View Full Version : Getting old sucks.........
bidaci
06-18-2007, 07:35 PM
Seems like my back just isn't what it used to be and learning trials is killing me. I pulled my back months ago and finally I felt better so I thought I would ride. Well, fucked it up again :wtc:
Any suggestions on the best way to build up the back muscles that are used in trials, gently? Keep in mind that I am an old fart at 46 and have seen better days.
I am not going to give up. I am gonna keep the Piranha for shits and giggles and try SLOWER to develop.
multismith
06-18-2007, 08:49 PM
They say 50 is the new 30 so to be conservative that leaves you with at least 10-15 years of trials riding left before you have to switch exclusively to XC:) As long as your bones are good muscle can recover..... well with-in reason that is. Continue to ride just take it easy and like any good advice run it by the family Dr.
The Best way to develope specific muscles for any given task is to do that task repeatedly. Ok so there is one muscle where this rule doesn't apply:)
Core muscle exercise really help & I think is a must with trials. My back isn't all that strong but a lot of stretching before & after the ride as well as doing some yoga/pilates seem to ease the damage.
You may want to hit a chiropractor, I'm not big on their long term plans but some of the initial cracking they do can be night and day difference. I waited 10 years after a skiing injury in Germany to get my back looked at. I litterally put up with pain for 10 years and it was gone in one visit. Then they wanted the thrice a week visits. I did it for a few months but really I think I only need about 4 visits and a refresher every few months.
If I am not physically active like this colorado winter where I was snowed in and didn't buy a ski pass then I really need a good crack again. I'm thinking about hitting the chiropractor a couple times before my A1 shows up. I'm already getting some pain doing trials stuff on my full suspension bike.
The Yoga stuff is good to, you have to find the right balance. Not too heavy on spiritual, mood, relaxation stuff but not the extreme bendy, strength stuff (unless you're ready for it). The high level Yoga stuff will make a punk out of the stongest of guys.
Also deep tissue massage or physcial therapy can help. You can have tight muscles made for finer less common back movements that are doing nothing because they're so tight. To blather on even more..... My ilo tibial bands (1" wide tendon that goes on the inside/outside of your thighs) were tight as a snare drum and doing nothing to help me and causing me pain if I jogged over a mile.
Having a physical therapist work them out and loosen them up was like getting old age stripped from my body and balanced added back. Of course if your problem isn't muscles and it's degraded spinal discs you're looking at a whole different bag of solutions.
:blah: :blah::blah:
joshwrecks
06-18-2007, 10:20 PM
I'm already getting some pain doing trials stuff on my full suspension bike.
:blah: :blah::blah:
Well d'uh
Anywho, at 29 I might not qualify as old, but after 14 years of BMX and more than that many broken bones as a result of bike trickery gone wrong my nearly 30 year old body is feeling like the new 50 - not to mention that I've been working blue collar for as long as I've legally been allowed.
My back gives me a lot of trouble when I don't ride much, and it kills if I don't ride much and then put in a really hard day. I've had little experience with medical treatments (never go to the doctor), but I find that riding consistently and easily, like 3-5 times per week, keeps my back pretty loose and also makes the days that I push it much more tolerable. Stretching is good too.
So even if it's just 20 or 30 minutes a day, get on your bike and pedal around. It's been working for me, and I figure that I've got maybe 5 or 6 good years left on this earth. Good luck to you.
verticult
06-19-2007, 05:31 AM
I am 47 and learning trials again (I was never good in the first place) here are a few ideas for you.
recovery time. Give a day after each workout to recover until your body adapts to the work load.
warm up. mild stretching and range of motion exersizes for a couple of mins before a ride then get a good sweat before any big efforts
drugs. asprin for increased circulation and reduction of swelling, glucosimine for joints and soft tissue, drink lots of water.
progression. from what I have seen, skilled riders use leverage and balance not brute force to bust huge moves, I work on being smooth and effecient.
Balls. don't do anything that you have to talk yourself into. If you don't have the confidence, you don't have the skills to pull it off. New skills will come on their own.,
Protection. old parts break easly.
hope this helps..
dengenerate
06-19-2007, 06:21 AM
maybe talk to your orthopaedist... what little i know about back injuries is that they take a long time to heal/recover, and that they can be easily re-injured when they're feeling pretty good but not-quite-completely-healed.
on a ridiculous side note, my girlfriend's boss, who's in bad shape and in his 30s i think, bent down weird to pick up a box of kleenex and it fractured one of his vertebrae. it's a dumb enough story that it just might be true. :dunno:
Sinister Proboscis
06-19-2007, 07:39 AM
I'm 41, and relatively new to trials. I get the occasional ache and pain, too. What the other guys have said in this thread thus far makes sense: recovery time and working on core strength help.
I also find that doing mountain biking and road biking rides help me improve my lungs (trials is freakin' HIGH INTENSITY, no?).
verticult
06-19-2007, 10:30 AM
I'm 41, and relatively new to trials. I get the occasional ache and pain, too. What the other guys have said in this thread thus far makes sense: recovery time and working on core strength help.
I also find that doing mountain biking and road biking rides help me improve my lungs (trials is freakin' HIGH INTENSITY, no?).
a one min. section = 4 min. expert DH run = one BMX moto (for the win) = one hour XC ride (the first hour) or something like that I would guess. one hour on the T-bike and I am destroyed. I friggin' love it!
I have to say I am surprised how exhausting trials can be. I'm glad my XC trail choices and riding style pushed a lot of technical. If it hadn't I probably wouldn't be getting into trials. Riding technical ups is my favorite part of XC riding.
philth
06-19-2007, 10:08 PM
If you have access to a pool, swimming is one of the best exercises.
It uses the same muscles as cycling buy no strain.
I, even though 22 have a body that probibly works older tha yours (car accident, technially I'm disabled)
I was and do experice lots of pain, I would ride one day, swim the next, ride, swim, ride, swim, rest....complete day off not doing anything.
Swimming helped me to no end, its still a work out, but not so harsh and stretching in the water was great resitance.
Good luck, glad your not shying away from trials, time off the bike can be a beautiful thing also, a week or 2 weeks everynow and again.(sounds odd but try it, i feel great on the bike after)
beastoftheeast
06-19-2007, 11:38 PM
there are some old topics on back problems that are really long. i suffer with back pain, im 18, look 14, feel 50. try searching back pain or back problems.
THEDEMOLITIONMAN
06-20-2007, 12:08 AM
For one, aging is never going to end, as long as your alive. You need to embrace your age and think with a positive out look on things. I am a strong believer in mind over matter and if you think negatively, negative things will happen to you.My gf turns 42 next month and she still boxes in the gym 3x a week and does exhibitions, she's been boxing since she was a kid.She gets hurt, she breaks bones and comes home with black eyes and what not. She doesn't come home and whine and say she's an old fart. She heals and gets back to the gym and tries to do better, to me, that's what it's all about. For instance, 2 years ago, during a side up, I felt this POP in my back and I was all done for two years.I managed to herniate my L5 in the lower part of my back and that was the worse pain I ever felt in my life. I didn't give up, I wasn't young when this happened, I read up on it and I did whatever I could to get back to normal.Finally, today I 'm back on my bike and at 100%, I fed my mind with positive reinforcement.
THEDMAN
spoke2570
06-20-2007, 06:48 AM
Geritol is the key.
bidaci
06-20-2007, 07:31 AM
For one, aging is never going to end, as long as your alive. You need to embrace your age and think with a positive out look on things. I am a strong believer in mind over matter and if you think negatively, negative things will happen to you.My gf turns 42 next month and she still boxes in the gym 3x a week and does exhibitions, she's been boxing since she was a kid.She gets hurt, she breaks bones and comes home with black eyes and what not. She doesn't come home and whine and say she's an old fart. She heals and gets back to the gym and tries to do better, to me, that's what it's all about. For instance, 2 years ago, during a side up, I felt this POP in my back and I was all done for two years.I managed to herniate my L5 in the lower part of my back and that was the worse pain I ever felt in my life. I didn't give up, I wasn't young when this happened, I read up on it and I did whatever I could to get back to normal.Finally, today I 'm back on my bike and at 100%, I fed my mind with positive reinforcement.
THEDMAN
I agree that age is a state of mind. However the body keeps reminding me that I am not 20 any more. There is no whining nor am I giving up. I am simply asking for tips for strengthening the muscles in my back that are used for trials. Road riding and mountain biking (on a 26' rigid) do not aggrevate my back the way that trials does. The body does not heal as well as age progresses and I don't want to wait for a "POP". The old fart was to lighten things up and to let people know my physical age as it does play a part in things.
Done chiropractic, massage, accupuncture. I found that the massage is best and chiropractic just so so. Accupuncture, jury is still out on that one.
philth
06-20-2007, 10:33 AM
^^both two above,
Yeh it is a state of mind.
but when your not at full fitness or are in pain, its hard to be possitive.
I and bidaci (http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/member.php?u=6585) are trying to work past/through the current pain, and get back to 100%. I know when I'm back on the full fitnees and feeling good 'train' it takes something major to stop me / knock me off. Unfortunately part of life it has happend,
now...I belive were trying to find ways to build back up and get back on the 'train'.
Sorry about the corny use of the 'train', to early inthe morningfor me to think of anything better...hopefully you know what I mean
I've been looking into YOGA alot, its slow, controled, keeps you flexable...
I live my life by,
Power is nothing with out control, strenght is nothing without flexablity
Anybody do yoga??
THEDEMOLITIONMAN
06-20-2007, 12:07 PM
I think Yoga is a great idea, my Mother does it and she is 54. She can actually put both her hands flat on the ground, while standing up and power herself up into a handstand.I had to be there to believe it myself, my 54 Mother is more flexible than I am..lol. I know from talking to Ryan Leech a lot at Interbike, he said doing power yoga really helped out his back and he has less back pain. So that is something you might look into, I do a lot of swimming and that's what was able to help me out.Trials really does a number on your body, a lot of my trials buddies had to give it up.
THEDMAN
If you've ever been to a beginner or lower level Yoga class 'Power Yoga' may not be what you think. I found it to be closer to doing a martial art kata than entry level Yoga. I was extremely exhausted after a Power Yoga session.
Doug White
06-20-2007, 04:55 PM
I'm 43 and not only was I lucky enough to ride a trials bike for a living for 10 years, but 5 of them was for Cirque Du Soleil. We had every kind of medical practioner mentioned here plus personal physical therapist. I had 3 ankle surgeries and doing 10 shows per week, 47 weeks per year, with no relief, it doesn't matter how much it hurts(to a point) I had shows the next day. I learned alot about my body and it's capabilities. My main advice to you is ab workouts. As discussed, core body strength is so important and stronger abs will support the lower back like you wouldn't believe. I peaked at 2,000 abs per day and 3 days per week I did ab programs with a PT on top of that. I couldn't have survived with out it.
I also strongly agree with a proper warm up. For everyone, but especially as you get older. I jumped on my bike about 5 months ago just to show somebody something and was hopping on the back wheel across the ground and tore my rotator cuff about 50% according to the mri. I opted out of surgery and basicly didn't move that arm for about a month. I started slowly on rehab exercises and before I get on my bike now, I do about 10 minutes of pedaling up a hill or with the front brake(disk) on pretty heavy. Stretching is much safer with your heart beat slightly raised. So I start with light, safe cardio, then stretching, then start riding and warm up slowly. I can't just get on and go anything like I used to, but I am so thankful for everything I can still do.
It's really amazing, my son turns 17 this weekend and has been riding about 6 years now. He always aspired to beat the ole man and he started getting close about 6 or 8 months ago. He flew right by me and is jumping higher and farther today than I ever did. His learning curve and skill level is increasing rapidly and mine is decreasing at the same rate!!! Every time we ride I laugh my head off and enjoy every minute of it as good or better than the worlds in Japan or the '96 olympics.
Keep up the preventative maintenance, enjoy and be thankful for what you can do. Any and all of it is better than the couch.
Doug
THEDEMOLITIONMAN
06-20-2007, 08:08 PM
You use to do 2000 abs exc a day, I thought I did a lot at 300 ab rollers a day..wow
THEDMAN
Okay I was saving my age excuse for years down the road. You guys just pushed it even further back for me Thanks a Lot.
JK I mountain bike with guys that are 50 and they still try technical, take spills and show me up now and then. I won't have old age excuse for years nor do I want to have it. Of course I'll already conceed I don't learn new things as fast as a 16 year old. Hell I remember my learning curve when I was that young I know things don't come that fast anymore.
I'm seriously thinking of hitting the chiropractor before my bike arrives. Also if you can't afford Physical Therapy there are ways to get it done yourself. I use a rolling pin on my ITB (sides of thighs) to make sure they're loosened up. I'm still searching for more ways to self medicate as I can't afford PT right now.
34 yr old fossil
bidaci
06-21-2007, 07:25 AM
http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/images/reputation/reputation_neg.gifGetting old... (http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/showthread.php?p=397952#post397952)06-19-2007 stop complaining and just live life
Wow, thanks for the great advice!!! :rolleyes:
christian
06-21-2007, 10:52 AM
Feels good to know that im not the oldest one around trying to learn the noble art of trials. i started last summer after 18 years of xc. Mostly as a way of learnig more techincal stuff but its taken over completly. I havenīt had any problems with my back yet but in lots of other parts of my body. Mostly old injuries that make themselves heard; sprained ankles, a broken wrist and so on. But itīs not too bad. Iīm 37.
r2wtrials
09-27-2007, 04:05 PM
I am shortly to be 42... and have a slipped disc apparently. I stopped biketrials about 5 years ago and went back to the motorcycle trials, but this combined with my job as a telecom engineer (pole climbing, ladder lifting etc) has really caused back pain for the last year. Eventually my company paid for private physio... accupuncture included. It was brilliant but 2 days at work brought me back to the same pain point.
Then the physio gave me some exercises to do on a gym ball... it really works your core muscles. I have now built up a cycle again .... lets see how long the back holds out!!!
For gym ball exercises have a look at this.... http://exercise.about.com/cs/abs/l/bl_core.htm
kieldp
09-27-2007, 04:58 PM
I hope you know that a slipped disc should usually have surgery...
Giant1118
09-28-2007, 05:53 PM
Abs (and i think u mean doing crunches) have nothing, or very little, to do with working your back. I suggest squats with some very light weight to increase your core strength. Doing 3000 crunches a day seems absurd and i dont see how that would help u out.
do a good warm up before u ride and be sure to stretch after.
spoke2570
09-28-2007, 07:26 PM
Riding is painful. Feel the pain. Embrace the pain. Draw it close to your soul. Release it on some poor unsuspecting motorist. The circle will be complete.
greyghost
09-28-2007, 08:05 PM
I've posted about this about 100 times...search for some of my old posts on the subject bidaci, you'll find some good info, or PM me if you want.
As for all the yogini's out there, just remember that taking you'er joints past their normal physiological range of motion. That means that they will be destabilized when you hop back on your bike. If you're going to be jumping off shit, you want strong joint capsules.
Yoga is not made for athletes, and it's a very bastardized technique here in the US. It has very little to do with how it was originally intended.
greyghost
09-28-2007, 08:07 PM
I hope you know that a slipped disc should usually have surgery...
Only with an MD, whose only therapeutic option is surgery
TheBOFH
09-28-2007, 10:33 PM
If you have access to a pool, swimming is one of the best exercises.
It uses the same muscles as cycling buy no strain.
I, even though 22 have a body that probibly works older tha yours (car accident, technially I'm disabled)
I was and do experice lots of pain, I would ride one day, swim the next, ride, swim, ride, swim, rest....complete day off not doing anything.
Swimming helped me to no end, its still a work out, but not so harsh and stretching in the water was great resitance.
Good luck, glad your not shying away from trials, time off the bike can be a beautiful thing also, a week or 2 weeks everynow and again.(sounds odd but try it, i feel great on the bike after)
I find doing a few slow laps in the pool & then a couple of neurofen & a warm shower after a ride keeps a lot of the muscle strain away. Stretching properly before & after is a must too.
MIKE1968
09-29-2007, 12:02 AM
Just eat and sleep well. And don't drink.
:wtc:
I managed to ride for an hour today. Not bad.
MIKE1968
09-29-2007, 02:08 AM
Stop drinking and ride an hour every day...you'll feel great.
But mentally probably be depressed and want to drink.
stretch, ride, then drink.
tubender
09-29-2007, 08:58 AM
http://www.kinesiotaping.com
this has been a life-saver for me. shave first, it comes off quickly with diesel fuel.
Stop drinking
There is a problem with this.
:hs:
r2wtrials
10-01-2007, 04:37 PM
I hope you know that a slipped disc should usually have surgery...
Depends how bad it is... i am told. We will see
Guss78
10-01-2007, 05:15 PM
It's all about the Yoga. I was spending $130 a week at physio and going to the chiropractor once a week - did nothing. Started yoga - $11 per session, felt better after one class, gets better and better everytime. My physio therapist said I needed a hip replacement because I could barely walk - I run now...I run like the wind...until my cardio gives out 8 strides later.
I am in love with my instructor too, she is unreal.
MIKE1968
10-01-2007, 05:31 PM
There is a problem with this.
:hs:
I was pissed being hurt all the time, I stopped drinking...for the most part...Now I can ride a few hours every day and not worry about shit breaking (on my body...my bike is another story :rofl: ). When I get to put my new vid of me riding out you'll see the abuse i throw down every day. It's a trade off like everything in life, but I feel better mostly.
Drinking kills any muscle recovery you have, hinders all performance of any sport you're interested in. After 2-3 months of very little drinking, if i have 3-4 beers at night the next day I'm so fucked and dead all day...really really funny as I used to go for 15-20 drinks a night every night for years on end.
:hs:
I actually dont go too badly. I ride a comp every month and other rides in between and recover pretty well, but I guess I could recover a whole lot better.
Oh well, ill talk to my body about trade offs.
MIKE1968
10-01-2007, 06:04 PM
Only way to get good is to ride every day :o
morley
10-02-2007, 01:24 AM
Ride, drink, surf... and eat good food of course. Don't go for that cheap gmo in a box shit. Yesterday was the best ride ever and all I had was a 3' ledge and a set of stairs. Then the next day thomas ohler appeared... that guy's chill. Must have been the olive bread & the IPA I had?
Olive bread and IPA, what could be better?
morley
10-02-2007, 02:48 AM
Beer is great, I love IPA's, however any other savery beverage could be alright... I dunno, maybe some tuna, salmon, loose greens in a tossed salad with bocconcini, nuts, and various tasty ingreedients. Pinot Noir or pinot gris?
All I know is the more I eat and drink good, the more trials riders show up to ride and have a good time.
spoke2570
10-03-2007, 06:07 AM
Better than olive bread and IPA... Scotch and a ribeye, bloody.
Beer is great, I love IPA's, however any other savery beverage could be alright... I dunno, maybe some tuna, salmon, loose greens in a tossed salad with bocconcini, nuts, and various tasty ingreedients. Pinot Noir or pinot gris?
All I know is the more I eat and drink good, the more trials riders show up to ride and have a good time.
tuna, loose greens, chili, olive oil, IPA, fuck yeah.
jbinion
10-03-2007, 10:31 AM
:werd: Geritol is the key.
46 years young and still kicking. Love me some Geritol!
J_Dada
10-03-2007, 03:04 PM
take a look at this book
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Care-Basics-Doctors-Program/dp/0962713821/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3038812-1583219?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191441866&sr=8-1
take a look at this book
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Care-Basics-Doctors-Program/dp/0962713821/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3038812-1583219?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191441866&sr=8-1
I'm curious do you have some experience with this book and results or did you just find it and think it might be interesting?
What you eat can be huge, seems there's no end to new scientific discoveries of how diet affects most everything.
J_Dada
10-16-2007, 11:44 AM
I'm curious do you have some experience with this book and results or did you just find it and think it might be interesting?
What you eat can be huge, seems there's no end to new scientific discoveries of how diet affects most everything.
found it and thought it might be interesting, bought it but i havent put it to use yet
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