Issues With Bike Fit and Saddle Pain – Questions Answered
It comes up quite a lot here at Terry: a customer will be exploring saddle options after enduring pain for quite some time, and although some saddle models may be better than others, they have not found a seat that solves the problem. Often they have tried a few bike saddles and none has brought true relief. Here’s the advice we offer when a different saddle hasn’t helped enough.
Q: I’ve tried multiple saddles, but I still have saddle pain down there. What’s next?
A: Sometimes, it’s not the saddle that’s causing the issue, it’s how the bike fits.
A bike that fit perfectly for the past 10 years may gradually begin to feel uncomfortable. This happens to all of us as we age. The loss of bone minerals as we get older means our height changes; it can decrease one to three inches over time.
If you find yourself more stretched out, and the majority of your weight is supported on your soft tissue, it’s time to have a bike shop complete a fitting.
Q: What adjustments can I make to my bike fit to overcome saddle pain?
A: Sometimes it can be a simple change to the bike, such as the angle of the stem. This minor adjustment can place a rider in a slightly more upright position. A shorter stem can help if you’re feeling stretched out, reducing the rotation of the pelvis, and shifting the pressure points on the saddle backwards.
If still uncomfortable, you may need to adjust the position of your bike seat to relieve your saddle pain, or find a saddle that corrects the angle of your pelvis. An ideal saddle is one that will tilt the pelvis ever so slightly upwards as you ride. This reduces the pressure on the soft tissue. The added advantage to all of this is the slight pelvic tilt is at an ideal angle for maximum power to the pedal stroke.
Q: Do I need a different bicycle to get a better bike fit, and saddle pain relief?
A: In extreme cases, it might be time for a new bike with a shorter top tube and a proportionate geometry. As always, be sure to work closely with your bike shop to ensure angle and geometry work well together.
Here are a couple of resources to help you get started toward better bike fitting:
Long Distance Bike Shorts – Designed for Over 2 Hours in the Saddle
Any cyclist in the saddle longer than 2 hours should look at our bike shorts with a “Flex” chamois. Type “Flex” in the search box on our terrybicycles.com website. This will bring up all shorts designed with a Flex chamois. There’s a variety of styles to accommodate an assortment of body types and shapes – all true long-ride shorts, ready to go the distance.
Here’s a quick overview:
Chill Shorts: Don’t like the “sausage leg” effect? This seamless short with Flex Air Light chamois might be the short for you.
Holster Hi Rise: Does cold air slide up your backside while riding? If it feels like you just can’t find a pair of cycling shorts that stay up high enough; check this high rise out. The holster part is the two mesh pockets on each side; big enough to slide an iPhone or chocolate bar into. Features the Flex Air chamois.
Bella Prima: This short is this author’s favorite long distance bike short. The short features a new flex air carbon chamois. The soft brushed chamois is a welcome change to its high compression chamois cousins. If you’re experiencing discomfort with all the other shorts, this might be the answer to your woes. Works best for riders that have “broken in” their sit bones for the season, as there isn’t a lot of compression in the padding, but it’s oh so comfortable.
Bella: The best long distance short for the no-nonsense rider. Available with a couple color stripe patterns and a couple different lengths. This short is designed to go the distance with its high compression, sweat wicking, breathable chamois. Terrific design, with elastic-free front waistband and slightly higher rise in the back.
Touring Shorts: These true long-distance shorts were designed with the touring cyclist in mind. Features a handy side zip pocket to tuck that credit card safely away while pedaling the miles. Features our Flex Air Tour chamois, which has the most compression plus some added loft for comfort while churning out the miles and enjoying the sights.
Other Factors when Choosing Long Distance Bike Shorts
Compression: A cyclist will find that good long distance bike shorts have a snug “compression” like fit. This is to aid in reducing muscle fatigue as the miles drift by.
Underwear: Do not wear underwear with your cycling shorts. Although seasoned cyclists are aware of this, a beginner often is not. Bike shorts are designed to be used without underwear. Going commando under the shorts allows the chamois (padding) to breathe and wick away moisture as designed. Underwear can cause additional friction and chafing – problems that get more and more troublesome over longer distances.
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Planning Your Next Cycling Vacation? Here Are Tips to Make it More Comfortable.
Contributed by Anne-Christine Strugnell
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In the past few years I’ve had the good fortune to take a few ship-based cycling vacations and I’ve loved them. Along the way, I’ve picked up some tips for planning a cycling vacation that’s more comfortable and more fun. Read on for the advice I wish I’d had before I went on my first trip!
Cycling Vacation Tip 1: Ride a bike you know.
I travel with my own bike, which is great but not always possible or affordable. If I were renting, though, I’d definitely bring my own saddle. It doesn’t take up much room but is key to your comfort. If you’re going to be renting a bike, try to get a model that you’ve already experienced at home so you’ll already be somewhat familiar with it. On my trips, I’ve noticed that people who are riding rentals do need a little time to get accustomed to their new bikes — otherwise, the combination of unfamiliar bike and unfamiliar terrain can lead to accidents. See this post for more advice on traveling with a bike or renting one.
Cycling Vacation Tip 2: Slather up.
I ride almost every weekend at home, with my longest ride being 63 miles. In between, I do almost daily 45 – 60 minute spin sessions on my Peloton stationary bike. Before my first cycling vacation, I never used anti-chafing chamois creams. I’d always wear a chamois, but just the idea of slathering some special cream on all my saddle-touching parts seemed weird, so I never even tried them… until one of my fellow cyclists on my first trip literally saved my butt by giving me a few little packs of her “butt butter.” Turns out, day after day of riding about 50 miles adds up to a lot of chafing, and once your skin starts getting tender, things get worse in a hurry. Chamois cream prevents and reduces soreness from constant movement on the saddle, and the kind I use is water soluble so washes out of clothing easily. I’m totally sold on it and now use it every time I go on a long ride. When I’m planning a cycling vacation I buy a bunch of little single-use packets — they’re under the TSA size limit and easy to stash in my jersey pocket.
Cycling Vacation Tip 3: Pack more.
I pride myself on being a light packer. In preparing for my first trip, I studied the weather reports and read about the laundry service and packed three cool-weather cycling outfits. It was a perfect plan, but then most of the days turned out unseasonably warm and I ended up having to buy a few lightweight cycling jerseys. Doubling up on your jersey selection is an easy and low-impact way to improve the quality of your experience. More clothing also reduces the stress of wondering whether something will be washed and dried in time. If you have to minimize the amount of clothing you bring, here are some great tips on how to pack light for a cycling vacation. For me, I’m loving my new approach of bringing lots of jerseys, but if I really had to pack light, I’d go for a few long-sleeved Soleil jerseys, a few Echelon tights, and a windproof shell. I think that would keep me happy in temps ranging from the 50s up to the 90s.
Cycling Vacation Tip 4: Stretch it out.
Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes after a spin class I don’t take the time to stretch. It doesn’t seem to do me any harm, but when I’m doing days of back-to-back cycling, I can’t get away with this or my knees start to hurt from tight hamstrings. Don’t rush to the showers once you’re off your bike. Stay in those comfy, already sweaty cycling clothes and go through a simple 15-minute stretching routine for cyclists. Don’t have one? There are tons of programs out there, but you could just start with this routine from Map my Run.
Cycling Vacation Tip 5: Consider melatonin.
If you’re crossing lots of time zones, you’ll probably be battling jet lag for part of your trip, which can be a drag. I don’t take sleep meds, ever. But if I’m crossing five or more time zones eastbound, I do take 5 mg of melatonin at my target bedtime for the first few nights, and it is amazingly effective and all natural. Skeptical? Check out this legit medical study here.
The Big Cycling Vacation Question: Rent a Bike, or BYOB?
Joy, Santana Tours bike mechanic, checking brake setup for customers who brought their own tandem on cycling vacation – Joy is rocking a Terry sleeveless top also!
Contributed by Joy Armstrong
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Cycling vacations are an awesome way to see exotic places, meet new friends, and get in some great rides. To get the most from your trip, you’ve got to have the right bike. The big question is, should you BYOB – bring your own bike – or rent one at your destination?
In three years of working as a bike mechanic on cycling trips with Santana Adventures, I’ve seen people have a great trip either way. But I’ve also seen bike issues derail a great vacation, and I wanted to share some tips to help make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Bring your own shoes and saddle – leave your pedals at home
First, whether you bring your own bike or rent, there are two things I’d recommend you bring from home: your saddle and your favorite bike shoes. Saddles are super important to your comfort and highly individual in their fit. You won’t be able to get the exact same broken-in saddle from a rental shop, and believe me, you don’t want to be trying out a new one on vacation, when you’re going to be riding every day! Bring the saddle you know and love from home, and if you’re putting it on a rental bike, take time to get the forward/back and tilt adjusted just right for your riding style.
Bring the right cycling shoes, too. You don’t want to bring brand-new shoes and then find they pinch or rub. Some people bring their own pedals, but frankly, as long as you know the pedals on your rental have the right clipless system for your shoes, there’s not much difference between one set of pedals and another. Call ahead of time if you’re not sure what kind of pedals are on a rental bike.
Consider the logistics
In deciding whether to rent or BYOB, look over your itinerary and think about the logistics. It can be a hassle to travel with a bike, especially if you’re traveling to multiple places and only plan to ride for part of your trip. Plus, there’s always the possibility of your bike being damaged in transit, either by baggage handlers or by TSA staff, who often open up bike boxes and look through them but don’t necessarily know how to repack the bike correctly. Bikes can also get damaged when they’re being transported in a truck between rides, so you might want to do a little research on whether your bike is already covered by an insurance policy. If not, you might want to buy a policy that covers it, at least for the trip.
Renting a bike, done right
Renting can be a fun chance to test out a new model of bike that you’re thinking of buying. If you’re arranging your own rental, you’ll probably be working with a shop that lists bikes for rent on a website, where you make your selection and provide your height, weight, pedal preferences, and any special requests like telling them that you’ll bring your own saddle or want them to flip the rise on the stem. Good rental places will go the extra mile and set up your bike the way you want it ahead of time, but you should still allow an hour or so when you pick up the bike so that you can have them adjust it to suit you and your riding style.
If you’re traveling internationally, you might find that the bike shop has models you’ve never heard of before, because each country has its own rules for importing bikes and typically its own manufacturers, too. If you’re not familiar with the models offered, I’d recommend you go to the manufacturer’s website and look up the specs for the models you’re considering. You can then compare the geometry of the bike, its components, and frame material with the model you already own or one that you want to try. Your local bike shop might be able to help you understand how the rental models compare to bikes you’re familiar with.
The best way to BYOB
For most people, most of the time, I recommend bringing your own bike unless it’s too complicated or too expensive to do so. After all, you chose it to suit your preferences and you’ve already got it all set up the way you want it.
If you’re bringing your own bike, have it tuned before you go to make sure it’s running well. Even more important, the mechanic might find a problem, like there’s a bearing that’s going bad, or you need new derailleur cables, or new brake pads. Get those potential problems taken care of ahead of time so they don’t interfere with your trip.
Clean your bike before you pack it up. This will help ensure free movement of drive train components. When there’s dirt in pulleys or derailleurs, shifting gets a little chunkier and can detract from your riding experience. You can clean your chain with a degreaser specifically made for bikes or the dish soap from your kitchen—either works fine. Using a rag gently wipe the chain making sure to get into the spaces around the derailleur and pulleys.
Consider bringing spares of some hard-to-find parts. Recently when I was a mechanic on a cycling cruise a passenger’s derailleur was destroyed — but fortunately he’d brought an extra derailleur hanger. If he hadn’t done that, the odds of our being able to find him a replacement were pretty small. Derailleur hangers are highly specific and extremely difficult to replace. I recommend you bring your standard roadside repair kit plus a spare of any component that’s unusual and unique to your bike. For example, you may want to bring extra spokes that are specific to your wheels because you might find them hard to get where you’re going. When you consider how much a cycling vacation costs, it’s worth protecting the quality of your trip with a little foresight and a few spare parts. And a final item for your bike packing list: some chain lube. You might not be able to bring it in your carry–on, or buy it easily once you reach your destination, but you can usually pack it in checked luggage.
Packing and unpacking tips
Got all that? Great — let’s pack! Some manufacturers sell special hard-sided cases with foam cutouts for wheels, handlebars, and the like. These can be pricey but a good investment if you’re planning to travel with your bike often. If not, many people use cardboard bike boxes. You can get one from a bike shop, or you might still have the one your bike originally came in. They’re not expensive but they’re not super sturdy, either. I recommend that you take the extra time to wrap everything in good packing material like foam pipe insulation or bubble wrap within the cardboard box. Also, I’ve learned from experience that it’s not a bad idea to use duct tape along the bottom of the box in case it sits in a puddle.
When you pick up your bike box at the airport or your destination, look at the outside for water damage, holes, crushed places, or bulges that weren’t there before. Ideally, investigate any issues before you leave the airport so you can document any claims for damage. Take a close look at any components that were near the holes/crushed places/bulges.
Whether or not there was any external sign of damage, when you unpack your bike, be especially careful with the rear derailleur. This is the most sensitive piece of your bike because of the way it hangs off the frame. It’s easy to bend it — or have it bent in transit — and not recognize the problem right away. You need a mechanic’s eye to know for sure, but if your bike’s not shifting right, that’s probably the issue.
Also, look carefully at the frame. If it’s a scratch on an aluminum bike, that’s a bummer but likely to just be a cosmetic thing. But if you see a scratch on a carbon bike, look closely. The carbon fiber pattern can make it hard to see if there’s a problem. If there’s just a superficial mark, that’s OK, but if there’s a hairline cut, your entire frame could be compromised and you may not want to ride it. Another way to check the integrity of a carbon frame is to tap on it at regular intervals using a 25 cent coin. It should sound solid and almost metallic. If at any point it makes a thud-like sound, like knocking on soft wood, that could indicate a structural flaw and you should get your bike checked by a professional. The tap test on its own can be misleading, especially to the untrained ear, so the best advice is to make sure: if you see something that looks like a crack, you should get it checked out by an expert.
Follow all these tips, and you and your bike should be set for an awesome bucket-list cycling vacation. Enjoy the ride!
Joy Armstrong has been working as a mechanic in bike shops for ten years and frequently supports Santana Adventures cycling cruises. In her spare time, she races and divides her time between Colorado and Hawai’i.
Join us in the 2019 Season of Journeys, a concept that set the tone for the adventurous prints, global patterns, cycling references and natural influences that you’ll see in the Terry line this year. We hope you’re inspired to ride even more than inspired to buy, but just in case, click on a link and take a closer look.
A Terry Ambassador finds the Coolweather Tight fits the bill.
Thanks to three different lengths, this tight fits all women like a glove.
“This is the dream tight. They are warm, soft, stretch but don’t bag, and they stay put (!) requiring no tugging or adjustments through an active day of riding. They have a perfect rise that is flattering, and the chamois is discreet yet keeps the bum comfy for long rides. So comfortable you might try and sneak them under a tunic for office wear!”
-Jean, Terry Ambassador
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Shop the Coolweather Tight in three lengths and Plus sizes: Petite Regular Tall Plus
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Here’s a quick rundown of the best strategies for standing out, being seen, and staying safe by making yourself more visible on your bike.
A – Always On
It might be surprising, but most cycling crashes happen in the daytime – about 80% of accidents involving cars and bikes. It’s well-proven that daytime running lights improve safety for motor vehicles – and it works for cyclists too. Make yourself more visible with always-on lighting, both front and rear. Choose LED lights for their efficiency, and opt for multiple points of light, the more the better. Bright steady lights are great for illuminating your path for your own benefit in the dark, as well as catching attention anytime. Slow flashes or strobe effects are especially good for commanding awareness from drivers, day and night.
B – Bio-Motion
Research shows that reflective material worn at the major joints of the body increases recognition of pedestrians in the dark by motorists. The biggest improvement of recognition though, comes with highlights worn on the ankles, especially when the pedestrian is walking. The findings apply to cyclists too: reflective or fluorescent accents on the lower legs increase your visibility and recognizability to drivers more than anything else you can do. Here’s the research.
The key to being visible is to stand out against your surroundings. At night that means lighting yourself up against the dark with reflective material. In the daytime it means switching to bright colors that contrast with roads, buildings, and greenery. Fluorescent colors do that job best.
Product development is always a focus here at Terry, but we have some especially exciting plans in the works for 2019.
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If you like any of these very popular Terry programs – Soleil, Touring, Metro, Mixie, Spin & Chill – you’re going to love the new options we have in store, with exciting new prints, and more styles to choose from.
More styles across the board with looser, flattering fits, longer lengths and higher rises.
More innovative and practical details, such as pockets and ventilation features.
More softness and comfort in hems, seams and leg/arm bands.
Completely new performance cycling bottoms and tops, saddles and high visibility options.
We can’t wait to show you – stay tuned!
In the meantime, our Year End Sale is in full swing – this is your chance to snag some bargains while they’re still available.
It’s a great time to stock up on your familiar favorites for the New Year ahead, at up to 60% off!
Sizes and colors are in short supply, and when they’re gone, they’re gone!
Packing for a Cycling Tour – How to Prepare for Your World Adventures with Terry Attire
Ah, the packing dilemma. What to throw in the suitcase? It’s a tough enough decision without the additional dynamic of cycling clothes.
Fortunately, every now and then our customers will share photos from their cycling trips throughout the world. They often let us know which Terry items they wore and how they performed, which is wonderful feedback for us. I have added their insights to my own experiences from international cycling trips to bring you some “top tips” on what to pack and how to prepare for a cycling tour, along with some photos to get you in the mood for an adventure!
Jayne and Terry visit Vietnam
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I’ve discovered through trial and error that it’s best to break the packing down into these categories:
Cycling
Sight seeing/Evening
On the Plane
Cath as a Terry model! In the “wilds” of Vermont.
One of the coolest aspects about Terry attire is how easily it packs for trips. Lightweight, wrinkle free and fun to wear whether cycling, sightseeing, hiking, or strolling. That versatility lets you pack surprisingly light. It’s amazing how many roles a few well chosen Terry pieces can perform.
Lisa in the Eiffel Tower Soleil Kokorin Castle Potsdam Germany
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Jeannette rocks Terry in Croatia
Let’s keep that suitcase at under 40 pounds. First, we’ll assume you’re renting the bike and you’re heading into summertime temperatures. (If you’re bringing your own bike, toss the majority of bike clothes in the bike case, but keep your helmet, one pair bike shorts and jersey, shoes and pedals with you in a daypack – just in case.)
What to Pack for a Tour: Cycling Clothes
Naturally, comfort on the bike will make or break the tour, so that’s our first consideration. Here are the basics if you’re traveling to an area 60 degrees and above:
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Helmet
Cap (to protect scalp from blistering sun rays),
Sunglasses (I prefer the convenience of the reader sunglasses made by Tifosi for easy map checking, while my husband prefers a lightweight pair of foldable readers.)
Gloves
Cycling shoes (consider bringing your pedals if your cycling shoes have cleats)
2 pair bike socks
2 pair bike shorts
2 sports bras
2 Jerseys
Lightweight rain jacket
Arm warmers
Vest
Waterbottles
Sunscreen – usually easy to find locally, but if you have a favorite brand, pack it!
The arm warmer and vest combo are ideal in locations with cool mornings. Both items are easy to stuff into rear jersey pockets or the saddle bag as the day heats up. This way you can layer up and combine for a wide range of conditions with the fewest pieces.
Optional extras:
Midsize saddle bag (Tour companies supply saddle bags with the tools needed to repair a flat, but I prefer something a bit larger which can take some additional clothing as I shed layers.)
Handkerchief (perfect for wiping off sunglasses, i-phone, or to wipe your hands before grabbing that snack, or pat down a sweaty face following a long climb.)
Sightseeing in Croatia wearing Terry Sun Goddess
What to Pack for a Cycling Tour: Sight seeing and Evening:
Depending on what you have planned, these items can do double duty and take you from day to night.
One pair Shorts
Metro or Mixie skirt
Terry halter
Swim suit
Transit dress
2 short sleeve blouses
Soleil long sleeve
Lightweight outer wear such as a jacket, poncho, wrap, or shawl
Cap or hat
Sneakers (choose one comfortable pair that can do it all – run, hike, or stroll down the sidewalks),
Lightweight dressy sandals
Toiletries
Pajamas and Kimono (covers as well as a bath robe, only more elegant and light weight!)
Small bottle laundry detergent, clothes line and clothes pins. (Yes, wash those shorts and jerseys out nightly and hang it all up on the balcony or in your room. Terry items dry quickly overnight!)
Jayne and Terry together at An Bang Beach in the waves of the South China Sea
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What to Pack for a Cycling Tour: On the Plane
Carry-on sized knapsack or daypack – Ideal to bring on the plane with some of the items you never seem to have time to read, pen and paper, hair and tooth brush, wash cloth (feels so good to wash your face in the midst of a long journey overseas,) and the aforementioned cycling shoes, helmet, and pedals.
I also add a change of clothes, bike shorts, and jersey — just in case I’m separated from my suitcase along the journey.
And snacks: peanut butter crackers, apples and good chocolate are necessities in my world.
Of course, these are my own preferences. Feel free to use this list as a starting point for whatever you feel is a must-have for your own cycling adventures.
Touring Tahiti by Tandem – An Exotic Cycling Adventure
Terry customer, Cindy Wienkers, shared highlights of a spectacular tour she and her husband, Kevin, took in early 2018, riding their tandem through the Polynesian islands. Naturally, we wanted to know more, and Cindy came through for us!
Here is her account of an enviable trip – one to make any cyclist dream of warmer adventures while the winter winds blow outside.
Contributed by Cindy Wienkers
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Have Tandem, Will Travel
The French Polynesian trip was our third Santana bike tour. We have done some individual tours in Provence and Tuscany with Life Cycle Adventures, also on our tandem. We have biked the Rocky Mountains in Canada, and previously biked Strasbourg to Amsterdam, and Dubrovnik to Venice with Santana. This coming September we will be biking Berlin to Prague, then in December 2019 it is New Zealand and in June 2020 we will bike Japan. The last three trips are also Santana sponsored. All of the experiences were incredible, but Bill & Jan McCready from Santana really know how to do the trips right.
We have a Santana tandem with couplers, which allows us to take the bike apart to fit into a specially designed suitcase for airline travel. The suitcase is 62 linear inches. Depending upon what your bike is made of the weight will differ when packed. Ours is scandium and weighs 70 pounds. Both my husband and I are tall so our tandem frame was made to properly fit us. My husband and son also have their private pilot’s license and we own a small plane. The bike case can fit into our personal plane for cross country traveling.
Our Tahiti Tour – Off to a Racing Start
Our Polynesian Island tour routes
Santana had two back to back Tahiti tours this past May. The trips were scheduled around the La Ronde Tahitienne Cycle Road Race which took place on May 20th. The first tour biked various French Polynesian islands, ending their trip with the race. Due to my twin daughters graduating from college on Mother’s Day, my husband and I were on the second tour. This was a bit more of a challenge as we arrived to Pape’ete, assembled our bikes, and the first day out was the road race.
At the start of La Ronde Tahitienne race
We elected to do the 55K route rather than the 110K. My husband and I did not ride the race competitively, but we also did not dawdle along the way – we saved taking pictures of the beautiful scenery for later. We did get our gears adjusted for the week of biking though.
The Polynesian people were very welcoming and friendly, not only on race day in Pape’ete with their welcoming party, but also on each of the islands we biked on. One of the challenges in the race was the language. We didn’t receive a Garmin chip or a paper map. We had to rely on the natives standing at intersections shouting at us. Often there were fans standing alongside the route cheering for us.
Our beautiful sailboat home from home: the Wind Spirit
After the race and festivities, we boarded our beautiful sailboat, the Wind Spirit, which was our home for the next week. On our first two Santana trips we traveled by river boat. I love being able to travel to each adventure while only having to unpack once when boarding the ship.
The islands we traveled in order were: Tahiti, Mo’orea, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, and Huahine. Coming from Green Bay, Wisconsin, where we had 24 inches of snow less than a month earlier, the weather in Tahiti was a bit of a change: mid 80s and humid. My main focus for most of the trip was hydrating enough, and applying sunscreen.
View of Bora Bora
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Our Biking Community
The bikers are the only passengers on the boat besides the Santana staff and ship’s personnel. As you can imagine, cyclists are not the typical vacationers that the cruise line staff usually encounter. We are up early, consume a large breakfast, fill multiple water bottles, and typically disembark the ship by 7:30/8:00. Depending upon the day’s mileage we may meet up with the ship again for a late lunch, fill water bottles, and leave for our afternoon ride. Most bikers arrive back to the ship by 5:00. We all hit the showers at approximately the same time, we dine together, and are often asleep earlier than the normal passengers would be.
Oh so hot, our boat in the background, tender arriving
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The people on the trip are pretty amazing. We all have the same focus with biking. We have made many friends and often see the same ones over and over again. These bikers are not all young people. Two trips ago we celebrated the 80th birthday of one of the passengers, Alvin, who had bought a new Santana bike for his birthday. He and his wife were on the Tahiti tour the week before us, though we did see them along the race course.
Bora Bora Mayor welcoming us Barge bringing all the bikes to the dock
Our Wind Spirit sailboat was gorgeous, but it made unloading the bikes more of a challenge as they had to be put onto a barge and transported to the island.
The mayor would often be at the dock to meet us when we arrived on the tenders. The ladies would give us flowers, fresh fruits, and often perform a native dance.
The bikers of course were eager to saddle up and hit the road. Biking the Polynesian islands is the only way to see them. It allows you to interact with the local families more.
Advantages of an Organized Cycling Tour
Santana takes care of all of the details for us. They have made it their business to have connections with the islanders. Any issues that come up, they are there. To do this sort of trip independently would be hard. We are sailors in addition to bikers. You could charter a boat yourself, moor it, bring your bikes in on a dingy, but I doubt you would get the special treatment that we got whenever our barge docked. It would not be the same worry-free experience. Also, the McCready’s take care of their island contacts – we could not do that as independent tourists.
One of Bill’s daily ride maps
The Santana trips usually offer options for your daily mileage. Every morning at breakfast we would have “Bill’s talk” often accompanied with one of “Bill’s maps.” There would be the most challenging Wolfgang or Leland trip, which often was not included on the Garmin chip. We would most often choose the intermediate mileage for the day. Since we were riding on fairly small islands, the mileage we could ride was limited. I only registered just over 200 miles for the 6 actual days of biking. Those that wanted to endure more miles in the heat of the day simply turned around and biked the same route again.
Leland and Joy plus a few others did actually ride their tandem up the hill30% grade sign – be warned
We have biked a fair amount over the years and experienced a lot of different terrains, but until this tour I had never encountered a 30% grade. Luckily for us, Bill & Jan thought ahead and did not want to risk any injuries on the descent (we often had brief daily rain showers which were actually quite refreshing but made for a slippery course). At the base of the ascent there were trucks with trailers waiting to load not only bikes but also the cyclists. 😊 Of course, not all of us chose to take the motorized route up.
Highlights of the Polynesian Islands
Vanilla plants getting a great deal of TLC in a vanilla plantation
I am an avid cook, having trained mainly in France. I loved seeing the vanilla farms especially on Taha’a. I do raise orchids at home but the process to get one vanilla bean is way too involved and long for me to grow them. I did take videos of the various steps for growing, pollinating, and drying the vanilla beans to share with students in the culinary courses so that they can better understand why pure vanilla and vanilla beans are so expensive.
We ate a lot of raw fish marinated in coconut milk, lime juice, with scallions and chili peppers, sort of like a ceviche.
We also ate a lot of cooked fish. The natives said it this way, “Fresh fish is free, chicken and beef is expensive and reserved for Christmas dinner.”
A banquet of fruit the natives offered to us
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The Tahitian pearl farms (my favorites were on Taha’a) were very interesting. The collection of the oyster, the harvesting of the mantle from a desirable oyster, surgically implanting a piece of the mantle and a nucleus bead (sphere made from a freshwater mussel found in the Mississippi River) into the gonad of an oyster, hanging the oysters back out in the water for 2 years before harvesting the pearl.
Making copra, with musical accompaniment
We also visited a copra farm on Taha’a, which is another important part of their economy. At the farm, just like every time our tender would arrive to an island to dock in the morning, we would be greeted by the native people with a flower, a dance show, and served fresh local fruits. Often times the mayor would also come out to greet us. On one island, the mayor let us use his private dock to unload the barge with our tandems and for the tender to come in with the cyclists.
Taha’a was my favorite island for riding but it also had several points of interest, which meant it was not a continuous ride due to the many stops. The final stop on Taha’a was the rum distillery and tasting. Not like I needed rum in the highest heat of the day!
Posing on a WWII cannon on Bora Bora – this was one really HOT cannon!
In addition to the vast history of Captain Cook on the various islands, the U.S. chose Bora Bora as a military site in WWII. There are still some cannons present on the island. We biked to one of the sites and then had a “small” uphill hike to the cannons while wearing our bike cleats. As a reward, Miss Bora Bora was waiting to greet us.
Miss Bora Bora
[vertical-spacer] Ruins of a marae, an ancient Polynesian ceremonial structure
The various islands also had Marae on them.
We saw how islanders weave their traditional thatched roofs from Pandanus leaves.
The final evening’s picnic featured a fire and dance show. It was one of the best I have ever seen!
Our Motu BBQ included a traditional Polynesian dance. Bora Bora, French Polynesia May 2018
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Cindy put a great selection of Terry cycling apparel to the test on her Tahiti trip: read Tropical Gear Test here.
In case you want to go on a similar adventure: Santana Tours.
