Hey all,
First post on this forum, after my second ride in the busy streets of Dubai.
Some shameless context: I’m 43, out of shape and have never been strong. Look like a pumpkin and have little stamina. But I want to improve myself, other than my age. Living in Dubai, most forms of sports are very expensive- so I figured cycling requires initial investment and I can at least enjoy for mostly free afterwards!
Took up cycling as an evening exercise. Used to do it for commuting 25-30 years ago while in school / college, but not ridden a bike since. My first ride gave me a shock – my butt hurt a lot afterwards 😂 waited for my bicycling shorts to arrive and did my second ride today.
Managed to do a measly 10km on mostly flat roads and still have my hands stiff / cramped and my butt still hurts a bit – albeit a lot less.
Am looking for advice on any way to alleviate at least these two initial problems. I’m hoping to do the 30km bike run in Dubai in November, so I’m preparing for that!
Thank you in advance for any help that you can share!
Cannondale app screenshot of second ride attached!
by vickyd04
10 Comments
Okay, to me this sounds like a bike fit issue potentially. Another early investment but well worth it!
Your butt hurting is normal when getting back into it. The fact that you said it hurt less on your second ride suggests it should go away after a couple of rides.
Stiff cramped hands is probably your gripping your handlebars too tightly. This is also normal when starting out and as you get more comfortable with riding your hands should relax a bit.
Anyway, give it about 5-10 rides to see if those problems still persist. If they do then you can wonder about any bike adjustments.
Speculating on fit, your reach might be too long, and adjusting handlebar and/or seat position may help.
Don’t give up – keep riding – good luck
Welcome to the cycling community!
Cycling shorts will do you good. My understanding is that for new riders, your butt will get less sore the more you ride too. Think of it like conditioning.
Chamois cream also does wonders for avoiding chaffing.
As for the stuff/cramped hands, this could be a couple of things.
In part, stiff hands come with the territory and like getting a stronger butt, you’ll get stronger hands too. Gloves might alleviate this a little bit. Gloves also bring the added bonus of protection in case you fall.
Stiffness/cramping could also suggest a poor bike fit. If you have the money, consider getting a bike fit, and if you don’t have the money you could do lots of googling to find out what the ride position for you is. When I was first riding (not that long ago) my hands and feet were falling asleep on 2-3 hour rides. I got a bike fit and I don’t have that issue anymore. Turns out I needed a bigger seat, wider handlebars and a bigger stem.
You don’t have to do all of the immediately (or at all!) given you’re riding about 10km.
Once you start riding for about 1-2 hours you might want to consider these things. As your legs rotate over and over on a bike it might not feel a lot after 30 minutes of riding, but consider the repetition over a longer period of time.
And finally, my last bit of unsolicited advice — for that 30km ride you’ll want to start thinking about the food you’ll eat while riding.
Have fun!
Some butt soreness is normal at first, it will even happen to me if I take a month or two off and then come back. It should go away gradually, but if you find it’s still an issue after a month or so of riding then it will need it be addressed.
The hand pain is less normal, and raises concern for chronic overuse injury long-term.
Both of these potential issues will likely be fixed with a proper bike fit. Proper bike fit is much more important than most people realize. It makes riding a lot more comfortable and fun, and will also go a long way towards preventing chronic overuse injuries from cycling. Getting some decent cycling shorts and trying out different types of saddles/gloves may also be beneficial here.
I usually get a sore tush from riding after a break. The second time it feels sore when I start out but then disappears.
The sore wrists generally means your bike needs adjustment. You’re likely putting too much weight on your hands as you ride.
I learned that trying to bike every day when starting out and your body is hurting is not a good idea. Aim for every other day or every two days until your body gets used to the bike. Increase mileage a bit. When you have a routine and aren’t feeling awful after your ride, try riding two consecutive days. Keep increasing mileage and back to back days. It’s going to take time, but it’s well worth the effort for the enjoyment and health benefits.
Regarding the bum hurting after a ride, well you should try and get used to it yk. It will hurt eventually since you’re gonna have to pedal quite a lot. But if your seat feels to be loosing the cushioning then better change it. I made a grave mistake of going for the Dubai Ride last year while riding on a slim seat. I bought it thinking “oh it looks nice, so it might feel nice”. And I was proven wrong, my bum hurt so damn much after the ride, I felt like riding all the way home by standing on my pedals instead of sitting down. So if the seat is bad, change it or if it’s not, try and get used to it
Wow! Didn’t expect such an amazing reception and flurry of responses! Thanks a lot everyone !
Bike fit is something I’ll look at with the Cannondale guys here in Dubai.
Gonna gradually take it up to 15 and then 20 km. And yes, I’m currently intending to do every other day rides.
The hands cramping could be due to a congenial bone problem I have as well – best explanation is I have hands of a 65+ year old as a 43 year old.
Are bigger bike seats common for beginners? I understand that Cannondale is probably designed for professionals who are likely built like mannequins instead of pumpkins like me 😂
As long as the fit is right, and your seat is OK, ass pain will go away after a dozen rides. It’s the key to entry.
The rest is just working on endurance. Ride longer before you try to ride faster