aches and pains

bonk_king
bonk_king Posts: 277
edited June 2017 in Road general
Even if you have a good ride position and good quality padded mitts and top quality padded shorts etc etc etc.....is it still inevitable that after a prolonged period in the saddle that you are going to start aching somewhere. My aches and pains (just my butt and my neck and shoulders, everything else is fine) usually start about 3 hours into a ride. I average around 25kph so basically when i'm planning a ride i try and stick to the 75 kilometer mark just for the simple reason that the enjoyment starts going out of the ride if i'm aching. I'd love to do 100km, even more, my fitness will certainly allow me. It's just the aches and pains that put me off. I realise that being on the bike is a very unnatural position to start with but what can i do to squeeze out some extra kilometers?

Comments

  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Learn to suffer :mrgreen:
  • bonk_king
    bonk_king Posts: 277
    Haha, i suffer enough at home with the wife and kids, i want pain free on my bike!!!
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    You might need to try another sport then.
  • john1967
    john1967 Posts: 366
    Webboo wrote:
    You might need to try another sport then.

    Eh? There's no need to push over your limits.Just do distances that you are comfortable with.If it hurts after 75km then stick at that.There are no rules just enjoy yourself.
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Find a really comfortable armchair and sit in it for a while...you may find that you want to get up long before 3 hours. I don't see why sitting on a bike should be any different. As above, learn to suffer, mtfu.
  • roubaixmb
    roubaixmb Posts: 182
    Stretch, sports massage, exercises to strengthen the neck
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    bonk king wrote:
    Even if you have a good ride position and good quality padded mitts and top quality padded shorts etc etc etc.....is it still inevitable that after a prolonged period in the saddle that you are going to start aching somewhere. My aches and pains (just my butt and my neck and shoulders, everything else is fine) usually start about 3 hours into a ride. I average around 25kph so basically when i'm planning a ride i try and stick to the 75 kilometer mark just for the simple reason that the enjoyment starts going out of the ride if i'm aching. I'd love to do 100km, even more, my fitness will certainly allow me. It's just the aches and pains that put me off. I realise that being on the bike is a very unnatural position to start with but what can i do to squeeze out some extra kilometers?

    If you are new to those distances, then it may simply be a case of doing more of them more regularly. Your body will adapt.
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    Stop each hour, take a break and a stretch, do yoga, take drugs. Ride a recumbent?
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Get the missus to spank you every night; Soon have that butt firmed up.
  • mamil314
    mamil314 Posts: 1,103
    It should get easier over time. Try getting off the saddle regularly, even if you're not climbing, to relieve tissue around sitbones; shake out your neck once in a while until you get used to it and your off bike stretching and exercises start kicking in.
    I remember having similar pains when starting out and have since done a few 200km rides without much discomfort.
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    mamil314 wrote:
    It should get easier over time. Try getting off the saddle regularly, even if you're not climbing, to relieve tissue around sitbones; shake out your neck once in a while until you get used to it and your off bike stretching and exercises start kicking in.
    I remember having similar pains when starting out and have since done a few 200km rides without much discomfort.

    For me, I don't think it gets easier past a certain point. I get a stiff neck, lower back and clicky wrists these days. Then again, I did when I was 16 aswell.
  • bonk_king
    bonk_king Posts: 277
    Thanks for the input guys. Thing is with me i ride alone, always have, and i've only joined this forum very recently. As a result i haven't had anyone to compare notes with so to speak. It seems that the aches and pains pretty much go with the bike riding territory then. I was naively thinking that if you had a fantastic ride position and the all singing and all dancing kit, then you wouldn't get aches and pains, obviously i was wrong. I think i just need to mtfu as some of you suggested, haha.
  • meesterbond
    meesterbond Posts: 1,240
    Lots of things you could do...
    Core exercises - a strong core is really important, holds everything else in the right meaning you're using muscles for what they're intended to rather than them having to compensate for shortcomings elsewhere.
    If you've got a good saddle and bibs then a bit of chamois cream helps me for longer rides.
    What bike are you riding? Irrespective of position, some bikes just beat you up more than others - wider tyres may help a bit
    I think there's a difference between coming back from a riding aching it actually being painful though. If you're getting specific pains then that might point at a problem, if you're just aching then a bit of Rule 5 is probably the best fix.
  • bonk_king
    bonk_king Posts: 277
    I've got a 2014 scott CR1. It came with a synchros saddle. Tyres are 23mm, front one inflated to about 100psi, back one slightly less. I love the bike but it's the only carbon bike i've ridden so i have nothing to compare it to. For all i know it might be pants as far as carbon bikes go. Maybe a bit of chamois cream would help with my butt, i'll get some.
  • mamil314
    mamil314 Posts: 1,103
    Nice 25mm tyres would help, also
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    meesterbond wrote:
    Lots of things you could do...
    Core exercises - a strong core is really important, holds everything else in the right meaning you're using muscles for what they're intended to rather than them having to compensate for shortcomings elsewhere.
    If you've got a good saddle and bibs then a bit of chamois cream helps me for longer rides.
    What bike are you riding? Irrespective of position, some bikes just beat you up more than others - wider tyres may help a bit
    I think there's a difference between coming back from a riding aching it actually being painful though. If you're getting specific pains then that might point at a problem, if you're just aching then a bit of Rule 5 is probably the best fix.

    "I think there's a difference between coming back from a riding aching it actually being painful though."

    I think this is it. Some aches are to be expected, not to say they can't be reduced through a combination of conditioning and improvements in kit. Only you can decide if things are getting more towards pain and injury.
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    Find a really comfortable armchair and sit in it for a while...you may find that you want to get up long before 3 hours. I don't see why sitting on a bike should be any different. As above, learn to suffer, mtfu.

    This is a really good point. Any one position for a long time is uncomfortable. A few years ago, I was lying in an MRI scanner for an hour and not supposed to move even a mm. Comfortable at first, excruciating by the end. Boy, I was glad to get out.

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