Originally Posted by
greybum
Hello!,
About 6 weeks ago I met "Chip" who was riding an HP Street Machine up a steep hill (Torrey Pines - the "scenic" route) near San Diego. My wife waited patiently as Chip willingly shared his enthusiasm for the bent. A week later I bought a used Haluzak Horizon but was surprised/annoyed/worried when, after my first 55 mile ride (including Torrey Pines), I started experiencing pain in my left heel. It was from the achilles tendon rubbing inside its "sheath" (the "paratendon") -- I think the symptom is called [achilles] "tenonitis".
Chip had warned that bents tend to invite leg strain, and some googling suggests this is especially true for the newly bent (like me.)
Has anone else experienced this - or similar - symptom?
Thanks/Cheers!
The two major causes of Achillies tendon injury are
1) weakness
2) lack of flexibility (due to a lack of regular stretching)
Bents don't cause this any more than an upright does or walking around every day. There are tons of sources on the net for stretching and strengthening regimens and achillies injuries will be history.