Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Otter15 on April 23, 2019, 03:16:35 AM
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Hi ladies
This may seem like a stupid question but does anyone with VA ride a bike?
I recently bought one and went on a bike ride a few days ago. I cycled for about an hour and was a bit sore but not surprised as I haven't been on a bike for a while.
Now though I have a VA flare up that's really bad. I'm not sure whether it's just a coincidence but it would make sense if I'm already fragile!
If others ride with no problems, I can put it down to coincidence and add this attack to the unexplainable (ups and) downs of this condition! :-\
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I definitely wouldn't be able to ride a bike & many of the ladies in my VA group can't either.
Also the average saddle for a women is very poorly designed for our anatomy, to thin & positioned incorrectly, a specialist supplier can help some.
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There's knowledge begin gained in the pro-cycling World about how awful the cycle seat design is and how the industry needs to take anatomical shape on board!!! Maybe have a look-see at some of the Pro-women Teams on-line and ask there .........
It's a shape the body isn't used to, plus it encourages sweat ...........
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List of 2018 UCI Women's Teams and riders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents
1 Teams overview
2 Defunct teams
3 Riders
3.1 Al Asayl Cycling Team
3.2 Alé–Cipollini
3.3 Aromitalia Vaiano
3.4 Astana Womens Team
3.5 Bepink
3.6 Bizkaia Durango–Euskadi Murias
3.7 Boels–Dolmans - doing lots of research I believe
3.8 BTC City Ljubljana
3.9 Canyon–SRAM
3.10 Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling
3.11 China Liv Pro Cycling
3.12 Cogeas–Mettler Pro Cycling Team
3.13 Conceria Zabri–Fanini
3.14 Cylance Pro Cycling
3.15 Doltcini–Van Eyck Sport UCI Women Cycling
3.16 Eurotarget–Bianchi–Vitasana
3.17 Experza–Footlogix Ladies Cycling Team
3.18 FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
3.19 Hagens Berman–Supermint
3.20 Health Mate–Cyclelive Team
3.21 Hitec Products–Birk Sport
3.22 Lotto–Soudal Ladies
3.23 Minsk Cycling Club
3.24 Mitchelton–Scott
3.25 Parkhotel Valkenburg Cycling Team
3.26 Rally Cycling
3.27 S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
3.28 Servetto–Stradalli Cycle–Alurecycling
3.29 Team Virtu Cycling Women
3.30 Team Sunweb
3.31 Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank
3.32 Thailand Women's Cycling Team
3.33 Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
3.34 TWENTY20 p/b Sho-Air
3.35 UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
3.36 Valcar–PBM
3.37 Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling - UK based
3.38 WaowDeals Pro Cycling
4 References
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Thanks for your replies. I'll look into the women's team CLKD and see if they have any discussions on the seats and I'll also look at getting the seat changed Maryjane.
>:( :'(It would be a shame to stop as its such a good thing to do but, without a different seat, it's too painful to carry on.
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I use an exercise bike but it flares my VA up if I use it for longer than 20 minutes and I can only do that a couple of times a week.
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Is there a Pro-bike cycle shop in your area, we have several across the Midlands. 'Halfords' might be a start but I would push ;) for a Company more related to the pros. ;)
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I have done some research on cycling websites and there is a range of seats, even for different ages. I'm off to a bike place tomorrow to see what's available.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
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Hi ladies
This may seem like a stupid question but does anyone with VA ride a bike?
I recently bought one and went on a bike ride a few days ago. I cycled for about an hour and was a bit sore but not surprised as I haven't been on a bike for a while.
Now though I have a VA flare up that's really bad. I'm not sure whether it's just a coincidence but it would make sense if I'm already fragile!
If others ride with no problems, I can put it down to coincidence and add this attack to the unexplainable (ups and) downs of this condition! :-\
i do have a bike but only go on occasional short leisure rides off road. I have had discomfort from the saddle but no obvious VA flare up. I haven't been out on it since I started Vagifem/had a confirmed diagnosis of VA by actual examination but hope to do so soon. I'd be interested to hear what you find out about the best saddles for women. Perhaps I could change mine.
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Hasty - it's a known secret within the community. This isn't about menopause but I'm answering the question. They are FAR TOO YOUNG to be menopausal; they may eat badly and don't get periods which brings other problems. Men are affected too.
Otter15 - let me know how you get on!
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Hi Otter15. There are a lot of saddles designed for women. Quite a few are split so that they have a gap where our ladybits would be. They aren't cheap but they are worth it in the long run. It is worth finding an independent cycle shop if you can because they will let you try before you buy that way you aren't running the risk of thinking it will be okay and then find it isn't. Good luck with your search
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Hi ladies
Just got back from the bike shop where I had the handlebars raised to the highest point they would go and got a saddle with the valley, much wider and shorter and more padding.
I pushed my bike all the way there and rode some of the way back - still too sore to do it all.
The difference was immediately noticeable. Once I've healed, I'm sure it will be much easier.
The saddle wasn't expensive - I've seen some really pricey ones online but it felt good when I was on it - mainly because of the width and valley I think because you don't have all the pressure underneath. The man actually recommended it so definitely worth changing.
Thanks for all your advice everyone. It means I can still get out and about to places further than those on foot.
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Hi ladies
Just got back from the bike shop where I had the handlebars raised to the highest point they would go and got a saddle with the valley, much wider and shorter and more padding.
I pushed my bike all the way there and rode some of the way back - still too sore to do it all.
The difference was immediately noticeable. Once I've healed, I'm sure it will be much easier.
The saddle wasn't expensive - I've seen some really pricey ones online but it felt good when I was on it - mainly because of the width and valley I think because you don't have all the pressure underneath. The man actually recommended it so definitely worth changing.
Thanks for all your advice everyone. It means I can still get out and about to places further than those on foot.
which make was the new saddle please? Could you post a link to it?
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Sorry, I can't see the make. It just says TKX on the saddle. I'm in Spain 8) so don't know if it's the same as the ones in England but I think you'll be able to get a similar one easily. As Herdwick said, you can try different ones and see what suits you. The ones with the valley definitely make a difference, as did raising the handlebars as I could feel myself sitting differently and not leaning forward so much - less pressure. The width is so much better too.
I've had VA now Birdy for two years and still haven't managed to get it under control. Flare ups happen for no apparent reason sometimes, and other times I've caused it, which is why I asked about riding a bike. It's a journey huh? ( the ones on my bike are much more pleasant). ;D
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So pleased you have got sorted Otter15. Let's hope that you begin to feel less sore soon and can enjoy riding your bike once again. Good luck to you too Katejo. It should be quite easy to find what you need especially if you go to an independent retailer as you can try them then
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Well done! 'Photos.?
If you are having symptoms up the medication? If it's Vagifem some ladies need nightly, sometimes two doses at once.
Is it a flat area of Spain that you live? although a head wind can be as difficult on a cycle :D
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Hi ladies
Just got back from the bike shop where I had the handlebars raised to the highest point they would go and got a saddle with the valley, much wider and shorter and more padding.
I pushed my bike all the way there and rode some of the way back - still too sore to do it all.
The difference was immediately noticeable. Once I've healed, I'm sure it will be much easier.
The saddle wasn't expensive - I've seen some really pricey ones online but it felt good when I was on it - mainly because of the width and valley I think because you don't have all the pressure underneath. The man actually recommended it so definitely worth changing.
Thanks for all your advice everyone. It means I can still get out and about to places further than those on foot.
I have a small bike shop walking distance from my house so I popped in to ask and see how helpful they might be. I didn't have the bike with me today because I was on my way home from food shopping but I asked about saddles and the height of handlebars too. The guy was pretty helpful so I will go back with the bike. I could see some possibly wider/shorter saddles on the wall. He had 1 display for men and another for women.
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If you don't ask you don't get. Let us know how you get on.
I know a Company was taking 3D scans of skull formations: we had ours done in Sept., my pictures came through, DH's never did ::) so that helmets can be made to fit the contours as well as building in individual protection across the bumps. Can't remember the name of the Company though :-\ but technology is improving.
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Yes CLKD, where I am is really flat and lots of tracks through fruit groves so being on the bike is safe and really scenic. I walk to strengthen my bones and cycle for fitness and get further.
I changed from ovestin to colpotrofin recommended by the gynaecologist in Spain because the ovestin used to burn but so does this one. I find it burns more if I use it too often so it's a bit of a vicious circle. I use it three every days with yes in between but it isn't enough. I'm thinking of going back to ovestin. The one I found the best was estriol - the one where you have to use more - but I couldn't find it here.