There is a reason why cycling is considered one of the ultimate forms of exercise. It pushes all the muscles of the body to the limits, ensuring an overall tone to your triceps, biceps, calves, and forearms. The ability to break the pain barrier and become a stronger and fitter individual is fundamental to cycling.
Nevertheless, the benefits of cycling do not have to be gained through pain. If you’re constantly riding your bike, the last thing you want is to develop extreme back or knee pain.
Here are a few ways you can make your bike more comfortable to ride.
Check the Reach
Having a perfect reach is critical to maintaining comfort on your bike, especially for long distances. If you have a short torso, you might find yourself stretching too far to grasp the handlebars. This can cause you neck pain, shoulder discomfort, and a sore back. Your buttocks may even be vulnerable to saddle sores.
The ideal solution is to reduce the reach, which could make a world of difference. You can do this by purchasing a shorter stem or if you want an alternative cheaper option, sliding the saddle in a more advanced position can solve your problem.
Try Another Saddle
If you suffer pain in your private area, you might be using the wrong saddle for you. This is particularly a problem when you purchase a brand new bike with a saddle not physically fit for you.
Luckily, bike shops sell comfortable bike seat at an affordable price. This way, you do not have to put your rear end at the mercy of saddle sores. Better still, you could use a saddle for a certain period before making up your mind to buy.
Adjust Saddle Height
Even though you might have a comfortable bike seat, the positioning can still cause you pain. Setting your saddle at a high elevation can leave you with ITB syndrome. This is the leading cause of knee pain for 15% of all cyclists. On the flip side, drastically reducing the height of your saddle can decrease your pedaling power and efficiency.
The first step is to take a measurement of your leg, subtract the result by 10cm. Now implement the outcome as the distance of the middle of the bottom bracket way up to the saddle. This gives you a fair idea of your proper saddle height; allowing you the convenience of adjusting the setup to suit your cycling requirements.
Adjust Saddle Angle
The final way to reduce pain and end discomfort is by adjusting the tilt of the saddle. If you have a long cycling session bent in an aggressive position, then you could suffer constriction of blood flow in your groin area. Yes, this can cause numbness. By adjusting the nose of the saddle a few degrees, you could relieve the pressure in your crown jewels and ride in comfort.
When you decide to purchase a bike, always ask for assistance which saddle works best for your body type and the amount of time you’ll bike regularly.