Behind every great rider, there’s a great soigneur. The right hand man, the go-to guy, who tends every whim of his rider, feeding, watering, mending and massaging. Behind the humble Velominatus Regularus, however, there’s a string of injuries, tight muscles, bad posture and aching guns. We are our own soigneurs, and if you’re like me, that’s not a great thing.
Heading towards a half century on the earth and most of that on two wheels, you’d think an old dog would pick up plenty of tricks along the way. Basics like stretching and self-massage, drinking plenty of water, and not as much beer are learned early, but virtually ignored totally. I never stretch; no matter how many times I’ve been advised to, I just seem to lack whatever disciplinary gene that encourages me to put aside half an hour after a ride or whenever I feel tight (ie always) to roll around on the floor and pull a few limbs into strange positions. After particularly long or hard rides, I might give the hammys a cursory tweak in the shower or rub the legs a bit once out. I have one of those trigger-point rollers, but it hardly sees out from under the bed. It feels good and no doubt helps, but it’s just way too easy to flop on the couch with a beer and zone out on the idiot box.
As I increasingly find it harder to get out of bed, or walk up the stairs (there’s about a hundred to my house) it seems the only time I’m comfortable is when I’m on the bike. As soon as I dismount, I’m like a foal with a hunchback trying to take its first steps. But it’s about time to get real and help prolong an injury-free riding life. I see guys my age or even younger nursing injuries and think maybe I’m just lucky, and surely my time will come if I continue my lax routine. The same care that goes into my bikes needs to go into myself. Stretching every day, maybe some core exercises, self massage after rides, might even try some yoga.
And my own swanny.
My friend Josh, a recently graduated massage therapist, has offered to try and ‘sort me out’ with a round of treatments over the next month or so. When he asked what area needed work, I replied ‘everywhere’. As he’s been gently reminding me for years that I need to stretch, he knows what sort of state I’m in and what I put myself through on the bike. It’ll be interesting to see what regular massage can do for a regular Cyclist, even if it’s once a week rather than the everyday luxury of the Pro. And if nothing else, I hear there are some pretty good looking women at the yoga place…
I’ll keep you posted over the next few weeks as to my progress. What sort of self-soigneur techniques do you all employ, if any?
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Pro physio does wonders but... com'on, stretch quads, hamstrings and itb EVERY time you get off the bike takes no more than 5 mins. Be realistic: you want to stretch a little bit, your goal is not becoming a rhythmic gymnastic Olympic games participant...
@ChrisO Classic... that's precisely accurate. More than a few times I've sent txt to my massage therapist with, "any chance... ?" I've always felt best to leave generous tip as find I get responses to my txts and ultimately help fixing whatever it is needing fixed. And she keeps recommending some work pre race/ride ?? Cheers
No stretches before or after here, same as when I played soccer. My inner buddhist says try the yoga but dunno... I read about an army experiment where they sent out two groups on some physical exercise, one did all the stretches and prep, the other nothing. There was no difference in injuries or performance, or fatigue in either group.
If it works for you do it, if not join us in the bar watching the Giro.
I don't stretch either before or after I ride, but I do use the foam roller if my legs are tight or my knee (which seems to be prone to tendonitis) is bothering me (also ice it). I do yoga once a week and it has helped immensely. No lower back pain and my core is stronger. I'm more comfortable on the bike and can ride longer.
http://www.myyogaonline.com/about-yoga/learn-about-yoga/yoga-for-cyclists-why-time-on-the-mat-means-longer-on-the-road
@Coyotetree
Young girls in tight yoga pants is just an added benefit.
@cyclebrarian
How is it that you support each other in thinking like this?
If you want to be self-respecting members of the human race, not just the patriarchal society, you have to be able to transcend objectifying women - no matter how slight the degree, it's still objectification. We don't like this in itself, and we don't like where it leads.
On one level, I love this forum. On this level, though, it's supremely depressing. A bunch of nice-sounding, intelligent, articulate guys, still indicating that they 'can't stop themselves' objectifying. You have to be able to stop yourselves. Until you can find it in yourselves to recognise objectification and quit normalising it (and maybe it does feel as normal to you to quip about 'young women' as a 'benefit' as it feels abnormal to us), women won't feel comfortable in the world, even on your cycling website.
@yogacyclist
I guess you don't notice attractive women, huh? Lighten the fuck up.
@cyclebrarian
Have you made the mistake of assuming I'm a man?
Would you have replied differently if you'd known I was female?
@yogacyclist
+1
@yogacyclist
I guess you don't notice attractive men, huh? Lighten the fuck up.