Question: I’m relatively new to cycling, and I’ve heard a fellow rider say, “Nothing hurts when riding a bike.” That’s not my experience. What can he mean? —Jim J.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: Statements of that sort are usually made by riders who have been at it for a few years. They’ve gone through — and perhaps have forgotten — the “break-in” experience when most long rides yielded some sore points on their body. They’ve also long ago taken the necessary measures to address the discomfort caused by poor bike fit, the wrong saddle (or an improperly adjusted one), tires inflated with too much pressure, unsuitable gear and so on. What’s more, they’ve gotten used to biking and know when to consume more nutrition and fluids and when to take a break. And the muscles they need for cycling have gotten plenty of exercise in the process, so they don’t get fatigued as quickly as do the muscles of cycling newcomers.
There’s also the fact that the bike carries the rider’s weight, which is part of the reason many cyclists are able to keep riding well into their senior years. I saw an example of this a few years ago while out on an afternoon ride. I happened to encounter another rider, an older man I hadn’t met before, but as we both were headed the same direction, we rode together, chatting as we pedaled. I noticed that he climbed and handled his bike well, and he told me he’d been riding for years.
Eventually, we came to a spot where three sets of railroad tracks crossed the road, and because the payment around the tracks was quite broken up, we decided to walk our bikes across the tracks. As soon as my new acquaintance dismounted, however, I saw he had a problem. With each step forward with his right leg, his torso dropped deeply on that side. He said, “I’m scheduled to have a hip replacement next month. But it doesn’t hurt while I’m on the bike.”
I recalled that some years later as I rode two 50-mile days in a row a month before having my right knee replaced. The knee hurt a lot walking, and the nerve up the side of my lower leg and foot felt like it was on fire while operating the accelerator in my car, but on the bike, I was okay.
And then there’s the contribution of endorphins — the “feel-good” hormones that are released in your body every time you participate in an activity that brings you pleasure. Many cyclists get a natural “high” from cycling that prevents them from dwelling on minor discomforts.
Of course, “nothing hurts when riding a bike” is more of a catchphrase than a solid truth, and if you find yourself in pain when riding, you should investigate the cause. With the variety of bikes, equipment and gear, as well as the collective wisdom of long-time riders, athletic trainers and the help of health professionals, a solution for your discomfort likely exists. Your local bike shop is a good place to start your investigation.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
If i do a lot of walking on hard surfaces or climbing up and down a ladder to much my left knee (because of an old football injury) will swell and start hurting but I can go get my bike and ride with no problem. My pain will go away. I do a lot of long endurance rides and my knee never bothers me, thankfully.
Thanks for your comment.
My experience mirrors Stans. In Nov I had a right knee replacement. Prior to the surgery walking was painful, sometimes I needed a cane and driving without cruise control was difficult but I had no pain or discomfort on the bike. Fortunately the surgery fixed the issues that were problems. At my 2 week checkup my doctor OK’d me for the stationary bike and by five weeks I was doing limited outside riding. BTW, my surgeon was a team RAAM participant a few years back so he is quite tuned in to cyclists needs.
A physical therapist told me that cycling is actually good for the knees – it helps circulate the synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints. My experience matches that. After a week of hiking, my injured knee bothers me, but it feels better after some distance cycling.