Comments on: Riding with Your Menstrual Cycle : Guys Beware

By: Ayla-Monic (@AylaMonic)

Ayla-Monic (@AylaMonic) — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:29:32 +0000

Not everybody played sports when they were young. I grew up in the city, poor – my parents couldn’t afford team sports for us – and honestly, very little interest in anything but the library. So, when I was younger, I wasn’t doing anything that made me question how to manage my periods. I certainly didn’t go swimming when I was on, and the rest of the time, I wasn’t an active kid.

So, many of us don’t have that experience behind us. Keep your shaming to yourself. ‘common sense’ its such a classist concept – not everybody has the chance to have those experiences to learn from.

By: Hey Now!

Hey Now! — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:14:32 +0000

I know this is old but I’ve been on the pill straight through for years. Talk about freedom! But now as I’m aging it looks like I may have to go off and I dread the thought of cycling and leaking etc. looks like I may be getting a cup!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:42:45 +0000

Well said DW. My sentiments exactly… I have permanent scars from a 7 hour triathlon which left me off the bike and not running for four weeks last year- these are the things we need to be discussing! Going to check out the diva cup and instead… Thank you bike shop girl!

By: arsarca

arsarca — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:48:06 +0000

YES! I love the Diva cup. Have been using it (and before that, the rubber cup that looks just like it whose name I can’t remember) for, wow, 16 years. AMAZING.

By: Halfnotes

Halfnotes — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:53:22 +0000

I am also a new rider and searched for this very question. I am 36 and absolutely agree with you. If this was a gymnastics blog, then we would be talking about how to keep from embarrassing ourselves while doing split jumps and flying around a tiny wooden bar. I appreciate BSG and all the info. I have been spinning for 4 yrs and now will be training for BAK this summer!! All of these tips are timely and useful!!

I also agree regarding no question is a stupid one. Any information that I can glean from talking to pros/experienced riders or reading online is great!!

DW, thanks for taking a stand for all of us, particularly the newbies, and thanks BSG for having the courage to post the stuff that we aren’t supposed to talk about!!

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 04:54:22 +0000

Slap down a diaper (pad / serviette) & “ride, Sally, ride!” 39 yrs old, that’s 2 decades of bleeding a full week of every month & a raft full of the Red Sea never kept me from pedaling!

By: Lucie

Lucie — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:00:02 +0000

To be honest I agree with Kate, why all the hype. What did you do when you were younger? Did none of you participate in sport then? And DW why on earth have you got “a piece of leather wedged between your labia” you’re supposed to sit on the saddle not wedge it! It’s no big deal I grew up horse riding and didn’t miss riding because of my period. Having said that I did carry on riding with a broken coccyx so maybe I’m not an everday case. If ever a sport would require planning, horse riding all day in a pair of cream jhodpurs would! But I never had a problem, women have been doing this for millions of years. Calm down and carry on. Stay hydrated, exercise helps, yoga speeds the whole process up. But basically do what feels right for you .But don’t feel you have to miss out.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:29:51 +0000

This is so fabulous, I had been looking for don’t advice because my cramps are pretty heavy but my flow is erratic and comes every 35 days, not 28. I am ordering myself a diva cup ASAP, as I have heard all kinds of stuff from my friends too. I just started commuting a few months ago and I fell off my bike once due to my cramps being so intense. I have since decided to stay off on my first day, exercise, yoga, whatever core work I can do squats, leg lifts, etc, to relieve some pain, then by the next day, if I eat right that is, I can get through most of my commute without having to take too many breaks. I have a copper IUD and am a big believer in sustainable anything, so hopefully the diva cup or some other menstrual cup will work out.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:59:48 +0000

did you really just quote machka from bikeforums? she dishes out horrible advice just so you know [not always, but twice she did to me]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 09:03:10 +0000

Thanks for great advice! Just bought a diva cup so hope it works for me!