"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Weird Pain and HR problem

For the last 3-4 months my legs and back have been killing me, no amount of visits to the chiro or masseuse have fixed the issue. Here is what's weird this pain only manifests itself when I'm off the bike. When I'm on the bike the pain goes away.

The weird HR issue is that I can't get my HR up on the trainer. I'm doing workouts that should be pushing my HR into zones 4 and 5 and I can't get it past the upper end of zone three. If I do these same workouts outdoors my HR responds like it should.

What's the powertap telling you?

I find that my HR is lower indoors too for a given power. I think it has something to do with the mindlessness of it all.

I'm not smart enough to figure it out, but the legs/back thing could be related to some funky muscle imbalance from cycling, or potentially a more significant problem. Not to slam the chiros or masseuses, but a visit to a sports medicine doc might be in order.

What's the powertap telling you?

I find that my HR is lower indoors too for a given power. I think it has something to do with the mindlessness of it all.

I'm not smart enough to figure it out, but the legs/back thing could be related to some funky muscle imbalance from cycling, or potentially a more significant problem. Not to slam the chiros or masseuses, but a visit to a sports medicine doc might be in order.

The PT is telling me that I'm doing the workout in the proper power zones but my HR never gets to the same level as it would out doors. For example after I finished my sprint workouts today, I did 45min on the rollers to cool down. I kept the power around 180-200w, comfortably in my zone 2 power. My HR was 95-110. Even during the sprint workouts my HR never got out of zone 3.


The leg pain is more of constant soreness, it goes away within minutes of getting on the bike. The back isn't as constant but still goes away once I've ridden for few miles.

The PT is telling me that I'm doing the workout in the proper power zones but my HR never gets to the same level as it would out doors. For example after I finished my sprint workouts today, I did 45min on the rollers to cool down. I kept the power around 180-200w, comfortably in my zone 2 power. My HR was 95-110. Even during the sprint workouts my HR never got out of zone 3.


The leg pain is more of constant soreness, it goes away within minutes of getting on the bike. The back isn't as constant but still goes away once I've ridden for few miles.

Try some yoga, you big swissy. I'm serious. It might help. But see your doctor.

I'm not a Doctor, but it IS the internet, so that means I'm qualified to answer this in some sort of way....

Sunspots. Sunspots are the root of all evil.

For the last 3-4 months my legs and back have been killing me, no amount of visits to the chiro or masseuse have fixed the issue. Here is what's weird this pain only manifests itself when I'm off the bike. When I'm on the bike the pain goes away.

The weird HR issue is that I can't get my HR up on the trainer. I'm doing workouts that should be pushing my HR into zones 4 and 5 and I can't get it past the upper end of zone three. If I do these same workouts outdoors my HR responds like it should.


I have a similar problem with the trainer. Even before races, I will try, wherever possible, to warm up on the road. Ditto for lab testing. I always seem to do better on the field tests with the PT compared with what happens with blood lactate tests (which I don't bother doing anymore).

When I'm indoors, I usually put a movie on, listen to some upbeat music, or think about Tom Boonen's legs...that usually makes the indoor workout bearable.

I'm not a Doctor, but it IS the internet, so that means I'm qualified to answer this in some sort of way....

Sunspots. Sunspots are the root of all evil.

Yes, but sunspots sometimes come in pairs, and kidneys come in pairs, so therefore it must be the kidneys (renal failure). Muscle activation helps relieve the leg pains (from edema), and also shunts blood away from the kidneys. See a doctor.

Just joking, but seriously, see a doctor.

For the last 3-4 months my legs and back have been killing me, no amount of visits to the chiro or masseuse have fixed the issue. Here is what's weird this pain only manifests itself when I'm off the bike. When I'm on the bike the pain goes away.

The weird HR issue is that I can't get my HR up on the trainer. I'm doing workouts that should be pushing my HR into zones 4 and 5 and I can't get it past the upper end of zone three. If I do these same workouts outdoors my HR responds like it should.


You should definately see your doctor about the back problems. You could have some compression going on in one or more of your discs. Pressure on the ganglia in the lower vertebrae can cause leg pain. When you are on the bike the amount of verticle pressure on the spine is reduced, and thus may be the reason for the alleviation of pain while riding. I hope you have insurance as a MRI may be called for.

I had problems getting my HR up on the trainer and I diagnosed it as "Mental Overtraining".

I always attributed not being able to get my HR up on the trainer to overheating. My legs couldn't work as hard for as long as they could outside. A bigger fan, big enough that you arent sweat soaked, closer emulates the evaporative cooling you get outside.

I would think however if that was the case here you would see a dropoff in the PT numbers.

>>The leg pain is more of constant soreness, it goes away within minutes of getting on the bike. The back isn't as constant but still goes away once I've ridden for few miles.<<

That sounds like a lumbar spine issue. Pinpointing it can be difficult (you've probably read about my back issues) if sometimes impossible. Have you tried hamstring and low back stretches for this? My guess is that may well provide relief rather quickly. I'm talking 10-15 minutes of stretching daily. The fact that it subsides on the bike is similar to my pain - and my pain also feels better for hours after, which is probably all the endorphins exercise generates.

Do your legs hurt when it RAINS? That would be another sign of arthritic lumbar spine issues.