Subscribe to the SaddleSoreBook.com Newsletter—New Edition Out Now! (Plus Gift Guide & Your Pelvic Floor)
Welcome to the Saddle, Sore Newsletter! I hope you're enjoying the great fall weather and getting in some good riding.
Anyway, I'm so excited to announce that the new edition of Saddle, Sore: Ride Comfortable, Ride Happy is out... And available on Amazon in print and Kindle format! We're hosting a series of book launch shindigs and talks in Toronto if you're in that area, but more talks are coming, so keep an eye on SaddleSoreBook.com for dates!
In the meantime, stay in touch: email me at molly@saddlesorewomen.com if you have any questions you're dying to see answered on our website. And as always, to follow along to see where I'll be, follow me at @mollyjhurford.
Stay Rad,
Molly
2016 Gift Guide for Rad Lady Cyclists
Check out my gift guide for the other amazing female cyclists in your life (and, you know, to get some suggestions for things that should be on your Christmas list...). There are options for every budget, every type of rider, and pretty much every style of riding. And keep an eye on MollyHurford.com for a more fashion and general athlete-focused version of this list.
Get gift-giving inspiration here!
Why Your Pelvic Floor Matters
Laura Powers, a physiotherapist in Collingwood, Ontario, spends her time preaching to women about the importance of a healthy pelvic floor. It might not sound like a big deal, but pelvic floor problems can kill a bike ride and take years to fix. Pelvic health is a general term that can refer to a few different conditions: In the fitness world incontinence during jumping activities, such as the Crossfit-popularized skipping double-under, running or trampolining are perhaps the most common, but Pelvic Health is something that many people will need to (or should) look into at some point in their life, especially after child birth.
A little preview of our whole interview with her:
Why does the pelvic floor matter?
It’s a major muscle, just like any other! We’ll get into the problems women can have with their pelvic floor, but those problems, when left unaddressed, can really affect everyday life: your self esteem, your social life, your confidence, what you enjoy doing… We can help women so much.
What are the most common pelvic floor issues you see in female cyclists?
One in four women have some kind of urinary incontinence, so if you take athletes and apply that to them, it’s not as uncommon as you might think. For cyclists in particular, though, it’s a low impact sport with no jumping, so stress urinary incontinence isn’t as common. Most commonly, I’m seeing women with pelvic pain, numbness, sexual disfunction—they just can’t get orgasms—all due to the prolonged compression on the saddle. There are a lot of nerves, veins and arteries that get compressed and can create those sensations. That’s likely what we see: deeper, inside pelvic pain, superficial numbness, or that sexual disfunction. If you’re avoiding sex because of discomfort, that’s a bad sign.
Want more? Listen to the whole episode or read the full interview with Laura Powers about potential pelvic floor problems, solutions, and preventative measures to take for a happy, healthy pelvic floor.
Click Here to Listen!
Some really, really fun stuff over at Bicycling mag, on my own blog, at Cycling Tips and on our podcast, The Consummate Athlete lately.
A Cyclist’s Guide to Happy Lady Parts
Ella Cycling Tips posted a piece from the newest edition of Saddle, Sore with some of my best tips!
Why Movement Matters with Katy Bowman
So stoked on this recent podcast we did with the author of Movement Matters, Katy Bowman. We chat about how even active cyclists are likely skipping really important movements during the course of the day: an hour of activity is only 4 percent of the day, but what about the other 96 percent?
Slow Cooker Savvy
Sure, it's not about lady parts, but man, how many of you are wishing for easier, cozier cooking? I have to say, slow cookers are my secret travel weapon, especially when I'm feeding large groups of racers (I made an insane stew just last night). Check out some tips for bike racers getting the most out of a slow cooker.
Natural Cures for Cyclists
I chatted with my number one naturopath, Lia Sonnenburg, about how to stay healthy through the winter without antibiotics.
The Worst ‘Diet’ Foods in Your Fridge
With the holidays coming, it's worth mentioning that not all 'diet' foods are really going to help with weight loss. Most of the time, you're better off indulging in smaller portions of the food you love, and sticking to a good workout schedule and keeping healthy foods as your primary calorie sources.
All articles written by Molly Hurford. Image via Horia Varlan on Flickr.
Come Hang!
We have upcoming talks on nutrition, lady parts and everything riding-related coming up in New Jersey, Massachusetts and more in the next two months. Check the schedule here. We'll talk awkward questions, women's cycling, and any training and nutrition questions you have—plus hang out and likely drink some wine!
Want to host a Ladies' Night? Fill out the form here.
Discounts for Readers
Save 25% on Cat's Tongue Towels
Cat’s Tongue Towels are always go in my saddlebag and my race bag before rides and trips. They’re designed to get grease off, whether it’s off of your hands when you have to stop to change a flat (anyone else end up with grease smeared on their face after a ride?) or off your bike where the chain left a mark, the towels work really well. I LOVE the individually wrapped ones for rides and when we fly places, but the canister is perfect for sticking in your car and having at all times.
Check them out at catstonguetowels.com and use the code MOLLY for a 25% discount!
20% Off Petal Power Chamois Cream
I'm super excited that Petal Power is offering SaddleSoreWomen.com readers a 20 percent off discount on chamois cream—stock up! I love their Joy Ride System—it has a pre-ride cleansing wipe, a fantastic chamois cream, and a post-ride shower gel. Cannot recommend their stuff enough!
Check it out at petal-power.com and use code SADDLESOREWOMEN for a discount!
Get in touch with other women cyclists, and ask any of the questions you've always wanted to ask on our Facebook Page. Plus find out about deals, events and other fun stuff!
Riding is fantastic, but there's more to life than pedaling. I'm all about becoming an all-around great (or at least, competent and up for any adventure) athlete. And Peter and I are exploring this in our new podcast, The Consummate Athlete.
Check it out here!
If you don't already have a copy of Saddle, Sore, you can buy one here.