I was so excited to try out my new Aerotech Designs Bike Shorts on my long ride today!
According to the Aerotech website, the Top Shelf Pro Bike Short is "an eight-panel, anatomically designed bicycle short that hugs the muscles for support and reduction of muscle fatigue. The short prevents chafing by eliminating seams between the legs. The smooth inner leg reduces opportunity for abrasion and saddle sores from cycling. This bike short keep you comfortable and dry with high quality fabric that absorbs perspiration."
The Top Shelf Pro Bike Short was AMAZING! The best part was the great pad in the crotch, which is made of polyester microfibers that relieve the pressure points between the body and the bicycle saddle.
Plus, the Top Shelf Pro Bike Short feature flat-locked stretch seams with leg grippers to keep them from riding up on long bike rides!
The other awesome aspect of this short was neither the fabric or the pad got wet and icky as I rode. The entire short was truly sweat-wicking.
If you need a new bike short, the the Top Shelf Pro Bike Short by Aerotech Designs is the one to buy! (FYI, I am a size 2/4 and ordered a small, not the extra-small as recommended by the Aerotech Designs sizing chart. It fit perfectly!).
My bike ride was pretty uneventful until the very end. I focused on keeping a steady cadence and did sprints every few miles to help me build endurance.
Around mile 15.0, I took a break and ate some Sport Beans.
My ride was so pleasant until the last mile when I had a nasty CRASH! The last three miles of my rides are on sidewalks, and I turned my wheel suddenly and jammed it in between the sidewalk and grass. I managed to not only jam my pelvis into the handlebar, but I also ended up with a nasty cut on my palm:
I think it is VERY IMPORTANT to learn how to crash properly. Taking the full brace of a crash with your hands is very dangerous, as you can easily break your wrist. Crashes always happen in slow-motion, so I managed to kind of side-step (after my pelvis connected with the drop bars) as I went down. I took the brunt of the hit on my butt as I rolled (good thing I was wearing my super-padded Top Shelf Pro Bike Short!).
Considering I was biking at a high speed when the crash happened, I’m lucky I got away with just a cut and a very bruised pelvis! (And I ended up a little dirty, too!) That’s why you ALWAYS wear your HELMET! 
(My "Wear Your Helmet and Try Not to End Up Dirty and Bleeding Like Me" Face).
- Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes (including the crash!)
- Distance: 25 miles
Anyway, no big deal. I’m a weekend warrior!
After the Husband cleaned my palm and taped it up, I drank a Green Monster (1 banana, 2 cups kale, 1 cup unsweet almond breeze, and flax seed) + 1 tablespoon of my favorite natural protein powder.
And for dinner, I made a casserole that was based on my Santa Fe Casserole.
The differences included 1/2 packet of cubed tofu, no onion, and about 1/4 cup salsa. It was really good! My first serving was about 1/4 of the casserole dish. I was HANGRY!
I even went back for another 1/2 serving. Delish!
Have a wonderful night!
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
Pinterest
Facebook
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
OH MAN, what a nasty cut! Yikes! I hope that thing heals up soon. It’s a very good thing you were so smart about the way you crash. And that the hubby is studying to be a doc!
P.S. Saw this gallery and thought of you (and your obsession!).
ah! that cut doesn’t look
pretty. but i’m glad the
rest of your ride went superb!
yes, yes…always wear the helmet.
yummm-your dinner looks fantastic!
Glad you’re okay! Eeek!!
Yup, your face says exactly that.
Im so sorry about your fall! Those are never fun
I hope that your bruises and cuts heal quickly!
Thanks for the review on those bikes shorts- I need to get some asap!
Biking can be scary! I’m glad you are alright. I’m also really glad you were wearing your helmet! The sidewalks are the worst. I really want to get some long bike rides in. Let me know if you want a biking partner on the weekend for designated bike trail rides!
That picture at the end sums it all up perfectly. Glad you enjoyed most of your ride. Any suggestions on a good bike to start off with?
Glad you are okay, ouch!
I had a nasty bike crash last monday… I am still healing!! Glad you’re okay and take it easy, girl!
Steph
Ouchies! That cut looks pretty painful. I'm glad you're okay! <3
Yikes! Glad you’re ok!
jen and rob – i would recommend going to a local bike shop and talking to a professional about what brands and types (road, hybrid or mountain) would be best for you. then, check craigs list for a used bike. mine (a giant) retails at $1400 and i got it for $350! i also like specialized and raleighs.
So sorry about your crash! Hope you are ok!
Yummy dinner!
You sure are tough! Hope you’re not too sore tomorrow.
Your dinner looks awesome!
gah! i’m glad that you’re ok after that crash! seriously, i sometimes think bikes are out to hurt us…or whatever comes in contact with bikes! hah!
and i need to go to that restaurant before i leave! btw, did i tell you my job ends the last day of june? after that i’m outie…to somewhere. hah…don’t know where yet!
AW Caitlin–I literally gasped out loud when I read that you crashed! I hope you are okay–thank god nothing worse happened. Thinking of you! <3
-amy
Congrats on the ride! I can’t imagine biking that long.
Hope you don’t wake up too sore tomorrow!
http://www.HelpMeghanRun.com
Oh no, sorry about your fall!
Ouch! That looks like it hurts!! Congrats on the long ride though!
Eeek, I am so scared of crashing! Other than that, I love the tips in this post – the bike shorts look awesome and so does your casserole. Wishing you slightly less eventful rides in the future!
That is a nasty cut! Glad to hear the crash wasn’t too serious, but still, they are no fun! way to go with the helmet too!
I might have to check out those bike shorts. I wear Pearl Izumi and they are spendy!
You should check out getting padded bike gloves too! They may come in handy when putting in those long rides…
oh no! i am happy to hear ur ok and hope ur cut and bum heal quickly!
Ouch! Sorry about your fall, but glad you are ok!!
ouch – glad you’re ok!!
Hi Caitlin,
I was wondering if you (or anyone else) could share some general info about your bike rides. Like today, for example, you said you kept it pretty steady, also did some sprints. I am a relatively new biker, have a hybrid, and would love to know how to get the most out of my rides. Or maybe someone has a website they can recommend for me to read up on this? I went on a 20 mile ride today on a pretty flat trail near where I live, and tried to mix it up a bit, but really had no idea what I was doing. Thanks!
other caitlin – you can increase your speed and endurance simply by putting new stress on your body – going faster, going further, or doing intervals. my understanding is that it’s a lot like running — tempo rides (where you slowly build your speed up over the course of the ride) help build endurance and intervals (repeating sets of faster than normal and then normal speeds) help build speed. as far as exact formulas, im not aware of them…. let me know if you discover something online!!
haha, even with dirt on your face, you still manage to look pretty!
sorry about that cut…what a gash! hope it heals speedily!
Ouch that sounds painful- I’m glad you’re okay though!
yikes – that is one hell of a cut! hope your feeling better – and thanks for the tips on how to “fall properly” that is a great thing to know!
glad you got some bike shorts, hope your hand heals quickly!
Thank Goodness you’re okay!!!!
other than the fall, awesome ride!!
have a great night!
Ouch!! Sorry about the crash.. you are a trooper though and i’m sure you’ll be back out there this week!
Awesome bike ride too… do you know how many cals you burn biking on average??
Yikes!! Thank goodness you were wearing your helmet and had on your fancy shorts
I hope you’re feeling better soon. I’m so impressed how quickly you’ve taken to cycling and seem to know so much about it! I’ll have to pass that “How to fall” info on to my husband..I wonder if he knows about that and he’s been cycling for years!
leah – i would say i burned 1000 calories on a 25 miler. nice!
thinsipired – my daddy is a amateur cyclist (but super serious) and i literally grew up on the back of his bike! so i just know some about biking b/c of my background.
Sorry about the fall! Your hand looks painful!
Reading about your ride makes me want to get out and ride! I do long rides with David on the weekend but he’s out of town for the month so I haven’t been out
ps- Check out mapmyride.com to work the calories, path, etc.
nasty bike crash = UNHEALTHY tipping point
…Hope you are feeling better…
I have never crashed on the bike, thank Goodness! At least you didn’t crash in the road, THAT would have been super scary!
That Sante Fe casserole looks yummy!
ouchies!! i definitely second the glove recommendation. they will save you from looking like a 5 year old with scraped hands when you take a spill on your bike. plus they offer better gripping power on your handlebars (esp if your hands sometimes get sweaty!)
Geez that looks like a rough crash. the crotch pad in bike shorts is called a Chamois, pronounced shammy. you can also get chamois cream, which is basically a lubricant and taint nummer. it prevents chafing and saddle soreness. the chamois is really the quality piece of the bike short that you pay for.
Ouch! Your hand looks painful! Glad you didn’t get seriously hurt and great job on the 25 miles!!
That Santa Fe Casserole looks amazing!! I am putting that on my list to make asap. Sorry about your fall… I almost looked exactly like that, but it was b/c I was trying to take my dog on a bike ride and lost control!
Glad you are okay! One of the gals on our ride on Saturday had a very nasty crash – three cracks straight through her helmet. So helmets are definitely a good thing!
Thanks for tip on the bike shorts too!
Do you think if I was to buy these shorts I could get away with just them instead of a new seat as well?
are you not riding in bike short?
No never have usually my butt gets use to it eventually. After re-reading your bike tips and this post though I think my butt likes the idea
omg no you need bike shorts. 100%. there is a reason why professional use them!
1. caitlinhtp.com is not the same as healthytippingpoint.com – just incase you were wondering.
2. remember the other day when i asked you 234782394782 questions about my bicycle. it’s a good thing i didn’t read this post before. or your last tri recap. as now i am terrified of falling.
3. i suppose my fear is a bit irrational, however, as I tend to ride at 9-12 MPH. i like to go SLOWWWWLY.
4. especially after my 3 miles of riding, 3 miles of hiking, & 5 miles of running last night. RAWRRRRRRRRR.
5. do you ride with bike shorts for every ride?
i love when i see comments from you like, 6 months after i post something.
yes you need shorts for every ride!