The Saddle Saga Continues

“I’m petrified of nipple chafing. One it starts, it’s a vicious circle.”
–Andy, ‘The Office’

The Saddle Saga Continues!

The short story
The new saddle I got last month caused alot of chaffing. Then, I wore my sweaty race clothes for five hours until I got home after Lake Norman. The raw chaffed skin combined with sweaty clothes equaled saddle sore. Lesson learned: change clothes right away after you cross the finish line! Here’s a good link about saddle sores.

The Long story

Ouchie

Ouchie, I have a saddle sore that has spread to a lymph node. Going to the Dr. tomorrow to see if he can give me something to make it heal faster. I guess I have to accept that the new bike saddle, which I got about a month ago, just isn’t working out for me. This is really bad timing, as I am in my peak training weeks. I guess I’ll put my old saddle back on, and then my body will have to adapt back to THAT configuration. Every time I change my bike even a tiny bit, I have pain from adaptation and running off the bike suffers. (which is why I was trying to tough it out on the new saddle.) Crap, crap, crappity crap.

Went to the Doctor

My saddle sore was alot better today. I had already made a Dr. appointment, so I went to it. He said any time there is a skin infection in the lower body, the lymph nodes in the groin can enlarge as they are helping clear out the germs. He wasn’t too concerned about that. He wrote me an Rx for an antiobiotic in case I got worse, or in case I didn’t feel I was healing as fast as I wanted to for my training. He said he didn’t think I needed it. I didn’t fill it because I don’t think I need it.

Back to Old Saddle

When I got home from that, I got set up for my bike workout. Ouch, hurt too much with that damn saddle, so I put my old saddle back on and adjusted it till it felt pretty good. I can’t believe I suffered with the new saddle for so long. I figured it was normal to be in pain with a new saddle. Butt (pun intended) my old saddle feels sooooo much better. I felt one with my bike again.

A hard trainer workout

Then I did 11×1(2) speed intervals on trainer. 130 Avg HR; 161 max.

During the hard sets, I focused on how the saddle position felt and did it feel like a powerful riding position. During the 2 minute rest periods, I got off and adjusted saddle position accordingly. By the end, I felt like it was comfortable and powerful. I think this is a great way to adjust a bike saddle. Wish I had a power meter to know for sure about the power part.

Chain Snapped

I noticed the chain kind of skipping during the trainer workout. After that was done, I went outside for an hour Zone 2 ride to complete time in plan. 0.25 miles from home, hammering up a short steep hill, my chain snapped into three pieces. That was weird. Three pieces? I took the bike to the LBS. They said the rear cassette and front middle chain ring are worn and need to be replaced in addition to new chain. They asked how many miles were on my old chain. I think it was about 8000. They said I am supposed to replace the chain every 1200-1800 miles. If I don’t then the gears wear out too. Will take 10 days to order parts and fix. And cost me $200. Crap, crap, crappity crap x 1000000000!

So, now I am with out a bike. The Valdora I won off the BT contest is currently at the LBS being built. I had told them I wasn’t in a rush for it. NOW I AM! I hope I can get fitted and get it sooner than 10 days!!!