Bike4ale
04-09-2004, 10:46 AM
Just some advice. It's easy to take for granted those basic riding skills that we've learned over the years. It is inevitable that new riders are going to have sore backsides for possibly the first few weeks. And this can be a deciding factor about whether or not someone likes or dislikes "Spinning". I think we can keep new riders coming back and help them alleviate some pain if we teach them the SIT BONES PRINCIPLE from day one.
I've heard them called "Sit bones" or "Sits bones"...whatever. The best way I've heard to describe them is...it's the part of your butt that you sit on when you are sitting on a curb. Everyone seems to understand this.
Without knowing this principle, new riders automatically place the majority, if not ALL, of their body weight ON THE SADDLE. They bring their gel seats and wish for larger, cushier saddles. They wonder why their.....ah.....ahem....."privates" are sore. Their backs are sore. Getting them to find this position helps distribute their weight over the bike, rather than the saddle.
I realized overlooking this simple fix recently, when a new rider after 3 classes kept complaining about how uncomfortable she felt on the bike. Every class, I checked her positioning and everything was right on. Suddenly it dawned on me that all of her body weight was on the saddle. After explaining the sit bones principle, getting her to bend at the waist and shift her weight back slighly in the saddle.......PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY SOLVED. She said it was like night and day. Now she is in every class I teach.
Remeber this for ALL your riders, not just beginners. If you see someone still using a gel seat cover, who's been taking class for years....maybe they don't know about the SIT BONES.
I know my last topic was all about controversy (I KNOW CLASS IS FOR THE MEMBERS......BUT....). Let's not forget to share our success stories as well!
I've heard them called "Sit bones" or "Sits bones"...whatever. The best way I've heard to describe them is...it's the part of your butt that you sit on when you are sitting on a curb. Everyone seems to understand this.
Without knowing this principle, new riders automatically place the majority, if not ALL, of their body weight ON THE SADDLE. They bring their gel seats and wish for larger, cushier saddles. They wonder why their.....ah.....ahem....."privates" are sore. Their backs are sore. Getting them to find this position helps distribute their weight over the bike, rather than the saddle.
I realized overlooking this simple fix recently, when a new rider after 3 classes kept complaining about how uncomfortable she felt on the bike. Every class, I checked her positioning and everything was right on. Suddenly it dawned on me that all of her body weight was on the saddle. After explaining the sit bones principle, getting her to bend at the waist and shift her weight back slighly in the saddle.......PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY SOLVED. She said it was like night and day. Now she is in every class I teach.
Remeber this for ALL your riders, not just beginners. If you see someone still using a gel seat cover, who's been taking class for years....maybe they don't know about the SIT BONES.
I know my last topic was all about controversy (I KNOW CLASS IS FOR THE MEMBERS......BUT....). Let's not forget to share our success stories as well!