for a man, that the geometrics are just wrong for you. The reach could be too long or the brakes too tough to reach. A lot of bike manufacturer websites can explain what parts of the bike should be designed differently for women.

Congratulations on getting back out there.

[Ratkitten]

I wanted to share a picture of my new bike.. It's soooo purdy! BTW, that torture device they call a seat is GONE and I have one made by Terrybicycles.com. Interestingly, the pictures shows the seat way higher than the handlebars.. not a good riding position.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/...ithcompsl.html

Ask your local bicycle shop if they offer professional fit service. It's worth the money. Even if they don't, just tell them you need your bike tweaked to your frame and they will gladly help. Most shops are small businesses and love to help customers. Even funnier that bike mechanics are worst geeks than computer folks.

OOOopps, gonna be late for work. Gotta go!

Luv,
Rat

[NotTheCheat]

Muse - What a great NSV!! It is so great when we see the fruits of our efforts pay off somewhere else. I would love to ride a bike again at some point, but I am waiting for my stomach to shrink some more so it doens't get in the way so much.