Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Take Out The Discomfort When Cycling!


If you are a relatively new rider, you may not know how to prevent the most common mistakes that can lead to physical discomfort during a ride. Even if you have been riding for a long time you can slip into bad habits, and end up hurting more than is necessary.
  1. Warm up/Cool down - Allowing your body to gradually come up to 'operating temperature' at the beginning of a ride, and then pedaling a few extra minutes at a very easy intensity at the end of your ride, can both go a long way toward minimizing muscle soreness and increasing both recovery from riding, and adaptation to training.
  2. Eye Wear - To reduce the risks of this occurring, try wearing sunglasses during every ride.
  3. Pain in the neck - Try to avoid riding in the same position all of the time.
  4. Saddle Sore - Investing in a good quality pair (or two) of bike shorts, and then cleaning them after EVERY ride can go a long way toward helping you avoid saddle sores.
  5. Lubrication - Speaking of that 'private area,' we can't discuss saddle sores without also mentioning lubrication. Though there are a lot of favorite lubes among many different riders, after trying many different things, I've come to rely upon A&D ointment as the best and least expensive lube. 'Chamois Butt'r' also works well.
  6. Stem Length - Clearly, the most important thing you can do is to have a good fit session with an expert.
  7. Numb Hands - To keep your hands from going numb always wear gloves during a ride and try a handlebar cushion or some thick bar wrap.
  8. Back Aches - If you are experiencing some pain, get the advice of a fit expert to be sure you are set up properly, and then remember to include some 'core' training as part of your regular routine.
  9. Foot Relief - To increase circulation to your feet you should vary your pedaling techniques (working the 'box') so that you are not putting undo stress on one area.
Full story can be read at Tri Fuel