Stress and cycling - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-07-2005, 04:13 PM

Just got back from a minor surgical procedure at the doctor's office, and
beforehand I promised myself I'd ride afterwards. I was psyched to do so
because of the good weather. In addition this was going to be my reward
when I got the procedure over and done.

However about 1/2 hour after returning home I felt quite weak and could
detect a bit of unsteadiness. Very strange, especially since the procedure
should have had no effect on my cycling whatsoever. I didn't ride - also
very strange for me, because -nothing- keeps me from riding except
blizzards, floods and tornado warnings. ;-)

At first I couldn't figure it out. Then my wife reminded me that prior to
going in I was experiencing a very high stress level, thinking the
procedure might not be so minor.

Just goes to show you how much of an effect just plain mental stress can
have on your riding.

It also raises my awe at how pro-bikers can immediately get back on their
bike and ride after a crash. Though there might not be substantial injury,
just the mental stress of the event would leave many people unable to
continue. Though adrenaline can be your friend, too much can be a problem.

jj

03-07-2005, 05:00 PM

jj wrote:
> It also raises my awe at how pro-bikers can immediately get back on their
> bike and ride after a crash. Though there might not be substantial injury,
> just the mental stress of the event would leave many people unable to
> continue. Though adrenaline can be your friend, too much can be a problem.

Indeed. When about ten years old, I did an endo. Though nothing was wrong
with my bike, I chose to walk home. During the walk, a friend pointed out
that I was bleeding. In the ER (for stitches) I discovered I had a
green-stick break of my jaw (on both sides). The only explanation I can
find for not riding back must have been the shock that I didn't realize I
was in.

Austin
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please!
There are no X characters in my address

03-07-2005, 05:00 PM

jj wrote:
> It also raises my awe at how pro-bikers can immediately get back on their
> bike and ride after a crash. Though there might not be substantial injury,
> just the mental stress of the event would leave many people unable to
> continue. Though adrenaline can be your friend, too much can be a problem.

Indeed. When about ten years old, I did an endo. Though nothing was wrong
with my bike, I chose to walk home. During the walk, a friend pointed out
that I was bleeding. In the ER (for stitches) I discovered I had a
green-stick break of my jaw (on both sides). The only explanation I can
find for not riding back must have been the shock that I didn't realize I
was in.

Austin
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please!
There are no X characters in my address

03-07-2005, 07:42 PM

AustinMN wrote:

> Indeed. When about ten years old, I did an endo. Though nothing was
wrong
> with my bike, I chose to walk home. During the walk, a friend
pointed out
> that I was bleeding. In the ER (for stitches) I discovered I had a
> green-stick break of my jaw (on both sides). The only explanation I
can
> find for not riding back must have been the shock that I didn't
realize I
> was in.

Yeah, I snapped my collar bone on a bike when I was a kid. It was
strange, since I was out riding with my friend at the time. I crashed
into a parked car. Then I had no choice but to walk my bike back to my
house, a couple blocks away. My friend went with me and I even
remember us laughing on the way back like kids do. I went home, went
to bed, and went to the hospital the next day.

Of course, I had a lot of broken bones growing up - ten. I was always
in the wrong place at the wrong time.

-Bill H.

03-07-2005, 07:42 PM

AustinMN wrote:

> Indeed. When about ten years old, I did an endo. Though nothing was
wrong
> with my bike, I chose to walk home. During the walk, a friend
pointed out
> that I was bleeding. In the ER (for stitches) I discovered I had a
> green-stick break of my jaw (on both sides). The only explanation I
can
> find for not riding back must have been the shock that I didn't
realize I
> was in.

Yeah, I snapped my collar bone on a bike when I was a kid. It was
strange, since I was out riding with my friend at the time. I crashed
into a parked car. Then I had no choice but to walk my bike back to my
house, a couple blocks away. My friend went with me and I even
remember us laughing on the way back like kids do. I went home, went
to bed, and went to the hospital the next day.

Of course, I had a lot of broken bones growing up - ten. I was always
in the wrong place at the wrong time.

-Bill H.

03-08-2005, 10:42 AM

jj wrote:

> It also raises my awe at how pro-bikers can immediately get back on
> their bike and ride after a crash. Though there might not be
> substantial injury, just the mental stress of the event would leave
> many people unable to continue. Though adrenaline can be your friend,
> too much can be a problem.

I think this is what separates pros from the rest of us. Everyone has setbacks.
Pros carry on regardless.

Matt O.

03-08-2005, 11:53 AM

Tue, 8 Mar 2005 14:42:05 -0500, <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Matt O'Toole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>jj wrote:
>
>> It also raises my awe at how pro-bikers can immediately get back on
>> their bike and ride after a crash. Though there might not be
>> substantial injury, just the mental stress of the event would leave
>> many people unable to continue. Though adrenaline can be your friend,
>> too much can be a problem.
>
>I think this is what separates pros from the rest of us. Everyone has setbacks.
>Pros carry on regardless.

Well, maybe after a few ****tails.

I've ridden home both times after being smacked by scuds. Once with a
broken arm on a 3-spd loaner from the bike shop doing the repairs.

I rode home with a leg injury that left me unable to stand, sit or
walk for two weeks though I rode almost every day during that
"recovery" period.

I don't buy prescription drugs but might use 222 if the pain is
keeping me awake.
--
zk

03-10-2005, 08:53 AM

Yep. I think when you're forced to rely on yourself, you surprise
yourself with what you're capable of. I'm thinking about that guy who
had to cut his arm off with a dull knife to dislodge himself from a
boulder he was trapped behind. Now THAT would be tough!

Of course, for pro riders I think there might be a kind of pride and
machismo that comes into it where you don't want to let someone see
that you're hurt. Just a thought.

-Bill H.