Pain.. riding..

OK. So I decided on a whim to go riding last night. I really like my ducks and most of my life I've perfected methods of getting ducks to line up. So when I announced to DH last night I wanted to ride, he was game, so we changed and loaded up. I hadn't been riding since the ride on Saturday, so I was feeling a little stiff and achy, but figured I'd work out the kinks once we got going and I knew I'd feel much better about it afterward.

Well.. that didn't happen.. I FOUGHT for four miles going SLLLLOWWWWLLYY until I couldn't take any more and bailed. I KNOW I need to ease up on the tension as I'm gripping the bars like my life depended on it and I need to quickly learn which gear to be in in times like these. I was in the SAME gear as the last time and hit over 17mph and tonight could barely muster 10 (just a guess-- I was so aggravated I turned the computer around so I couldn't see it.)

Last night the aches I felt quickly turned to acute pain in my arms and neck once we got going. As I tried to steer the pain got worse and was making me wobble as I seemed to be pulling on the bars because of the pain. I also wasn't in the right gear (trail is pretty much dead flat) and DH said I was working too hard on the pedals, which because of my neck/arms hurting meant when I tried to push harder with my legs, I started swaying from side to side. Again, the first time out I could hammer on the pedals and stayed pretty straight and it felt good. This time even the slightest bit of something extra felt like I was on top of a uni-cycle riding on Jello.

My position on the bike was all wonky as I kept clipping/rubbing something with my right foot every pedal stroke... NONE of these dang ducks would mind me last night so.. I.. went.. home.

Anyone else ever had a "bad" ride? I'm still encouraged as I did do four miles when I felt the worst I've ever felt on a bike. Six miles was a breeze when I felt "good"-- could have gone further as I had lots of gas in the tank, but was getting nervous about how crowded the trail was getting.

Here's to Ibuprofen!!
Shannon

In my experience, a "bad" ride like you describe is either a headwind, or something mechanical, like your brake is rubbing. A strong headwind could be why the 17 mph section (tailwind at the time) has become 10 mph with a lot more effort. A rubbing brake is easy to check for. Lift up your bike, and try to spin your wheel, if it stops very quickly, it could be your brake.

What red said, and also when I keep hitting something with my right foot, it's usually the front derailleur cable. You can bend the end of it back out of your way. If you want to cut it closer to the clamp, be sure (1) you leave enough spare cable to grab it with pliers without flattening it too close to the clamp, and (2) you have something ready to cap the end right away, which can be a cap and crimping tool, appropriate sized shrink tubing (sorry I don't know the gauge, but it's the smallest size that comes in wiring kits, I think for 20 ga wire??), or in a pinch, duct tape.

Also, when the riding is hard is when you need to really focus on form and fit. No matter how hard it is to push the pedals, it shouldn't make you get all crooked on the bike as you describe. Something else is going on with your body...

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

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Also, when the riding is hard is when you need to really focus on form and fit. No matter how hard it is to push the pedals, it shouldn't make you get all crooked on the bike as you describe. Something else is going on with your body...

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+1

And remember. Just because you used one gear ratio one day on a given stretch of trail does not mean that is the right gear combintation on all days. Wind can make a huge difference, and even on a flat stretch of road or trail can make it feel like you are climbing a hill (so you will need climbing gears).

Always pay attention to form and cadence. Get in a gear that lets you pedal at your happy cadence with a still upper-body. That is what gears are for! Use them!

I'm sorry you had tough ride. I think everyone has them , I know I do. Its frustrating when you have done something before and just can't that day. I'm still pretty new so I have a tendency to push myself and not rest enough. Any ride is better than no ride so when I'm having a bad day I try to remind myself this is supposed to be fun. I think sometimes I have unrealistic expectations that in a very short time I'm going to be amazingly fast and able to keep up with my DH even though he's been on a racingteam for 4 years. Just keep riding it gets better. Hot epsom salt baths,yoga,and advil!good luck

I'm sorry you had a bad ride, hopefully you'll be back having good rides as soon as you're healed.

A gear that feels right on one day isn't necessarily going to feel right the next.
I'm sorry you had a bad ride. It happens. Rest, gentle stretches, warm shower and NSAIDs if necessary are your friends.

If the trail is the one I think you're talking about, it's actually a slight downhill going south...which means it's a slight uphill going north. It seems flat, but I've always noticed it's a bit easier to go south than it is to go north. And I hear you on the crowds. ;)

Also, did you pump up your tires to the right amount before the ride? Earlier this year I was cycling with a friend who was really struggling and it turns out she was riding on a slowly deflating tire. When it was finally obvious that the tire was flat, she had one of those "oh" moments.

Check to make sure your brakes are not rubbing on the wheels.

Learn how to shift gears.

Go to an empty parking lot (a school lot on a sunday?) and practice just tooling around and shifting gears and turning, stopping, starting, riding big figure 8's.

If these things don't help, then go to a good bike shop and have them check to see if your bike is not fitting you correctly, and to make sure the bike is operating normally. It shouldn't be hard to pedal if you are riding on flat terrain. you shouldn't be clipping/rubbing anything with your right foot at every pedal stroke either. Something's not right.

The acute pain in the arms/neck could've been caused by you being stressed out about the ride. I've had that happen on a run before, if I'm having a slow day and can't keep up with a group or started the run feeling not-so-into-it. I end up tensed up with bad posture because I'm having a bad run and have shooting pain in my neck and shoulders. At that point, it's better to give up and try again tomorrow. Or see if someone on the ride will give you a quick shoulder/neck massage!

Thanks for all the help!!

• Tires are inflated properly and checked before each ride.
• Derailleurs recently adjusted by the LBS as I was having trouble shifting into the largest gear/cog on the back (bike is 3-4 months old and has less then 100 miles on it)
• Owlie is right, the trail is 'slightly' upward going north and 'slightly' downward' going south... loop trail... but good for the newbie for right now.
• Yes, agreed I need to become skilled at shifting. Six weeks or there about I couldn't even balance and this was only the second time I ventured out on the trail, so yea.. it goes without saying I still have lots to learn.
• Stress/Tension is defiantly an issue (Working on this)
• Not entirely sure what it was my foot was rubbing on, but will pay more attention to my position in the saddle. I know I was all messed up Tuesday trying to deal with the pain and wasn't concentrating 100%

Feeling MUCH better now after a day off yesterday and some TLC and hot compress on my neck seems to have helped a lot. Sunny and 70 degrees outside... making me way to get out and RIDE... but stuck at work.

I'm glad you're feeling better today. Hopefully the weather will hold so you can get back on the bike at the weekend.

Glad to hear you are doing better hopefully you can ride more soon. I don't know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods but the last two weeks in pdx area has been devine. Good luck.:)

Just got back from a ride... It's official.. I am a *&%$ idiot.

I figured out what was a BIG source of my issues the last time out. My seat post must have come loose and the saddle had slipped down. I ended up raising it back up some two or three inches and it was like night and day. I don't know why I didn't stop and adjust the last time out, I think that because I was battling the other issues, I just dismissed the saddle. When putting the bike on the rack tonight it seemed LOW, so after the adjustment we hit the road and to my pleasure I felt really good. That was until we hit the BRUTAL headwind-- 10MPH and gusting to 18MPH-- DANG!!

I was feeling pretty darn good so two miles in we turned back into the the wind and decided to go for it, accelerating and leaning right into the wind, it was like climbing a hill and FUN as all get out.. as least until I ran out of gas and had to slow down.

I think I've gone and lost it. I would have NEVER said that six weeks ago.

Feel pleasantly tired now and glad we got out tonight!!!
Shannon

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Originally Posted by Roadtrip

I think I've gone and lost it. I would have NEVER said that six weeks ago.

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:D

I'm glad you got the seat post sorted. I posted about problems with mine a few weeks back and was SO thrilled to be able to fix it myself. Also something I wouldn't have been able to do a couple of months back.

It sounds like your ride was a blast, great stuff!

I missed this thread earlier, so I just read the whole thing, and it makes a really nice story to read all at once. I frowned at your troubles in the first post, but I was smiling at the last post. :)

Roadtrip, you are doing really well.

and the good news is, the more rides you get under your belt, even short rides... the more you will begin to be able to tell what the little problems are.

Just like you noticed how your saddle suddenly felt too low, and you figured out that little problem. The more you ride the more you will sense where the problems are coming from. you may not be able to fix them all yourself, but you will start to have a sense of where the problem is so others can help you fix it.

So great that you are ENJOYING your bike! :)

Glad you got it sorted. And wow ... I don't think I've ever, ever met a headwind that I would describe as "fun." You must have gone and done it! :D

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I don't think I've ever, ever met a headwind that I would describe as "fun."

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Fun = Challenge (OK OK.. so perhaps a little warped that way.. LOL)

Was part of the reason I stopped at 4 miles... I didn't want to face that wind again :eek:

[QUOTE=Roadtrip;537424]Just got back from a ride... It's official.. I am a *&%$ idiot.


...not a *&% idiot...my saddle was squeaking the other day and I have a little itty bitty bag under the seat, I took it off so it wouldn't get any spray on it (so that means I was looking at the saddle pretty good) and sprayed some WD-40 on the springs. Day later the dang thing was still squeaking. One of the springs had come loose and down about an inch and a half and the saddle was off kilter by about 25%. Now you would think I might have noticed that? DUH. Some times we are so busy for looking for something big we fail to notice something under our noses...well at least I do that.

OK. It "sorta" happened again, but this time I was paying attention. About half way through Fridays ride, I noticed when worked the pedals a with a little more speed I tended to get wobbly, my arms started to hurt, so after I got off the bike it was noticeable that the seat was much lower then it was when we started. The seat was FINE before we started and I hit not a single bump or anything, nor did I notice the seat actually go down so it must have been a gradual slip. I took the bike into the LBS today and they cleaned and re-lubed the post with a lubricant with a bit of abrasive in it. The quick release was as tight as I could manage to get it, but he said he tighten it as well, so I HOPE this fixes things.

While I was there, I did mention the rear break and it seemed a little mushy and perhaps needed adjusting, the tech said he did notice some rubbing and was about to check it out. Then I notice them (slow day at the bike shop.. you walk in and within five minutes two techs are working on your bike, but makes one feel good) taking both the front and rear tires completely off the bike and over to the truing stand and I can SEE that as he spins the wheel the tire is out of true. I ask if it's indeed out of true and says yes, just a bit.

Now I have only 25 miles on this bike and perhaps another 20-25 miles on it while in the trainer, but I really HOPE this isn't something to worry about. Now I know I'm a larger gal and am 200+ pounds, but this is a cruiser bike with 26", 32 spoke wheels, so this is just befuddling me. Is this "normal" for a new bike to have a period of settling in and adjustment like this or is this due to flimsy, shotty wheels for a larger rider?

Shannon

headwinds are your friend, they make your butt smaller and provide unexpected resistance training. Learn to love them and crank into a harder gear to build muscle. If you fight them mentally, they will defeat you, go with the flow, and learn to ride into them and enjoy them.

Of course here in the flatlands of Katy, texas, I usually have head winds in any direction I am riding in. I have ridden one mile square loops and had a head wind on each leg. No it doesn't make sense but there it is, it is the giant invisible cosmic fan that floats just ahead of me.

glad yur riding is going better. Gotta love those "duh" moments.