Wind is the chief resistance in bicycling. The first 3 mph of headwind cuts your speed by 2 mph. Not as bad as an airplane, where it cuts it by 3 mph, but still bad.
I've been bike commuting for 40 years or so in a variety of states and weather conditions. I mostly ignore my fellow cyclists, but this one time almost made me want to get off my bike and beat someone up.
There was a nice trail in Oceanside running along the SLR River from my house to the ocean. I used to ride it the train station and then hop a train down to San Diego. This was daily occurrence. One day, this asshole road up very close to me -- such that his front wheel was almost touching my rear wheel. I looked back, concerned. Of course he was wearing the gay regalia -- tight shorts, jersey emblazoned with some Italian slogans -- the sort of sports wear that guys wear while imagining they have one nut like Lance Armstrong and Adolf Hitler did. I let this go on for about 30 seconds and then I very curtly said "WTF are you doing?" He explained that he was trying to ride in my vacuum pocket (drafting, they call it). I thought this was the rudest thing that anyone could ever do to another cyclist. Total invasion of space. Totally inappropriate behavior for strangers.
The real issue in saddle design is the distance between the ischial tuberosities - the so-called "sit bones". Allow those to bear your weight, keep the weight off the tender bits. Buy a saddle that fits one's pelvis, so to speak.
More specific to this riding style, and it has been around since the '50s at least, is the mons veneris for women. You will remember from your anatomy class that the mons provides padding for one's pubic symphysis, but regardless of all that, ow ow ow ow ow!
Women's sit bones are further apart than men's hence the wider saddle. The sit bone idea is to keep the legs and thighs completely clear of the seat, and that's the most comfortable on long rides (once you get used to it). A soft saddle will produce widespread numb spots, a hard saddle not, on long rides.
13 comments:
Recumbent bicyclists have much lower wind resistance but you beat them on uphills. They're not as good shape as upright riders.
Wind is the chief resistance in bicycling. The first 3 mph of headwind cuts your speed by 2 mph. Not as bad as an airplane, where it cuts it by 3 mph, but still bad.
Pace lines, motor pacing and tucking in behind a tandem are the ways to go. Four cyclists can ride much faster than one.
Ow my balls.
Lol bbh.
I've been bike commuting for 40 years or so in a variety of states and weather conditions. I mostly ignore my fellow cyclists, but this one time almost made me want to get off my bike and beat someone up.
There was a nice trail in Oceanside running along the SLR River from my house to the ocean. I used to ride it the train station and then hop a train down to San Diego. This was daily occurrence. One day, this asshole road up very close to me -- such that his front wheel was almost touching my rear wheel. I looked back, concerned. Of course he was wearing the gay regalia -- tight shorts, jersey emblazoned with some Italian slogans -- the sort of sports wear that guys wear while imagining they have one nut like Lance Armstrong and Adolf Hitler did. I let this go on for about 30 seconds and then I very curtly said "WTF are you doing?" He explained that he was trying to ride in my vacuum pocket (drafting, they call it). I thought this was the rudest thing that anyone could ever do to another cyclist. Total invasion of space. Totally inappropriate behavior for strangers.
BleachBit-and-Hammers said...Ow my balls.
He's actually resting on his pubic bone. Women have one too and could probably do this. You need good planking abs though.
BTW, women have much smaller taints than men do which is one reason why there are "ladies' seats" to redistribute the pressure points.
Someone should def do that in the Tour de France. The epic whining that would ensue.
Drafting strangers is totally uncool.
Chicklit - ah oK - Ow my pubic bone.
The real issue in saddle design is the distance between the ischial tuberosities - the so-called "sit bones". Allow those to bear your weight, keep the weight off the tender bits. Buy a saddle that fits one's pelvis, so to speak.
More specific to this riding style, and it has been around since the '50s at least, is the mons veneris for women. You will remember from your anatomy class that the mons provides padding for one's pubic symphysis, but regardless of all that, ow ow ow ow ow!
Women's sit bones are further apart than men's hence the wider saddle. The sit bone idea is to keep the legs and thighs completely clear of the seat, and that's the most comfortable on long rides (once you get used to it). A soft saddle will produce widespread numb spots, a hard saddle not, on long rides.
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