Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

The Trochanter Trials: A Sore Story of Seating Snafus in Cycling

12.03.2023 by Scott Jangro // Leave a Comment

You know those secret glances we all share after a long ride? The kind where we gingerly dismount our bikes and sneak a hand to the back of the shorts, checking if our derrières have gone on strike yet? Yeah, we’ve all been there. It’s a bumpy ride in the world of cycling, and it’s not just the potholes we’re talking about.

Today, let’s talk about a common but lesser-known seat sore: the dreaded discomfort from sitting on the lower trochanters rather than the good ol’ sit-bones. Plop down comfortably at home, (we promise, no bike seats involved this time), and let’s explore the contours of this pain in the… well, you know where.

Anatomy Lessons Interrupted: Where are these Trochanters and Sit-Bones Anyway?

Before we unravel the twisted tale of sitting amiss, let’s make sure we’re on the same page anatomically. The sit bones, AKA the ischial tuberosities (doesn’t that roll off the tongue?), are the bony protrusions at the base of your pelvis. Quite literally, your built-in cushion for sitting.

The trochanters? Not so comfy.

They are two bony processes located on the femur (think part of the hip-thigh crew) right near the top. It’s where your gluteus maximus muscles attach. Bottom line (pun obviously intended) – your trochanters are great for moving around but terrible for perching your cycling self on them.

The Crux of the Problem: It’s Like Sitting on Stilts

Imagine trying to sit on top of two round-ish peaks (your lower trochanters) rather than settling into a stable base (your sit-bones). A precarious balancing act, right? That’s basically the issue.

Riding seated on your trochanters is like trying to balance two bowling balls on top of two golf tees. Possible? Maybe. Comfortable? Definitely not! Safe to say, it’s not winning you any brownie points with your bum.

The Why-dunnit: Poor Bike Fit, Posture, and More

“What’s pushing my cushion away from its throne?” I hear you ask, eyes glistening with desperation and ass-sociated discomfort. It’s a mix of factors. The main culprits? An ill-fitting bike or a saddle not suited to your divine derriere dimensions; poor cycling posture (yes, that dreaded slouch); a too-high saddle or handlebars, encouraging your pelvis to roll forward.

The Fantastic Fix: Getting to the Bottom of It

Now that we’ve got a grasp on why you might be sitting funny (and feeling funnier), let’s rectify this rear-end ruckus:

1. Bike Fit: Invest in a professional bike fitting. It’s like couple’s therapy for you and your bike – ensuring everything between you two aligns just right. Even if you think you have your bike fit properly, you may not. At the very least you stand to gain some power in your stroke. Not only will they check your position on the bike, they’ll often have you sit on a bit of memory foam so you can see what size saddle is best for you.

2. Saddle Selector: Experiment with saddles. What works for one behind might not work for another. You have to date around before committing to the right saddle.

3. Perch Properly: Keep a check on your posture. Hint: cycling should not resemble a Quasimodo impression. Aim to keep your back flat and sit back onto your saddle, anchoring on those sit-bones.

4. Technique Tune-Up: When you’re mashing pedals like there’s a bull chasing you, consciously remind yourself – “Sit bones, folks, sit bones!”

So, folks. Here ends our tale of trochanter trouble. Let’s promise our dear sit-bones that from this day forth, they will be the rightful king and queen of the saddle throne. And as for those trochanters – only walking and dancing duties henceforth!

Remember, in the grand dictionary of cycling, comfort is not a dirty word. Adjust, adapt, and soon you’ll be gliding rather than grimacing. Until next time, happy (and comfortable) cycling!

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // Bike fit, soreness Tags // anatomy, posture, saddle sore

The Long Road Back

04.26.2015 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

The great concert pianist, Ignace Paderewski, is quoted as saying: “When I miss a day of practice, I know it. When I miss two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss five days, the audience knows it.”

As you know, I’ve missed the equivalent of a month on the bike, with just a few days sprinkled in there where I actually got a chance to ride. And boy, do I know it.

Our friend, Don Blount, has just told us about the rehabilitation regimen he’s putting himself through to return to biking from surgery. Don is a focused, goal-driven kind of guy. I take more of a recreational approach to my biking. I want to have a good day on the bike, maybe cover a decent amount of ground, and feel like I’ve accomplished something when it’s over.

It didn’t feel that way Saturday.

My own fault, really. We’ve had a good amount of rain here this spring — for Central Texas, that is — and my yard has exploded in green. The growing grass, combined with the live oaks that have shed last year’s leaves over the last few weeks, have left me a mess to take care of. I spent much of Saturday morning shoveling leaves into bags (that’s right — there were so many in such big piles, I didn’t have to do a lot of raking), trimming overgrown ground cover around trees, and cutting the grass in the front yard for the first time this year. By the time I was done, I was bushed.

But it was a beautiful, 90-degree (32C) day, and there was no way I was going to pass up riding under these conditions.

I picked a favorite route, one that would take me through my neighborhood and out to Austin’s Veloway. If I did two laps of the Veloway after the trip to get there, I’d have about 18 miles.

But halfway around my first lap of the Veloway, I knew I had had it. I completed the lap and headed home. Fifteen miles, and I was so tired that I flopped on the bed in my bike clothes, immediately fell asleep, and didn’t wake up for three hours.

Okay, it was the yard work and the 90-degree temps that did me in. Sunday would be better, because I was going out first thing in the morning.

I met my riding buddy Maggie, and we agreed to take a new trail (new to us) that would get us up a hill to a busy road. She had been on the trail once, and was unsure about the exact route, but she led the way without a hitch. The trail was rough in spots, but a good one. We circled around to a paved hill near my house, and she suggested working our way over to another trail that would take us back down the hill.

Maggie grabs a drink before we head down the rocky trail.
Maggie grabs a drink before we head down the rocky trail. (Click to enlarge.)

This is a rough trail. I glanced off a rock, and my foot flew off the pedal. It was all I could do to keep the bike under control as it picked up speed down a rocky cut. I didn’t want to brake too much, because if I hit a rock at slow speed, it could mean an endo.

We got down it okay, but the skies decided to open up then, accompanied by bolts of lightning. We headed over to my house before the worst of it hit.

My wife was happy to see Maggie, because they had a lot of catching up to do. After a half hour or so, the weather had cleared, and she headed home. I showered, then sat down at the computer to do some work.

It was getting up that got me. The hilly trails rendered the backs of my thighs really sore. I could walk it off all right, but for the rest of the day, whenever I stood up, I had to wait for the soreness to pass.

Maggie told me she had had hip problems at the same time I was off the bike, so we’re both embarking on comebacks of our own. I hope it won’t be a long one — there’s a lot of riding to be made up. But I’m out of practice, and I know it.

 

 

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // soreness, training Tags // Injury, soreness, training

Yipes! My Hip Hurts!

04.02.2014 by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments

I dunno. I must be getting old. About a month ago, I started to feel it. Whenever I came back from a bike ride, I felt great. I stretched, showered, and changed, then sat down — maybe for a meal, maybe to watch a little TV, maybe to noodle on this blog.

And when I stood up again — Yow! My left hip hurt like a sonuvagun.

It didn’t take long to get rid of the pain. I just walked it off, stepping around the house or outside a bit. But it persisted. Whenever I sat down for any length of time, I could count on the ache — soreness –hurt — when I got up again.

I was at the doctor’s on a routine visit, when I brought it up. “Could be arthritis,” was the guess. “Take anti-inflammatories — Aleve, Ibuprofen.”

“What about glucosamine-chondroitin?” I asked.

“Well, that might work,” she said. “Try it if you want. Some people say it’s good.”

My wife is one of those who do. But I haven’t gone that route yet. In fact, I’ve noticed the pain isn’t as bad lately. Partly, that’s because the Aleve really works well.

“You took two Aleve?” asked my wife, incredulous. “The dose is only one.”

“Yeah, worked good,” I said. “Rode the bike for two hours, and I haven’t felt any soreness all day.”

Well, it’s not all gone yet. I still get a twinge when I stand. But all I need to do is walk down the hall, and it shakes out. I think I won’t panic for the time being.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // soreness Tags // Injury, pain

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 259 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d