Owwww...my new seat....

Jean, I know you asked me before why I thought a less-padded saddle would be better than a more cushy one, and I've figured it out. I rode 20 miles on Saturday, 40 miles yesterday, and I was acutely aware of my sit bones THE WHOLE TIME. Why? My old, softer, seat allowed me to sink into it, distributing the pressure of my body weight over the entire area, which was painful. The harder seat does not allow the sinking and focuses the pressure directly where it's supposed to--no more pain other than the quarter-sized bruises over my sit-bones. The cutout helps as well, when I need to rotate forward to give them a break, I'm still resting on the pubic bone and not the rest of it.

Yesterday was a good ride, even though it was laps around a 8 3/4 mile loop, it was a pretty hilly loop for northeastern Illinois! I met a guy (easy girls, he's married!) in the beginning of the last lap who did a lot for my self esteem ("You're in killer shape!"), it's a whole lot easier to ride with someone to talk to! But I forgot that it is very possible to get a sunburn on cloudy days. :( I've got red arms between the jersey sleeves and my gloves, with these silly little light spots where the muscle that runs across my elbow (between bicep and forearm) was shading that part of my elbow.

I have a feeling that this seat is going to be like backpacking--the first day is great, the second day hurts, and the third day your pelvis and shoulders are bruised so badly you don't want to put that @%$%#$^ pack on again, but on day four you feel pretty good again! I'm glad I don't have to ride today, but....I'll have to pay the piper sometime.

Hope everybody had good weekends!

Judie