It’s normal to feel bike soreness during or after a bike ride, primarily if you haven’t ridden a while or as much. But, if the bike soreness is too deep or unbearable, it’d be wise to seek health advice. Multiple factors that contribute to bike soreness include; includes bike height, clothing, saddle, and hygiene practices. That’s why the bike cushion alone doesn’t help.
If you never had a proper bike fitting, it should be one of the first steps to prevent bike soreness. If the bike is too high or too low, it will produce discomfort. Going to the bike shop for a bike fitting can help determine what’s contributing to the soreness.
The clothes we wear can also contribute to bike soreness. When going for a bike ride, one must think of weather conditions, duration of the ride, the type of bike ride, how the skin reacts, etc. For this, think of questions such as:
What’s the weather like? Hot, cold, sunny, rainy, windy…
How does your skin behave to the type of weather during physical activities?
Do you sweat or not? A lot or not so much?
Do you have oily or dry skin?
Are you going to ride a long distance without stopping?
Will you be doing tricks on the bike?
The answers will help you determine if there’s a need for layers, padding, rain or wind jacket, shorts, fabric that performs better when sweating, etc. Also, to realize if we need to apply anything to the skin to help with sweat or dryness. Using underwear or extra pants underneath to keep us warm produces more friction during the ride. There are cycling pants and warmers made for cold weather temperatures to prevent wearing too many layers. Plus, a chamois lotion or a friction deodorant before the bike ride can prevent irritation.
The biological anatomy of your body and the riding position is also crucial to consider. Women’s pelvic bones are wider because it allows them to carry children. Hence, the pressure and discomfort are higher for women; this is another reason to verify that the saddle’s width is accurate for your bike riding position. A saddle that’s too big, narrow, or thin will produce irritation. The same happens if you’re wearing cycling pants and the padding doesn’t match your needs. They’ll make more friction despite the time you spend on your bike.
When it comes to hygiene, you need to treat and let soreness heal. Ignoring it could cause infections or more severe health concerns. Follow the product’s guidance to wash and dry your garments. Do not hang dry cycling pants to wear again without washing; you’ll be transmitting bacteria to your skin every time you do it. It’s best to keep your genital area clean and adequate to prevent soreness so that you can enjoy cycling every time.
ssweetcycling.sport.blog 