Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. In can be used both as part of a fitness regime, commuting to work, in competitive sports, or just as a bit of fun. However, anyone who has ridden their bike for any great length of time or at high intensity will be only too aware that pains and strains can creep in if you are not careful. Below are details of three very common cycling complaints and advice on how to avoid suffering them yourself.
Wrist Problems. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured.Having quality suspension on the front forks of the bike will reduce a lot of the pressure, or if you cannot have suspension, make sure the forks have shock absorbing qualities like you find on the Trek Madone.
Pain In The Backside. This problem can range from a mild discomfort to full blown muscle inflammation and damage, and is often seen in long distance riders. It is in every rider’s interest to address backside problems as soon as they can quickly become quite serious and even lead to problems with fertility. Buying a decent bike saddle is the number one thing to do and you should test ride one for a good few miles before you buy one. You can also purchase protective cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.
Knee Problems. Another common complaint among riders is knee injuries, inflammation and general soreness. Your riding position and bike set up does influence the amount of strain on the knees, but more often than not the quality of the bike contributes quite a lot. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as Pinarello frames which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.
