Need to get rid of pains caused by distance!

[Rai Sue]

Lower back pain can also be indicative of core strength issues. I find that when I am diligent about the core work, I don't get any low back pain at all - when I fall off the wagon and forget core for a few weeks, my lower back kills me on climbs.

i second this, but it might also be bike fit. i hurt my lower back, and then exacerbated it by riding a bike that was slightly too long.

Now i _really_ notice more pressure on my back when i don't do my pilates exercises. My physical therapist pointed out that even though i bike everywhere, that mainly works out my legs, but lets my core stomach/back muscles be lazy. Then she made me use my strong legs as weights. But if i get lazy, it's back to the back pain--especially when going up hill.

[Squirrel 2]

Hi Cheri -- you've gotten a lot of good advice on this post from experienced riders. I would chime in on 2 points here. One, about increasing your riding distance too fast. If 20 miles is far for you, do shorter distances. Watch your cumulative mileage for a week & increase gradually. Big jumps in distance or intensity will hurt a bit. Second, it was very humid out when you rode. I ride between 150-200 miles a week, and I know that when the humidity is high, things on the bike bother me more. My bike fit is fine, it is a custom fit, but humidity seems to magnify discomforts. My shoes are very comfortable, but on a long ride they will start to hurt in places if it is humid. My shorts are fine, but I will get ansy in the crotch if it is humid out, no matter which pair I wear. The list goes on and on, even the wheezing. It is harder to breathe when the air is heavy.

So the bottom line is, don't try to fix everything at once. Increase your speeds gradually, & identify problem areas that need addressing when conditions lend themselves to a fair evaluation. And don't be hard on yourself. You're doing great.

Do you know where Knapps bike shop is in Lawrenceville? One of the owners is a woman, who can be very helpful if some of your issues continue. Also, she leads a women-only bike ride out of the shop on Thursdays after work. We do about 20 miles at a leisurely pace. Sounds like a good ride for you, so come on out & ride with us!

[SheFly]

You've gotten some great responses so far. I, too, am an experienced cyclist who will add only a couple of points:

1. Gloves - I often have the same issue with road gloves. I either have to wear long-fingered gloves (too hot in summer) or none at all. This took some getting used to, but I now rarely wear the road gloves for the same reasons that you mentioned.

2. Sore feet - this could be caused by a number of different issues, but for me, is usually exacerbated when I am pedaling pointing my toes. Lowering my saddle so that I can get good pedal rotation with a FLAT foot usually does the trick. A friend of mine just this week spent a fortune trying to fix sore feet - new shoes, new pedals and believe it or not, new saddle. Apparently, if your saddle is not the right support, your feet end up supporting your weight, and bearing the brunt of the force when you are riding.

Great work on the increased distance, and the hill! When you are finally able to ride all the way up, several times in a row, you will remember back to where you started with fond memories.

Ride safe!

SheFly