Part V: The Part of Tens in .NET

Drawer Quick Response Code in .NET Part V: The Part of Tens

You may think that a bigger, softer saddle would equal a more comfortable ride Unfortunately, bigger and softer does not translate into comfort Weight from your body should come into contact with the seat through two bones at the lower part of your pelvis If you have a properly fitted seat, when you get off your bike, you should see two indentations centered on each side of your seat If the seat is too soft, your entire butt is in contact with the seat causing pressure on tissue and nerves that are not designed for this Although a firmer seat may cause your pelvic bones to be sore after the first ride or two, in the long run, you ll find that it provides the most comfortable ride As crazy as it sounds, the more you ride, the smaller the seat you ll want For comfort, wear biking shorts, which are designed without seams in the crotch area seams can chafe and rub the soft tissue in the crotch Biking shorts also include extra padding or chamois, which provides extra comfort, wicks away moisture, and keeps bacteria at bay Just make sure you wash your biking shorts after each ride Also, don t forget to remove your underwear when you wear them the goal is to have no seams and less material to bunch up and cause chafing If you have problems with rubbing and chafing in the groin area, consider applying a skin lubricant such as Vaseline Some lubricants, such as Chamois Butt r, are designed specifically for bikers

Frame size is the most important consideration when fitting a bike Unlike most other factors, the frame is one thing you can t modify If you end up with a bike that has a frame too small or too large, you won t be able to adjust the saddle and handlebars enough to compensate for the improper dimensions Plus, an incorrectly sized frame can be dangerous, making starting, stopping, and handling more difficult When you re shopping for a new bike or frame, let the staff at your local bike shop assist you They have experience matching customers to bikes, and they understand the different factors that come into play when choosing a frame The bike-shop staff will want your inseam size This is the length from the floor to the top of your crotch They ll take this number and subtract 10 to 12 inches from it, based on how tall you are, which will give them an estimation of the frame size you need Remember: This is just an estimation every bicycle will fit a little differently, depending on the manufacturer, model, type of bicycle, your riding style, and so on

Frames are generally measured from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube (see Figure 19-3), although manufacturers have different variations of this measurement After the bike-shop staff has a general idea of the frame size, they ll have you try out various bikes with this size To confirm the size, they ll have you straddle the bike with both feet on the ground and the frame between your legs In this position, there should be at least an inch or two of space between the top tube and your crotch, more if it s a mountain bike

If your local bike shop determines that you need a certain size frame, they ll still need to have you sit on the bike to confirm that the frame s dimensions suit your body type Two 20-inch frames can vary significantly based on the dimensions in which they were manufactured A shorter version of a 20-inch frame will provide greater performance and handling; in this case, the seat tube will be more upright, requiring you to sit in a more aerodynamic, bentover position Another 20-inch frame may have a longer base to provide stability and comfort and a more sloped seat-tube angle for a more upright ride, both of which provide benefits when touring