What Pains Do You Live With to Cycle?
05-02-22, 09:12 PM
#26
señor miembro
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Existential.
05-02-22, 09:56 PM
#27
Grupetto Bob
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Oh yeah, never had problems with hand numbness until last year. Will have to try squeezing one of those spring things. Thanks
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05-02-22, 10:12 PM
#28
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I doubt that I am unique in putting up with a cycling related pain or discomfort so that I can continue to do what I enjoy. I am not seeking advice on how to cure my ills but want to see what people are willing to put up with to stay up on their sport.
For mountain biking, I am willing to put up the next day with a sore back due to the impacts incurred. For me having to take ibuprofen for a day is well worth it.
For road biking, I tend to develop a sore left scapula. Initially it was like a stabbing pain but with a shorter stem, exercises and massage, it has become more of a minor irritant rather than a major pain.
So what do you put up with?
For mountain biking, I am willing to put up the next day with a sore back due to the impacts incurred. For me having to take ibuprofen for a day is well worth it.
For road biking, I tend to develop a sore left scapula. Initially it was like a stabbing pain but with a shorter stem, exercises and massage, it has become more of a minor irritant rather than a major pain.
So what do you put up with?
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05-02-22, 11:21 PM
#30
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05-03-22, 08:15 AM
#31
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Some chafing at times that I notice after riding. Don't notice it so much on the ride but get in the shower and it lets you know. Stings for a bit but then gone.
05-03-22, 08:39 AM
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I have significant arthritis in my hands and neck, and have suffered grade III A-C separations in both my shoulders. I pre-medicate with ibuprofen before I ride, and that keeps me tolerably pain-free for 3-4 hours. After that, I get increasingly miserable, so my rides have gotten shorter as I age.
05-03-22, 02:56 PM
#34
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As my spring half marathon season is winding down, I'm spending more time on my Trek so the contact points on my tuchas are a bit tender getting used to the stock Bontrager saddle. I suppose I should see that as an indicator I need a saddle upgrade, but my ass eventually toughens up so I don't worry about it much.
05-03-22, 03:26 PM
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For more than a decade I would have heartburn symptoms while cycling. . It became so bad that I would have to stop numerous times. I was treated by quite a few doctors with acid reflux medication. Nothing helped. Five years ago I had knee surgery. After the surgery I told the doctor that I did not feel well. The next day I had quadruple bypass surgery. It was like a miracle. I now cycle without pain.
05-03-22, 03:54 PM
#36
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My pain comes from an injury completely unrelated to riding. I have to put up with it if I want to continue riding. Has nothing to do with being a "real" cyclist, Wolfie, I mean Mr. Bent. You going to start trying to debase people who suffer through no fault of their own?
05-03-22, 04:02 PM
#37
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I have had 5 right shoulder surgeries and three left knee surgeries. I need surgery on both of my knees. I have arthritis in my neck, scoliosis and degenerative disc disease. I hurt whether I ride or not. As long as I don't push big gears, my knees do okay. The shoulder complains loudly. If not for bicycling, I don't know what kind of exercise I'd get. Fortunately bicycling transports me a great mental space and delivers me to my spiritual center.
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05-03-22, 04:25 PM
#38
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05-03-22, 04:27 PM
#39
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I don't have any significant pains, but I sometimes feel it in my left leg, which I was told was slightly shorter than the right leg. I tried a shim once, but had to remove it mid-ride, as it was far worse than nothing.
05-03-22, 06:33 PM
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Cycling is not a painful activity and should not cause chronic pains and aches...and if it does then it means you are doing something wrong or riding a wrong type of a bike.
05-03-22, 07:46 PM
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05-03-22, 08:06 PM
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05-03-22, 08:12 PM
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Did I stumble into the 50+ forum by mistake? 
05-03-22, 08:17 PM
#44
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Sometimes I get a woody while riding, and I have to hope it will dissipate by the next time I stop, so no one sees it. I guess we all have our crosses to bear...
05-03-22, 08:19 PM
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05-03-22, 08:20 PM
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Yeah, tri shorts are obviously out, too.
05-03-22, 08:30 PM
#47
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It’s all about how much pain you can suffer for 3-4 hours!
Now shut up and PULL!
(the name of that road up above is Payne road!).
Last edited by A350driver; 05-04-22 at 04:27 AM.
05-03-22, 08:55 PM
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05-03-22, 09:06 PM
#49
Grupetto Bob
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05-03-22, 09:11 PM
#50
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I know 4 guys who ride recumbents and they all say they have bad backs and necks from years of riding road bikes. I’d love to try a recumbent sometime, see how much more comfortable it is, I know it’s a lot faster as I spend a lot of time drafting theses guys when I’m on my TT bike!
Two years ago I built up an upright bike, to see if I could do randonneuring upright. After a pro fitting and many tweaks, I completed a SR series and a 1200k.
So what hurts, you ask?
Butt, first and foremost. So much butt pain, pretty much anything over 200k is increasingly painful. I spend more and more time out of the saddle as the miles go on.
Next is a tossup between low back and hands. The back I address by stretching, and hands by moving hand position. It's tolerable.
The funny thing is, I switched to a bent because I couldn't ride 25 miles on an upright without unbearable low-back pain. Now, with fit tweaks and 20 years older at 61, I can do a 40 or 50 mile ride on the upright pain free.
Last edited by downtube42; 05-03-22 at 09:16 PM.