Selle Anatomica 129 mile Test Ride – Best Saddle for Ultra Cycling?

The Views on the Route to Globe Arizona

In my preparation for the Race Across America (RAW) I have been contemplating how on earth will I sit on a saddle for 928 miles? What is the most comfortable saddle? Naturally I turned to the Ultra Cycling community and asked for their opinions. Without a doubt everyone had an opinion. These cyclists routinely ride for hundreds and hundreds of miles each week and enter races that range from 300-3,000 miles. I was pretty sure that I would take their recommendations seriously.

Eager to learn I was surprised to find out that many ultra cyclists recommended the Selle Anatomica saddle. It is a leather saddle made in the U.S.A. (California) with a unique cut/slit right down the middle of nearly the entire saddle. The leather allegedly conforms to your individual bottom. Further, it has a tension adjustment that allows you as a rider to set the firmness or give of the saddle. I thought that is crazy but sounded cool and worth a try. I was finally sold when I read the comments from other Ultra Cyclists that this saddle feels like a hammock for your butt. So naturally I bought one!

After speaking with a very nice woman over at Selle Anatomica regarding their saddles, and what my riding/race plans were she instantly became very excited and explained to me how many of the RAAM and RAW racers all use their saddle. In fact they have a 2016 sponsored team all in these saddles. I knew I was on to something. She helped me finalize my order and even shipped it to me overnight so I could try it on 129 mile ride to Globe AZ from Gilbert AZ last Saturday. My saddle was ordered Thursday. Arrived Friday. Tested Saturday.

She swore to me that even the first ride would be comfortable and that it only became more and more comfortable with use. Trusting her reassurance I absolutely took it for a spin on a 129 mile bicycle ride with about 7K in elevation gain. What a great test ride, right?

I admit I was a bit nervous to remove my other saddle and place this one in its stead after having paid for one of the best bike fits I had ever received. I didn’t want to screw it up. I took picture after picture and measurement upon measurement to make sure I would put this new saddle in the exact spot as my old saddle. It was trickier than I thought but likely because I spent more time than necessary making sure everything was exact.

I rode it down the street a few times to make some small and fine tuned adjustments in seat angle and forward/rearward position. Finally I felt like I had it in the right place. It was in fact a hammock feeling for my butt. Definitely a different feel than I had ever been accustomed too. It was almost weird. Strange. Sort of just odd. I had my doubts.

The next morning I met up with some good friends at 3am for our ride out to Globe AZ. It was windy, wet roads from the rain storm which ended only a couple of minutes prior, and did I mention windy and cold? Needles to say the first couple of dark, wet, and cold hours were horrible. I didn’t care for much of anything of this training/test ride for the first several hours. I had anticipated warmer and definitely less wet weather. I was under dressed and borderline miserable.

Finally we made it into Superior and the sun was peaking through the clouds just a bit. The climbing became more intense and then I began to warm up. It didn’t take long to feel comfortable again and then the happiness crept back into the ride. The scenery is pretty cool through that route and the roads are fun to climb and descend. Then I noticed that I had not really felt any negativity in my bottom area. In fact I had been pretty comfortable on the saddle.

In the sunlight my friends could see the classy and classic leather look of the saddle and all started commenting on it. Lets be honest, the old classic leather look is still pretty cool. But more importantly, I was comfortable. Was it the most comfortable saddle my butt had ever sat in? I’m not sure. It definitely wasn’t the worst. I wasn’t sure how an old leather looking saddle would feel, and it certainly felt better than I thought it would. But I can’t say its the best thing I have ever sat on. HOWEVER, it was only the first ride and they supposedly get better and better.

Our ride continued on into Globe AZ. Just before entering Miami and Globe there are a few wonderful descents. I have my compact crank on right now so I spin out fairly quickly as I pedal downhill. Yet, in my last 8 months or so of cycling I have been trying out the more aggressive aero position on the bike where you sit on your down tube with your chest up against your handle bars tucked in as tight and as low as possible. This has been working out very well for me. I feel more and more stable on in this position and my speed gets increasingly faster. My friends can’t often even keep in the draft when I tuck in tight on the down tube. These descents are super fun!

Once we arrived in Globe we refilled water bottles, grabbed a snack, and used the restroom at a Circle K gas station. That seems to be our pattern. My saddle was looking pretty good and my rear end didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. That was a positive sign. I figured at this point the saddle was a definite maybe for my RAW race in 5 weeks.

By the time we came back into Gilbert and had significant miles and climbing under our belts I was even more convinced the saddle was a good thing. I can recommend this saddle. However, I have a couple of other saddles to try out as well… more to come on the other recommended saddles by the Ultra Cycling community.

-Ben

Arizona bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and can assist in representation in all 50 states.

The Real Un-Cut RAW Crew Tips

A few days ago I had the privilege of chatting with a friend of mine about her experiences crewing for solo RAAM cyclists over the past 4-5 years. Being a rookie I listen to everything anyone is willing to share. I took notes feverishly and relished in her ability to just “say it how it was.” It was real. It was raw (no pun intended). It was refreshing and fun. You can’t imagine my delight when she decided to recapture some of her thoughts and send them in an email to me later! I was lucky enough to hear them all over again and this time she wrote them down forever memorialized now in this post!

I have copied and pasted her email in it’s entirety below, only editing names to keep things private. She wrote this email for me to send to my crew and so my name is mentioned throughout. But her name and the names of anyone else mentioned will be changed to spare them public nature of this post. Enjoy her passionate explanation of what my crew needs to know:

“Hey Ben,

After our conversation I wanted to send you this and you can forward to your crew if you wish.

Hello all!! My name is Lizzy Crew and this is my 5th technically 4.5 year crewing a RAAM rider, solo. I was on a half a crew my first year. I have been on a crew with one successful finisher in 2014 so I am going to use him as an example..his name is Joe Cyclist and had to be the BEST rider EVER to crew for here is why.

Prior to RAAM Joe Cyclist had a plan and every single person on his crew–me included had to assure him that this race was 100%no doubt about HIM. Whatever it took to get him to Annapolis WE were willing to do. I will use the example I told Ben on the phone. Joe Cyclist was from ________ so he was a Starbucks maniac..SPECIFICALLY Starbucks….a certain way. Every morning it was the job of our runner car to get him a Starbucks coffee FROM a Starbucks…not a shit cup from a hotel or whatever. There was one morning where logistically we were in the middle of NO WHERE Midwest and the closest Starbucks was literally like 175 miles away..it was my shift so sleep (and trust me when you can get sleep you will want it) So I got up extra extra extra extra early to drive to this Starbucks….get his coffee specific and had it to him within the time frame he requested. He was also SUPER specific on things like vanilla shakes. HE wanted 2 a day….and not just a McDonald’s vanilla shake…OH NO..it had to be a HOMEMADE thick ….vanilla shake handed off to him on the bike with a straw in a styro foam cup…I am not joking.

My point is this THE RACE IS NOT ABOUT YOU!!) I am not yelling at you guys just making sure you understand that.

On the flip side BEN–the race is for your crew to CREW and for you to just shut the F up and pedal your bike. THAT IS IT. Ben should never ever ever ever ever have to make logistical decisions or know anything other than….where to turn and that you all called the Time station and RAAM updates.

I told Ben it may be a good idea to give people specific titles. For example one person is the expert GARMIN person…..knows every thing about how they work, one person reads the que sheets in the route book and takes notes and keeps track of nutrition. One person makes the drink bottles and has nutrition ready etc. The person driving has to always know when gas is needed and plan accordingly. We never let our tank get below half…EVER.

One person has to be able to turn into the DEVIL from HELL ..meaning if Ben stops on the side of the road for no reason…YOU MUST TELL HIM To get on his bike….and not baby him. Only let him stop to pee (under 1 min set a watch timer) or take a sleep break. Tee crew chief in my opinion should know Ben the BEST out of all of you …know how he deals with emotion…and knows what he needs….and can be honest with him. The more he stops the more it takes him to get started…do not let him stop..NEVER let him stop.

Understand that Ben is going to get tired and I have told him the best thing he can do for the crew is give TOTAL trust and control and THANK YOU guys. He is going to hate you..he is going to tell you in his head to go fuck yourselves, he is going to ask why the heck did you just do that? DO NOT take any of this personal. He is riding his bike a major distance on no sleep and yes to us he is nuts.:)

Another thing DO NOT LET HIM USE AEROBARS. He does not need them. They can cause Shermers neck..which is a bitch to deal with. When Joe Cyclist did RAAM he had to earn aerobars in Illinios..he also came from a strong triathlon background.

Saddle sores there is a solution and I will share it with you in another email….this WORKS for sure.

Speaking of ass trouble…someone have a direct connection with whoever FIT Ben on his bike. His fitter will have all his measurements and if he is fact needs to drop his saddle or whatever…MAKE SURE HIS FITTER is in the know. We used a fitter advice on the fly for Joe Cyclist and it WAS AWESOME!!!

I say this with love …unless Ben’s wife is part of the crew or significant other….DO NOT let that person talk to him unless it is about positive stuff…and on the same note…SOCIAL media..if he decides to get a CARDO unit to talk to him on the bike….someone ask people on face book to post messages and thoughts to him and freakin’ read them to him …let him know people care or are making fun of him..whatever…Joe Cyclist loved that stuff made him smile and laugh. If this other person starts with smoochy shit…..don’t tell him that stuff…pedal pedal pedal pedal AND pedal is all he needs to know.

Here is what I know about the officials. MAKE SURE YOU PULL OFF THE ROAD….the exact amount or more ASKED of you by RAAM…and DO NOT impede traffic. Make sure you know when you can direct follow your rider during the day….there are specific places and make sure YOU HAVE SAFETY VESTS ON at 7 pm..no matter if it is dark or not…everyone in the vehicle MUST have one on.

Make sure you have a first aid kit and someone that can do medical stuff on the scene…

If Ben wants something that is way the hell out in left field….FREAKIN find it somehow. If you have to tell him to wait an hour..then be honest. Also don’t make up the route if there is a major climb..just tell him that. BE HONEST with him…DON’T TELL HIM GOSSIP ….JUST POSITIVE STUFF.

Here is a list of stuff you all should bring:

One pair of comfy pants and 2 pairs of athletic shorts.
A warm jacket it will be cold in Colorado.
Tennis shoes.
Clean undies
Hat
Make sure you have chargers for your phones and Ben’s tracker.

Some of this is misspelled but I am tired and just on the fly sending. If you have anything let me know. Here is my number put it in your phone NOW 555-555-5555. I am always available on RAAM…if I can be. Before as well. I will be in Oceanside with my 2016 RAAM Solo racer on June 10.

Here is the truth. I literally SLAPPED Joe Cyclist across the face at 3:41 am in middle of nowhere Colorado. He asked me to…I felt terrible…for the next 6 hours with him as a person I would NEVER do that….he wanted me to and so I did. LOL

Just be yourselves and cheer him on and other riders too:)

SEE YOU ALL IN OCEANSIDE 🙂

Sincerely,

Lizzy Crew

TEAM ___________ RAAM 2016.”

Lets Ride Bikes to Globe AZ

EPIC Rides are for everyone. This one to Globe AZ and back from Gilbert AZ.

So last year a few of us rode our bikes to Globe AZ and back. It was a long day leaving at about 3am. Awesome ride with about 140 miles and 8,000+ feet of total elevation gain. This was one of my fondest rides last year in preparation for our LOTOJA race. This year it’s just worth repeating no matter what we are getting ready for! Beautiful and challenging. Come join us. I have the itch to do that again! Leaving this Saturday – May 7th, 2016, rolling out at 3am from the Basha’s parking lot on Higley and Elliot in Gilbert AZ. I Know a few members of the team/group will be joining us just to Superior then headed back (a total of about 80 miles). The full ride to Globe and Back should put us home between 10:00am and 11:00am depending on flats, water stops, etc.

As far as I am concerned all are welcome. Want to come test out your cycling endurance? This is a good opportunity for that! The ride is unsupported. Be sure to bring some $CASH$ for the gas station stops along the way so you can buy some Coke, a banana, or whatever you need to get through the ride. It is about 70 miles one way with a stop in Gold Canyon and Superior, turning around in Globe. In all three towns we stop to refill water bottles. I typically bring 2 bottles.

We will likely hit most of this ride in our upper aerobic zones averaging 18-20. Most of the climbing is all out to Globe. But don’t be fooled by the return trip… there is still some climbing left to do. However once we hit the “Top of the World” (a real place along the route) on our way back it is largely downhill the rest of the way and fast. I think last year we were averaging 30-35mph without too much effort most of the way home.

Cruising downhill through the tunnel last year was a rush! There is a chance we were going way too fast. Good times.

CLICK HERE for Route Map and Elevation Charts.

The map is below:

Arizona bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and can assist in representation in all 50 states.