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…
By Alan Bragman, D.C. Without a doubt one of the most unpleasant maladies associated with riding a bike is hemorrhoids. This is a condition where the veins around the anus or lower rectum become painful, swollen, inflamed and may itch or bleed. Before providing a more detailed explanation of hemorrhoids, including classification and treatment options,…
Question: I feel like I’ve gotten very contradictory advice about what to do at the end of a training ride. Nutritionists say the top priority is to prepare and eat a meal within 30 minutes, to get carbs and protein into the bloodstream before the glycogen window closes. Physicians advise that the first order of business is to get those shorts…
Question: I’m 6 feet, 195 pounds with thick muscles from playing college football. I’ve been riding 5,000 miles a year for several years but haven’t gotten lighter. How can I eliminate my bulky muscle and get down to optimal riding weight? — Boo W. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I was in your situation, too, Boo. I…
Question: My race bike has a stiff aluminum frame. After a hard ride, my legs feel much more tired than they do on my steel-frame training bike. Is a stiff frame harder on the legs? — Douglas A. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I think you’re on to something. We all subconsciously soften the shock of…
