Questions tagged [health]
Health issues affecting cyclists: comfort, pollution, energy, ...
131
questions
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How can I keep riding with bad knees? [closed]
Let me tell you about my story first.
I am diagnosed to have PFPS (patella-femoral pain syndrome) about 10 years ago. Some specialists also told me that my kneecaps were tilted outwards. I kept riding ...
3
votes
5
answers
3k
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How long should one wear a backpack while cycling
I have been cycling now for almost 6 years. I commute from home to work and I carry a laptop along with work clothes probably a sweater, an official shirt, and some bike tools. My estimated distance ...
6
votes
6
answers
3k
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Is cycling an aerobic or anaerobic exercise? What is the effect of cycling on weight loss?
I like to do cycling and I want to lose weight through cycling. But my friend told me about cardio instead of cycling, since cycling burns calories at a much slower rate. Is it true? So what's better ...
3
votes
1
answer
92
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Should mountain biking scrapes and scratches be kept moist or dry in order for them to heal better? [duplicate]
I got a nice 2 square inch knee scrape from a mountain bike crash. The internet is all over the place on whether it should be kept moist and covered vs. open and dry in order to prevent infection and ...
2
votes
2
answers
88
views
alleviating localised pressure from pedal cage
I ride my Brompton in normal shoes with quill/cage pedals and half-clips:
I've done 25-100 miles journeys, and occasionally find the balls of my feet get sore / toes go a bit numb. It feels as though ...
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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Daily commuter - stamina got worse after saddle height adjustment
Over the last three years, I’ve regularly commuted by bike - thirteen kilometers each way pre-pandemic, now I’m down to five each - and until recently, it’s gone smoothly. To my surprise (especially ...
10
votes
3
answers
2k
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What are the disadvantages of bicycle saddles with cut-outs?
I'm thinking about buying a new saddle and I have seen that you can still buy high-end saddles without any cut-out / relief channel. I was always advised that I should go for the latter ones since ...
5
votes
1
answer
872
views
Does a build-up of CO2 in the lungs make you out of breath?
I used to get out of breath when cycling, running or swimming and a friend mentioned that it is important to fully breathe out when feeling slightly out of breath, as it is due to a build up of carbon ...
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5
answers
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How can I learn cycling with polio in my right leg?
I'm a 20 yrs old boy with polio in my right leg, and due to this fact I never tried to learn to ride a bike.
But now I want to give it a go, but since I have no one to teach me (I have no friends or ...
8
votes
4
answers
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Has anybody recovered from or riding with PFS / Chondromalacia patella?
I'm 41 years old. I've had this problem 8 years ago and rode with it about 2 years. Then I had to stop riding when it got really worse. Nowadays, I'm trying to get back onto my bike again even if it ...
3
votes
4
answers
886
views
False hrm results
I use Garmin edge 520 with Garmin dual heart rate monitor and it shows completely false results like maximum hr >180 and average hr 150, while my ride is easy, slow and flat and I don't feel any ...
3
votes
2
answers
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Can a conventional seat be reversed 180 degrees to be used as a noseless seat?
I am interested in potentially switching to a noseless seat (also called noseless saddle). Instead of buying one, can I simply reverse my conventional seat 180 degrees and sit on the edge of the new ...
11
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3
answers
3k
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Might biking lower forehead temp readings at destination?
I often bike to work at a place that screens all who enter for fever. Lately this has been done with a no-touch forehead thing, presumably an IR gadget. When I bike, even if it is cold enough that I ...
5
votes
5
answers
809
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Returning to bicycling after a long hiatus
Does anyone have advice for someone who is returning to bicycling after a multi month hiatus.
This is my followup question to Bicycle Storage. Before the pandemic, I was biking 20 miles per day every ...
5
votes
2
answers
487
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Do high and narrow seat and back bending provide good bike riding posture?
I would like to ride a bike as part of daily commute on roads someday, as I rode a bike to school in another country in the past. But I have been bothered by some uncomfortable points from the bikes ...
13
votes
2
answers
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cyclist's palsy: how long does it last
I recently did a long ride and didn't move my hands enough. The pinky and ring finger on my right hand went numb and the webbing between thumb and index burned and ached.
Two weeks later I still have ...
12
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4
answers
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What's the proper science-driven way to treat mild scrapes/abrasions (that have a bit of dirt in them) from a mountain biking crash?
I tried to research this using search engines and found such a random variety of recommendations. Some were saying to make sure you have your tetanus booster while others were citing a study that ...
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6
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Cycling shorts: comfort vs bacteria / fungus?
I picked up endurance cycling a few years ago (30 - 100 km rides), and bought a few pairs of padded lycra shorts because that's just the thing to do. I wash them after every ride -- at least soap in ...
12
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5
answers
3k
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Stiff but short daily commute leading to "heavy" legs
I'm a long time bike commuter (over 10 years), I was living some 4.5 kms from my workplace, a mostly flat commute (well, maybe 40 m up-and-down). After two years of that commute, it had made my ...
0
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2
answers
2k
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Will wearing a backpack on my chest make any difference on my health?
It's commonly acknowledged that wearing a stuffed backpack during cycling is somewhat bad for your back.
I see a lot of people saying they have back problem because of the usage of backpacks during ...
11
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4
answers
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What exactly do seats with a cut out in the middle achieve?
I've read that seats with a cut out are a good way of relieving stress on your sensitive areas. So we have seats like this:
My question is: from what I've read, the problem with cycling with bad ...
1
vote
0
answers
188
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Is cycling killing me? Excessive congestion [closed]
For lack of insight elsewhere I thought I'd turn to the this active Exchange to see if others have had similar experiences with their respiratory system while cycling. (note: I have already seen a ...
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2
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Mild pain in lower forearms during biking
I feel some pressure and fatigue in my wrists and lower forearms during riding but not after it. I don't know whether it is due to weakness of my wrists or my suspicion that my 18" frame mount bike is ...
1
vote
2
answers
491
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Risks of pedaling with outward pointing knee
During my pedaling action I always try to keep my knee moving in plane parallel to the plane containing the frame, or, in other words, my leg parallel to the frame.
I have however noticed other ...
2
votes
1
answer
477
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Thumb ring and index finger
I have a new bike for 3 month and after about 20 Km my ring and index finger on the left hand became numb. Just as an information for my hand position: These fingers are always on the brakes. Here is ...
1
vote
1
answer
1k
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Low gearing and knee health
Background
I have been riding a single speed bikes over the last few (8) years in both flat (Perth, Australia) and hilly terrain (Brisbane, Australia). I love riding single speed. It has become part ...
3
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6
answers
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How do you keep from coasting too much on a bicycle?
Something that has always confused me about working out on a bike. I want a Hybrid to ride for fitness. I do not want the Road bike, mostly because I'm not going to ride on the road (I am too afraid ...
15
votes
4
answers
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I get dizzy when I dismount. Causes?
Saturday I went on a ride with the local cycling club. At a certain point in the ride (after about 20 miles/32 km), I was extremely tired to the point that I decided to get off of the bike and walk ...
1
vote
3
answers
180
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Which kind of bicycles is better and comfortable for shorter communtes, 4-5 km daily
This kind straight handles
or this kind?
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vote
0
answers
843
views
Adjusting bike fitting to cope with FAI (hip deformity)
After many years in the saddle (as a casual rider only) I am currently unable to ride to due a problem with my hips. I just got the X-rays back and it seems I have a "pincer" deformity on both hips ...
4
votes
3
answers
1k
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Effect of drinking coffee before riding?
I'm 173 cm with about 45 kg weight (underweight). In the same ride of 30 km with short but steep uphill and downhill, if I drink coffee I tend to feel better when riding, but about two hours after the ...
1
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2
answers
137
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How To Improve? [closed]
Could it really be possible for a rider, like me (who is fat but loves cycling) to improve his skills and gain stability for riding a good mile? If Yes, How?
2
votes
1
answer
183
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What are the potential causes of my fingers going numb when riding?
My fingers get numb quite quickly when riding. I'm a novice and not sure to what this can be due. I've tried gloves but they didn't help. I've tried added different handles to be able to switch ...
1
vote
0
answers
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Can long cycle rides cause damage to people fitted with a bladder sphincter [closed]
Can any body tell me if they have experienced any problems or pain. I have a bladder sphincter fitted and am concerned about doing a long bike ride. My question is I am currently training for a 10 day ...
5
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4
answers
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How to avoid the road bike physique
Due to a house move I am soon to become a road bike commuter with approx. 18 miles to cover. I could do with loosing a few kgs but am worried about developing the emaciated physique so apparent in ...
2
votes
2
answers
146
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Does USAC Allow Natural Suppliments?
I'm a non-competitive cyclist that wants to try a few Cat-5 USAC races for fun; unfortunately, at 40+ years of age, I'm taking more than one natural OTC supplement to self-medicate.
Is there an ...
1
vote
1
answer
126
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heart rate monitor / arrythmia [closed]
How do people with arrythmia manage the problem that most bycicle heart rate monitor devices cannot measure accurately their heart rate?
9
votes
3
answers
590
views
Cycling into tunnels
I am planning a long trip in Japan (about 1400 km) in a hilly/mountain region. I already know there will be no cycling path and then I will have to share the road with cars. This is allowed by local ...
7
votes
2
answers
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How to bike with less stress on the calves
I have a condition called functional PAES, which is caused by the calf muscles compressing the popliteal artery. My doctor recommended activities that would not put much stress on the calves, and ...
6
votes
3
answers
577
views
Is a fitting worthwhile for me?
I'm a guy with banged up knees. I'm trying to decide if it is worthwhile for me to splurge for a high-end bike fitting or go with a more ordinary fitting or skip getting a fitting altogether.
...
4
votes
4
answers
1k
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Minor but persistent saddle sore - Safe to continue riding?
A few months ago I switched from a heavily padded saddle to a Velominati-approved one: http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#61
It was very uncomfortable at first (even with padded shorts), but I ...
2
votes
1
answer
73
views
Advice for resuming riding after illness?
Just got a rude reminder a few weeks ago that I'm middle-aged (let's call it a cardiovascular accident), and I'll probably be a while recovering fitness. I've signed up for a rehab program at the ...
1
vote
3
answers
233
views
What is the best pedalling technique to heal and prevent patellar tendonitis? [closed]
I have a very mild case of patellar tendonitis. But, it is a chronic and recurring problem I have been dealing with since 2011. I get it mainly from playing tennis. But, I notice that when biking I ...
8
votes
3
answers
182
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Bicycle design for a crooked hip
One of my hips turns out a bit more than it ‘ought’ to. It doesn't affect my walking, but on a bicycle it means that my knee on that side must transmit force at an unnatural angle. It was less of a ...
4
votes
1
answer
415
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Does cannabis affect cycling performance?
Some of my friends like to smoke (using both traditional methods and vaporizers that produce no "smoke") or eat edibles before rides, they say it makes it more enjoyable. I always wonder if it ...
49
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13
answers
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Is commuting 10 km on an empty stomach harmful?
I recently moved to a new place and I started taking my bike to work. It is a ride of 10-15km, depending on how fancy I feel about taking detours. I wake up at 7:45, and 15 minutes later I am already ...
11
votes
3
answers
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How to avoid/deal with exhaust fumes when riding in traffic
I live in Chicago, and I ride through the downtown area and other congested streets to and from work every day. Often when I am at a stoplight, I am directly behind or next to several cars belching ...
0
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1
answer
423
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Alternative excercise to biking [closed]
Are there any alternative exercise to biking while it's raining?
I have been fortunate enough to solve my insomnia with biking...something with it seems to connect and works well to solve my ages old ...
13
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3
answers
2k
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Tips for cycling while pregnant, and is it safe?
To clarify, I am asking this for my wife!
Blog articles and other webpages differ on the question of the safety of pregnant cycling. Most seem to think that it is okay, but some think that a ...
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2
answers
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Cycling's effect On The Bladder?
What effect does cycling have on the bladder?
There is some information online:
Beginner Triathlete
It is not uncommon to have genitourinary symptoms caused by prolonged contact with the bike ...