Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - "Osteoarthritis: the Cyclist's Nemesis"

Just read this article. (http://www.dutoitcycles.co.za/health_diet_articles/011_Osteoarthritis.htm)

Made me sad.

Any sufferers of osteoarthritis here? How do you cope? How much cycling do you do, still?

I have ostioarthritis in my shoulders, hips and lower back and it bothers me much less when cycling than when walking. I rode 15,000km last season.

I also find that the exercise keeps me more flexible with less pain and I don't take any meds for it.

I have ostioarthritis in my shoulders, hips and lower back and it bothers me much less when cycling than when walking. I rode 15,000km last season.

I also find that the exercise keeps me more flexible with less pain and I don't take any meds for it.

What kind of bike do you have - could you post a pic? And what size tyres? What terrain do you cycle on? What temperature ranges do you cycle in?

if you ride a proper fitting bike i am not sure how big of an issue that will be. although only being 20 i have no aches and pains. but i really dont find that article to be well written at all. what are the source(s)? one of the reasons listed for cyclists to stop riding is obesity?! this does not make much sense to me.

While we should all be good to our bodies and pay attention when things don't feel like they should, I'm not about to take the linked article as gospel. Just based on how (poorly) it's written, I really question the expertise of the author. Many people ride well into and beyond middle age without issue. Stating outright that all cyclists are going to get osteoarthritis sooner or later is just plain inaccurate. Sure, it can happen, but it's not like the first time we get on a bike we sign some kind of contract with the bone devil that seals our fate in osteoarthritis.

While we should all be good to our bodies and pay attention when things don't feel like they should, I'm not about to take the linked article as gospel. Just based on how (poorly) it's written, I really question the expertise of the author. Many people ride well into and beyond middle age without issue. Stating outright that all cyclists are going to get osteoarthritis sooner or later is just plain inaccurate. Sure, it can happen, but it's not like the first time we get on a bike we sign some kind of contract with the bone devil that seals our fate in osteoarthritis.


if you ride a proper fitting bike i am not sure how big of an issue that will be. although only being 20 i have no aches and pains. but i really dont find that article to be well written at all. what are the source(s)? one of the reasons listed for cyclists to stop riding is obesity?! this does not make much sense to me.

OK guys, listen up: I don't say the article is pure gold, and in fact, it certainly contains disputable stuff. But some people do have OA. You are not one of those guys and that's truly great. Some of us might, however, and it's a real and painful issue.

Take this article as a talking point only - a starting point from where maybe some useful discussion will emerge, about how to minimize OA problems.

sorry this subforum is for mental health problems only

There was this guy that went to my temple when I was younger who was nearly 90 and still played handball. Supposedly he was really good.

I used to limp with an arthritic knee. Since I've been riding, it's been better. The more I ride, the better it is, in fact.

The same holds true for my lower back, which once had me stay the night in the hospital because morphine was not working. About a month later, I seriously upped my bike mileage and started riding fixed gear.

Two years later, no problems.

I've found that cycling can make headaches go away, and once (I'm not joking) even relieved a case of hemorrhoids.

Driving a car, on the other hand makes me feel like crap.

i bet doing yoga regularly would be a good preventative measure (keeps body supple, proper alignment, posture, etc..), and for when that's too late i hear cannabis is great for chronic pain (no unwanted side effects - in fact i enjoy them quite a bit!)...

elbow & ankle on opposite sides of my body, fingers wrists & toes.

the more i ride the less i hurt, so i try and ride everyday.

for those days that are really painful i tend to smoke more herb...

Just FYI: smoking cannabis causes pulmonary emphysema, much more than smoking tobacco. (http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/thx.2006.077081v1)

Stop riding and things will be much worse. Best thing you can do is keep it going. Maybe mix in some cross training like swimming to balance things out...but don't ever quit.

I think you just need to mix cycling with high impact sports like basketball, and running. Doing one thing all the time obviously blows.

Just FYI: smoking cannabis causes pulmonary emphysema, much more than smoking tobacco. (http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/thx.2006.077081v1)


FYI-

just out this week

The American College of Physicians, a 124,000-member group that is the nation's largest for doctors of internal medicine, contends that the long and rancorous debate over marijuana legalization has obscured good science demonstrating the benefits and medicinal promise of cannabis.

http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v08/n188/a02.htm

Just FYI: smoking cannabis causes pulmonary emphysema, much more than smoking tobacco. (http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/thx.2006.077081v1)

Your article doesn't site how much worse it is. All it says is a J is worth 2.5 to 6 smokes a day. Ever share a *** with a circle of friends? If so, then I believe you. For most habitual users, the contents of a J would get them just as far through a day (probably much further) as ~ 4.25 cigarettes would get a smoker.


I mention this because (secret identity) recently had pneumonia. Quit smoking tobacco and presto cured-o!

Your article doesn't site how much worse it is. All it says is a J is worth 2.5 to 6 smokes a day. Ever share a *** with a circle of friends? If so, then I believe you. For most habitual users, the contents of a J would get them just as far through a day (probably much further) as ~ 4.25 cigarettes would get a smoker.

That's all it ought to say: 1:25-1:6, you can't get more clear than that. That's how much worse it is.

There's this other article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6551327.stm), to make you feel better.

That's all it ought to say: 1:25-1:6, you can't get more clear than that. That's how much worse it is.

There's this other article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6551327.stm), to make you feel better.

No, what it ought to say is an average of consumption/specific time frame for each. Even Samantha the raging pot head in your 2nd article didn't consume as many J's (10) as a typical cig. smoker (14) per day. So not worse. On the low estimate, I don't have enough fingers to count the folks I've met that smoke 2+ packs a day. Meanwhile Samantha smokes enough pot to have an article on her. Have yet to meet anyone like that.

That's an obscene amount. She must be rich.