The next event on the cycling calendar is RideLondon, where cyclists will take part in 30m / 60m and 100m races. To those who manage to get a space — congratulations!
We’re sure that you are well in to training by now, but there are always things to consider before taking part in a competitive event. Our aim is to help you enjoy the challenge whilst staying injury free, before, during and following the race.
In this blog we cover the common injury types, things to keep an eye on and ultimately how to look after yourself and your bike to get the most out of both on the day.
Understandably with an event of this magnitude, there can be a lot of injuries plaguing riders in the peloton. Injuries can be broken down into two categories:
- Overuse injuries – these have a more gradual onset and often a result of the repetitive strain put through different parts of the body.
- Traumatic injuries – usually due to a crash or a fall.
It’s important to remember that these types of injury do not only affect the elite athletes competing in the Grand Tours, but even amateur and non-professional cyclists too.
Overuse injuries account for the large percentage of injuries presented to clinicians at Pure Sports Medicine; interestingly these are almost always due to either an incorrect bike set-up and improper training techniques.
So, what can be done to minimise the occurrence of these injuries?
Training Load Awareness #
Sudden spikes in training volume, intensity, distance or frequency can lead to tissues being stressed beyond their capabilities. This normally results in tendons, ligaments or muscles getting stressed, fatigued, inflamed and sore. Using apps such as Strava can help monitor training stress and performance, indicating whether you’re consistently pushing your body into the ‘red’, or whether you have a good training/recovery balance.
Having a Bike Fit #
At Pure Sports Medicine, we have qualified Bike Fitters who can professionally assess your current bike setup. We can assess your current ailments while cycling and adjust the fit for your specific goals, whether it be more comfort or improved performance and efficiency. You’ll be surprised at how much more comfortable and faster you become by having your bike setup perfectly for you.
Get Regular Soft Tissue Therapy #
Soft tissue therapy is a key part of a cyclist’s recovery. Professionals get regular massage therapy from their Soigneurs after each day’s racing to help with the next day’s effort. It maintains optimal flexibility, helps to break down scar tissue, and improve circulation. Soft tissue treatment during a period of high training load or a lead up to an event has been shown to improve recovery and performance by significant amounts.
If you’ve caught the cycling bug and are looking to improve performance, comfort, and recovery throughout this year, then #TeamPSM can help.
