Pity the poor bicycle seat. Few products in the history of sports have taken such a bum rap. Prostate problems, numbness, boils, infections, chafing and even impotency! You name the malady and it?s likely been blamed on the bike saddle. Many cyclists spend too much time and too much money in search of the Holy Grail in a bike seat.
Every saddle manufacturer has their own way of determining which of their seats best matches your seat from measuring your sitting bones to bike position and usage. The most useful method I have found is that of Fizik. Fizik believes that the proper saddle is determined by flexibility and has developed three styles that meet three basic flexibility levels. If you are flexible enough to touch your toes AND can flex at the hips while on your bike then a narrow, long saddle may best meet your needs. The less flexible you are the wider the saddle and shorter the nose. Fizik provides test saddles that you can spend a few weeks on to ensure you are happy before you purchase.
Other ways to increase saddle comfort are with well maintained tri or bike shorts, a proper bike fit looking at seat height, fore and aft as well as nose tip so that you are not moving on or around your saddle. The final ?don?t leave home without it? is Chamois Butter to reduce friction which reduces saddle sores and chafing.
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As the oldest race in North America the 116th running of Around the Bay 30k in Hamilton was held on Sunday March 28. As a prep race for spring marathons, a number of Quinte runners were in attendance. True to form Quinte?s fastest female; Jutta Merilainen was 6th female finisher with a time of 1:57:06. She was followed to the finish line by Petra Austin (3:07:20), John Anderson (2:23:44), Cuthbert Cheung (2:54:46), Monica Chokly (2:44:54), Anne Marie Corrigan (3:21:35), Rosanne Duke (2:47:12), Caryn Fahey (3:21:35), Tessa Forsey (2:34:58), Natalie Mulawka (3:21:36), Andrew Speedy (2:43:38), Nancy Wright (2:48:49), April Archer (3:14:59), Neil Ibey (2:44:21), Jessica Donaldson (3:40:55), Sarah Cosh (2:53:57), Greg Nicholson (2:54:06), Tom Fleming (2:29:41), and Tim Johnson (2:01:46). Patrick Farrell and Monique Ibey ran the 5k in 29:06 and 43:56 respectively.
If you are looking to race in April you have lots to choose from. The annual Pitter Patter 5k/10k will be held at Loyalist College on April 11. To register stop by Community Policing or go to
www.triandrunsports.com. The Belleville Rotary Club is holding their Trump Aids Poker Walk on April 24. Walk, eat, play and win! You can join a team, create your own team or sponsor a walker. The 4th annual event raises funds to fight against HIV/AIDS locally and internationally. To register see
www.trumpaidsbelleville.ca. Quinte West is hosting its first Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay, 10k, 5k and kid?s event; all distances can be run or walked. If you haven?t registered yet go to
www.cit.quintewest.on.ca as the first 150 registered participants will receive a commemorative race t-shirt.
