Issue No. 496: Butt, Hands & Feet: Pressure Points

Editor’s Note: In one study of amateur long-distance cyclists, over 70% of the seat-related discomfort was due to pain around the ischial tuberosities (sitz bones). We’ve all experienced pressure-point pain while riding. But does it have to be that way? In his new eArticle, Butt, Hands & Feet: Preventing and Treating Pain in Cycling’s Pressure Points, Coach John Hughes looks at general causal factors, which can help you understand how to prevent problems at cycling’s pressure points, and then focuses on the specific factors that relate to the butt, hands and feet. He reveals how to best prevent these, and treat existing cases. If you’ve ever been sore while riding, this eArticle is for you!

Reminder: We will not publish an issue on September 22. I’ll be out of the office for Interbike, the annual bike-biz trade show in Las Vegas, and riding the California Coast Classic. Look for daily posts from both at http://www.facebook.com/RoadBikeRider, and reports in the newsletter starting September 29.

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The Danger of Distracted Riding

These I believe to be true:

Roadies hate – hate! – seeing a driver with their mobile phone glued to their ear or, even worse, holding it in front of them as they text while driving.

Roadies love – love! – our bike computers, GPS and other electronic devices. These ever-advancing tools help us measure, gauge performance, map and explore the roads we ride.

But are our cycling gadgets becoming a bane to road safety, much like mobile phones? Is distracted riding a danger similar to distracted driving?

RBR reader Neal Bowser thinks so. And so do I.

Neal wrote us a few weeks ago with an illuminating story from a recent ride, along with info about a lawsuit concerning two airplanes crashing that could, paradoxically, have implications for cyclists.

First, the riding story.

“What brought this to mind was an incident that I observed while riding on BRAG (Bike Ride Across Georgia) this year,” Neal began. “I watched as a friend fiddled with his GPS unit while riding down a lonely country road. His attention was only diverted (according to him) for a few seconds, yet he came dangerously close to running off the side of the road and down into a deep ditch. Later, he also slowed down at an inappropriate and unexpected time and created yet another ‘almost’ incident! No one followed him after that.”

It’s bad enough simply dealing with overall traffic, uptight and distracted drivers on our rides.

“We inadvertently add to the problem,” Neal continues, “by using a plethora of sophisticated electronic devices that, by their nature, have the potential to divert our concentration away from our primary responsibility; that is, riding in a safe manner.”

Now, the airplane story.

“There’s currently an interesting liability case weaving its way through the legal system that, oddly, could impact cycling,” Neal wrote. “It involves two airplanes that collided mid-air, killing four people.

“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and determined that one pilot was negligent because his attention was focused on his Garmin GPS unit rather than on the ‘real world’ outside the cockpit. As a result, he overtook and collided with the other aircraft on a perfectly clear day.

“The estate of the at-fault pilot sued Garmin for not properly warning users of inherent distraction hazards and risks associated with electronic displays. This case could provide valuable insight into distraction hazards that affect our sport.”

Indeed, it’s not a stretch to imagine a cyclist crashing – and perhaps dying – under similar circumstances. The NTSB met recently to discuss the deadly ramifications of distracted driving, and one NTSB member thinks it will have to become a societal taboo -- like drinking and driving -- to be taken seriously enough.

“Distraction is becoming the new DUI (driving under the influence),” NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said. “This is going to reach epidemic proportions. It takes a generation or two to change it, but change is needed.”

So what can roadies do to continue to enjoy our on-board gizmos -- but not at the expense of safety? Follow a set of common-sense guidelines, the same as we do for other activities that we accomplish while riding (like drinking, wiping, blowing, etc.). Here’s a starter list. (Feel free to add your own suggestions, and thoughts on the subject, on our Comments page.)

Bike computers and GPS units should only be set (or reset) while stopped.  Choosing the route, clearing your last ride’s data, etc., should become just another pre-ride (or post-ride) routine so you don’t have to mess with it when you’re rolling.

Never touch or look at your device while in a pace line.  This is the same rule we follow when drinking, blowing, eating, and such. And it’s even more important when it comes to an electronic device; it only takes a split-second distraction to make you veer off course, touch another wheel, not see a rider stand up, etc.

Only glance at your device or scroll to a different screen after first checking around you to make sure there are no other riders or cars nearby.  Keep a safety zone for your sake, and theirs. If you’ve never looked up from checking your device and realized you veered off your line, then you’re in the minority.

Just peek at your device, don’t stare at it.  Learn the screens or display of your device at home, sitting on the couch, so that you know exactly where to look to find the desired info while on a ride. Even then, keep your glances very, very brief.

Only check one piece of information at a time.  Don’t think you need to know your heart rate, the gradient of the climb, and your average speed all at once. Establishing in your mind the ONE thing you’re going to look at when you glance down will help you avoid wandering all over the screen.

Spend your time exploring metrics at home, after the ride.  Many devices allow us to download our data onto websites, into spreadsheets, and email it to friends. If you want to dive deep into your ride metrics, do it from the comfort and safety of home.

As Neal so aptly put it in his email to me: “We need to retain as many of our senses as possible, and remain alert and responsive.”

Stay focused, my friends.

Enjoy Your Ride!

John Marsh

Editor & Publisher

Comment

Leopard-Trek and RadioShack announced Monday that they would merge teams, adding carmaker Nissan as a third sponsor in the new team, called RadioShack-Nissan-Trek.

The new team will begin operations next year and has sponsorship for both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

RadioShack-Nissan-Trek will be based in Luxembourg, with all marketing operations performed by Austin, Texas-based CSE Pro Cycling LLC, and all sporting operations managed by Johan Bruyneel Sports Management in both Belgium and Luxembourg.

An announcement of the complete staffing and roster of the new team is expected on September 15. Interestingly, two press releases announcing the merger mentioned nearly every high-profile rider from both squads would be on the new combined team -- except Levi Leipheimer, who was conspicuous in not being named.

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Three charity/memorial rides taking place currently, and in the near future, bear mentioning as the U.S. approaches the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday.

The first is something I read about recently in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A group of 12 Atlanta firefighters and public safety officers are cycling from Atlanta to New York to attend the 9/11 observance at ground zero.

Led by firefighter Mike Palmeri, a native New Yorker, the group has trained for 2 years for the 1,035-mile (1,666-km) ride. Palmeri, who lost a cousin in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, came up with the idea, and it quickly caught on with his firehouse brethren.

The Freedom Riders, the name they’ve adopted, see their ride as serving three goals, according the AJC: “to commemorate the first responders and pay tribute to the fallen heroes and their equally courageous survivors”; “to celebrate the unity in fire stations across the country”; and “to promote cycling as a fun sport.”

To read the full AJC article, click here.

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The second ride was brought to my attention by RBR reader Gina Buchanan. She wrote: “The reason for my email is that I wanted to share with you an incredible cause and ride: The Ride for Semper Fi -- in support of our injured Marines’ Semper Fi Fund. This is the fourth year of the ride, and it has grown each year. The 430-mile (692-km) ride over four days leaves from Scottsdale, Arizona to San Diego, California, from October 12 - 16.

“In 2010 we had 50 people, and we raised $250,000, an incredible amount. This year our goal is 60 - 70 people, and our fund-raising goal is $300,000. Over 95% of the dollars donated go to the wounded soldier or to their family to assist with many basic day-to-day needs. This could include paying for a flight for a parent/spouse to be with their family member in assisting with recovery, a house payment or day-to-day expenses, as well as retraining.”

For more information, visit the ride’s website: http://www.therideforsemperfi.com/.

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Finally, reader Randy Brich sent the following email recently: “My wife, Michele, and I sagged and traded off riding with Scot King. Scot's fully loaded and is riding to every state capital over a two-year period, picking up a state flag and will be flying them at a Remember the Wounded event later this fall. [Scot, a former Marine, is on a solo, cross-country Remember the Wounded Ride.] I’m wondering, on Scot's behalf, if there might be a way to connect with fellow roadies on his upcoming route in order to obtain first-hand road conditions reports, etc.”

If you’d like to check in on Scot’s progress and maybe provide some of that first-hand information, visit the ride’s website: http://www.rememberthewoundedride.com/.

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We received some good feedback from my RX sunglasses product review last week.

First, responding to the Question of the Week, Do You Wear RX Sunglasses or Contacts in Order to Ride? 49% of voters replied (as did I), “Absolutely. I could not ride one block without my RX eyewear.” (So be thankful when you see your fellow riders with RX specs on; without them, you probably wouldn’t want to be anywhere near those folks!)

A couple of readers wrote in to say that they’ve had Lasik surgery and no longer need to wear corrective eyewear.

And others wrote to remind us of additional RX options, including press-on “bifocal” lenses, as well as progressive lenses (which, surely, many of us wear in our everyday glasses).

I’m pretty sure I speak for most of us sight-challenged riders when I repeat that I am extremely happy that cycling eyewear is just another of the innovative, technologically advancing areas of the sport we love. Keep up the good work!

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Vuelta Update -- Quick Hits

JJ Haedo(Saxo Bank-Sungard won Tuesday’s Stage 16 sprint under strange circumstances ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) and Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek), while Juan José Cobo (Geox-TMC) retained the red jersey.

The finish was gearing up to be a fairly typical bunch sprint until a lead-out rider followed a motorcycle on the wrong exit from a roundabout with 300 meters left in the race. Others followed the wrong-way rider, Leopard-Trek’s Robert Wagner, as those who saw an opening pounced. Haedo was well-positioned and took full advantage for the win.

Cobo seized the lead in Stage 15 with an inspired victory on the tortuous slopes of the Angliru, as Bradley Wiggins cracked and relinquished his lead, falling to 3rd in the GC behind Team Sky mate Chris Froome. The Angliru is 12.8 km (8 miles) of torment, with sections of 22 percent and 23.5 percent.

Wiggins had slipped on the red jersey after Stage 11 -- taking it off the back of Froome -- and held it without problem until the Agliru broke him. Now 51 seconds back of Cobo, with Froome 22 seconds in arrears, the Team Sky riders have some serious work to do to reclaim dominance with only five stages remaining.

If you want to follow the Vuelta with real-time updates on your computer or mobile device, check out http://liveupdateguy.com/.

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Overheard:

--- “With our sponsors' continuing commitment and the professionalism of our riders, I'm confident that RadioShack-Nissan-Trek will dominate cycling for years to come. With Team RadioShack, we won 30 races and dominated the most important American races in 2011. Now thanks to the presence of riders like Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers, we have the potential to win not only Classics and major stage races but Grand Tours as well. We will form a team of 30 riders, in regulation with the UCI rules. All contracts with riders and staff that are already signed with Team Leopard-Trek or Team RadioShack will be respected. We are grateful our sponsors believe in this project. This is a great milestone for our team and our global sport."

-- Johan Bruyneel, in a statement released after the announcement of the Leopard-Trek – RadioShack merger.

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--- "It crowns my career so far, absolutely! I’ve won stages at other important races like the Critérium du Dauphiné, Tirreno-Adriatico or the Tour of Catalunya, but this one is the most beautiful of them all. This success is a gift for the sixteen days of suffering I've experienced. I’ve done the right thing staying in the race…"

-- Juan José (JJ) Haedo (Saxo Bank-Sungard), after winning stage 16 of the Vuelta a España after a lead-out rider made a wrong turn off a roundabout with 300 meters to go, throwing the race into a chaotic finish.

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--- "I immediately understood that my problem was serious, but I wanted to finish the race and then evaluate what to do together with the team's medical staff. I didn't even manage to hold the handlebar. I had a lot of trouble getting to the finish line. I was doing really well in the past few days and, as we're getting closer to the World Championship, it was perfect. The entire scenario changed in a moment. I am very disappointed."

-- Belgian stalwart Tom Boonen, after abandoning the Vuelta with a broken bone in his wrist suffered in a Stage 15 crash. It was a case of adding insult to injury for Boonen, who was already suffering from a painful scrotal wound revealed earlier in the Vuelta.

Comment

Answer at http://www.roadbikerider.com/question-of-week , where you can also find an archive of previous poll results.

Highlights of your responses to last week’s Question: Do You Wear RX Sunglasses or Contacts in Order to Ride?

-- 49% said “Absolutely. I could not ride one block without my RX eyewear.”

-- 24% said “Yes. I wear corrective eyewear on almost every ride.”

-- 14% said “No. Thankfully, I have good eyes that require no correction to ride.”

Comment

Question: I'm 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and have been riding a road bike for a year. I'm having trouble finding a seat that will allow me to comfortably increase my mileage base. My current seat is fine until I hit 25 miles, then our intimate relationship goes south. What saddles do long-distance riders use? Could the problem be my shorts or riding position? -- Don C.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies:  Saddle soreness isn't uncommon, but the good news is that everyone should be able to find a saddle that works. You're right to recognize that your position on the bike, your shorts and your riding technique also play important roles. (In fact, Coach John Hughes’ new eArticle, Butt, Hands & Feet, details all the factors that lead to saddle sores, and how to prevent and treat them.)

If the saddle isn't level, it can irritate your crotch. And the same is true if it's too high, too low or set too far forward or back. If you haven't gotten a professional bike fit at your local shop, now might be the time to make sure you're sitting properly.

If you want to do it yourself, an eBook sold by RBR, Finding the Perfect Bicycle Seat, has expert info on bike fit and saddle selection. The author, Joshua Cohen, doesn't tell you exactly which saddle to buy for maximum comfort -- no one can do that -- but he describes in detail how to determine the saddle that's most likely to work best for your sitting area.

The wrong shorts can definitely make any saddle uncomfortable. Look for a large, smooth and lightly padded liner. Use a lubricant such Chamois Butt'r. You might have to try several brands of shorts to find a model that's compatible with your anatomy.

Endurance cycling champion John Stamstad recommends wearing the smallest size shorts that comfort allows. A snug fit keeps everything in place and reduces the chance of the chamois shifting or bunching.

Some riders develop discomfort because they stay seated all the time, allowing pressure to build. Remember to stand frequently and move on the saddle. Slide to the front on fast sections and to the rear on climbs. You'll redistribute pressure and ride more efficiently.

Quite a few long-distance riders favor the Brooks B17 leather saddle. It's wider in back than most production saddles for sit-bone support, making it suited to riders your size. Plus the leather top breaks in to conform to your anatomy like leather shoes do for your feet. You might want to add the B17 to your list of saddles to consider.

Comment

Also see the Classified Ads page on the RBR website and please support these advertisers who help make this newsletter free for you.

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Last week I told you that I was heading up to Bend, Oregon, to race in the USA Masters Road National Championships, which were held from August 31 to September 4. This was the third nationals I’ve attended. The previous two were held in Louisville, Kentucky. Since this was the first time I’ve competed in all the events and spent the entire week there, I thought I’d give you a report.

For “old folks”

The only requirements to compete in the championships are to be over 35 years of age, and to have a current USA Cycling license. Anyone can visit the website, http://www.usacycling.com, and purchase a license.

And, while it would be smart to actually race a bit and gain some experience, as long as you can pedal a bike, you can enter any or all of the events just by paying the registration fee of $60 per event. There are no qualifying races. Plus, there’s a time trial, criterium and road race, so there’s a race for everyone.

You race in your age category, divided in 5-year increments: 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and so on, right up to as old as the most senior racers to sign up. And there are men’s and women’s events and even tandem races. I raced in the 55-59 category in the three races. Someday I will try the tandem event, which looks like a ton of fun.

Turning back the clock

To me, the nationals have become a sort of fountain of youth. I put it on my calendar early in the year and since it’s held in late summer, I focus on it all year long. This keeps me motivated and excited about riding and racing. Anytime I get injured or have a setback, I visualize the big-time nature of this event, the famous racers, the pageantry, the pride of the top riders that win, and these thoughts get me back on track in short order.

Since I started focusing on the nationals like this, my cycling, all-around everyday feeling, and my general fitness have consistently improved. And I have to say that it keeps me feeling young and confident in myself even as my eyesight weakens, my skin gets more wrinkly and I forget why I walked into the garage.

Line up against Lance

In many respects Masters Nationals is an amazing event. If you liked to box, or maybe you were a high-school football star, you probably would never get the chance to lace up the gloves and get in the ring with Muhammad Ali, or try to deflect a pass out of Jerry Rice’s hands.

But at the Masters Nationals of cycling, you could find yourself handlebar to handlebar with former pro riders, USA Team members and Olympians. And the only way you’ll knock them off the podium is if you are every bit as good as they are in the races. They may be old now, but they are there to win and often bring teammates just as good as they are to help them win.

For me, it’s a great privilege just to be on the same road with guys I’ve looked up to all these years, let alone try to hang with them as they tear your legs off with their superior skills, tactics and fitness. The two times I gave it my best shot in the road race in Louisville, they dispatched me within miles of the starting line.

It would have been embarrassing had not a bunch of other wannabes like me been in the same situation. As Team Amgen Giant with Wayne Stetina, Kent Bostick and Tom Doughty -- former USA Team riders all, left us in the dust, we had a nice little road race of our own.

I can do it

But this year, a new training program (thanks Coach Mark!) and Bend’s cool mountain air helped me perform much better. I got 10th in the time trial and finished in the pack in the criterium. Then, incredibly, I found myself off the front with only 20K to go in the road race -- trading pulls with 14-time USA cyclocross champion Paul Curley.

I was so surprised, all I could think was, “don’t knock him off his bike, Jim.” In the end, the pack gobbled us up and I crossed the line with the bunch while Paul, just ahead, took third with his great speed. But it was fantastic actually competing and charging to the line with the greats for the first time.

Maybe the best experience of the whole week, though, happened on my ride on Thursday when I pre-rode the scenic road-race course with snow-capped Mt. Bachelor on the horizon. I left the start/finish area in between race waves so as not to interfere with a race. That day the groups racing were age 60 and older. I wasn’t racing until the next day.

Inspirational

As I was cruising up one of the hills at a pretty good tempo, testing my legs a bit, I heard the distinctive rumble of the BMW motorcycles the race officials use to lead the packs. So, I moved right. Then I heard an even more familiar sound, the powerful, rhythmic breathing of a racer. Not wanting to get in the way I veered onto the shoulder, clicked out of my pedals and turned around.

There was the legend, Robert Paganini of the Pasadena Athletic Association, off the front of the 75-79 group and simply shredding the climb on his way to the coveted stars and stripes jersey. From his fine form and impressive pace you could have easily mistaken him for Bend’s resident superstar Chris Horner -- he looked that good. I’m already looking forward to next year to see if I can’t get a little closer to racing as well as champions like Robert.

For complete results, please visit http://tinyurl.com/42obpw9.

Comment

Jim Langley has been a pro mechanic and cycling writer for 38 years. At RBR he's the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop and moderator of the technical forums on the Premium Site . Check his "cycling aficionado" website at http://www.jimlangley.net , his Q&A blog and updates at Twitter . Jim's streak of consecutive cycling days has reached 6,450.

An RBR roadie writes: “I race in the 45+ masters division and use my daily bike commutes for training. After a couple of days off the bike I can ride above my lactate threshold for long intervals. However, after commuting 30 miles a day for a few days, it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve a high heart rate. Is this normal? Or is it old age?”

It's not old age! Normally, heart rate declines as you get tired. We see this in stage racing where a rider can maintain a heart rate of, say, 185 bpm in an early time trial. But a week later, due to accumulated fatigue, he'll have the same feeling of perceived exertion but his heart rate will only climb to 175.

We noticed this phenomenon in the 1996 Team Race Across America. My 3 teammates and I knew our lactate threshold heart rates, and we could maintain or exceed that number the first day on the way from Irvine, California, to Savannah, Georgia. However, the next morning when it got light enough to see our monitors again, we found that our heart rates had dropped about 15 beats for the same exertion. For the next 5 days we couldn't raise our heart rates although the effort felt as hard as it was the first afternoon. In fact, we averaged nearly the same number of miles each day on our 2,905-mile crossing, completed in 5 days, 11 hours.

In the above roadie's case, I suspect heart rate is lower because of the accumulated fatigue from commuting. Scientists aren't quite sure why heart rate declines in these circumstances but it's probably a combination of inadequate glycogen replacement and dehydration. Some exercise scientists have even theorized that the heart tries to “protect” itself from what you’re asking it to do.

Here’s Help

Consume carbs.  To keep your heart rate from sliding downward over the course of consecutive days of hard riding, pay close attention to your carbohydrate intake. Consider a post-ride recovery drink to supplement normal eating.

Stay hydrated. Sip water or sports drink all day at work. Keep the bottle on your desk so you won't forget.

Add an easy day. Consider riding easier one more day each week to reduce fatigue. This helps ensure that your more strenuous workouts are high quality.

Comment

Adapted from Coach Fred's Solutions to 150 Road Cycling Challenges , a helpful eBook especially for cycling newcomers.

“Sword-wielding bicyclist threatens to cut Santa Clara pedestrian in half,” read the headline in The Mercury News of San Jose, California.

Police say cyclist Richard Gonzales, 52, didn’t recognize someone walking in his neighborhood, so he whipped out his saber and announced plans to bisect the walker. The pedestrian wasn’t hurt, and Gonzales was arrested.

I’ve heard of cyclists carrying guns to protect themselves, but not swords. Could this be an emerging trend your plucky correspondent needs to investigate? I Googled “bicycle weapons.”

This search produced an article about gang members using “bicycle foot rests” (those metal cylinders attached to BMX hubs) as brass knuckles; a chatroom thread on the best ways to haul large martial-arts weapons on your bicycle; and a contest to design bike-mounted, James Bond-style ordnance, such as flamethrowers, smokescreens and rockets.

A lot of, um, creativity out there, but swords don’t appear to be this year’s must-have cycling accessory.

Which I find heartening, because I don’t pack heat when riding. I know there are a lot of crazies on the road, but I prefer the low-profile, turn-the-other-cheek approach.

Besides, I don’t even have the agility to grab my frame pump and bonk a barking dog on his schnozz, let alone unsheath my Excalibur and disembowel the kid who bopped me with an empty soda can.

Speaking of frame pumps and weapons, I used to inflate my tires with a worn-out Silca pump that would explode from back pressure, launching the handle backward like a missile. Great for scaring your roommate, but tough to aim.

Anyway, in my quest to avoid road rage, I’ll stick to obeying traffic laws and bypassing roads that pass our local meth labs.

Still, if anyone comes up with an idea for a rear ejector seat for a tandem…

Comment

If you enjoy reading Scott Martin, the eBook Spin Again contains 181 of his witty, sometimes wacky, and occasionally heart-felt observations on road cycling.

Question: I'm 65 and been at it hard for umteen years and competing in my age division with success until recently. Why the demise? I have a problem with the ticker -- arrhythmia. My cardiologist calls it 'athlete's heart.'

With this arrhythmia there was no real symptom other than the workouts feel harder and the race results weren't as usual. My condition and treatment are still being assessed, and I might be in for an ablation process to reconnect the heart's circuitry. I thought this experience might be of interest to your other readers. -- Rob D.

Dr. Richard Ellin Responds: The term “arrhythmia” is used to refer to any rhythm of the heart other than the regular, normal cadence initiated by the usual pacemaker of the heart, known as the sinoatrial (SA) node. There are many different types of arrhythmias, most of which are benign, but a few of which can be dangerous. The term “athlete’s heart” is not synonymous with “arrhythmia.” While certain abnormal heart rhythms may be more common in athlete’s hearts, there is no evidence that any of them are of the dangerous kind.

Regarding the issue of “athlete's heart,” Professor Robert Fagard has summarized the research on this. Most studies indicate the following: According to a meta-analysis (summary of all relevant studies) of male cyclists (69 of them) and matched controls (65), heart rate was lower by 16 beats per minute in the cyclists. Left ventricular (the main pumping chamber) internal diameter, wall thickness, and left ventricular mass were larger in the athletes. In addition, the athletes’ relative wall thickness exceeded that of the control subjects by 19%, indicating that cycling is not only associated with an increase of the internal diameter but also with a disproportionate thickening of the wall (mixed eccentric–concentric LVH).

While cycling is predominantly a dynamic activity (continuous movement), rather than a static activity (such as weight-lifting), this difference could be explained by the fact that cycling involves static activity of the upper part of the body and by the increase of blood pressure associated with intensive cycling. In an analysis of 947 elite athletes (not necessarily cyclists), Dr. Antonio Pelliccia and colleagues observed that absolute wall thickness was independently associated with body surface area, age, and male gender, but also with certain sports such as rowing and cycling. They did not, however, analyze relative wall thickness as the dependent variable in multiple regression analysis.

The various studies on cyclists agree that left ventricular mass is larger than in matched non-athletes due to a larger left ventricular internal diameter and wall thickness. A large amount of training may lead to a disproportionate increase in wall thickness, which could be related to the static component involved in cycling.

Having said all that, there is also evidence that the enlargement of left ventricular structure is not associated with any decrease in left ventricular systolic function (pumping ability), and is associated with a small beneficial improvement in left ventricular diastolic function (relaxation of the ventricle to allow blood to flow into it). There are no data to suggest that the structural changes cited above are detrimental.

For anyone questioning whether or not they have a healthy heart, only an exam (and perhaps some testing) by their doctor can determine that.

Comment

Richard Ellin, MD, FACP, is a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine who practices in Alpharetta, Georgia. He received his medical degree and completed residency at Emory University, and has been in practice with Kaiser Permanente for 26 years. He is also an avid cyclist.

Health Matters runs each month in RBR Newsletter. Send us your Health Matters questions by visiting the Newsletters page on our website, http://www.roadbikerider.com/current-newsletter, and clicking on Health Matters in the right-hand column.