First let’s start off on a good note. Nova’s doing fine. Me on the other hand… Where to begin? I guess is a little history. I’ve had a lower back problem for quite some time. I blame it on my career as a phone man. It’s a mild enough problem that I tolerate it and haven’t put much effort into resolving it. If I’m in any one position for too long though it becomes a bigger problem. I have to take frequent breaks when riding to avoid that. That’s fine as I’m generally never in a hurry to get anywhere. There was that one time years ago in Missouri on a 70 mile ride where we rode most of it non-stop trying to beat the sunset. I couldn’t make it the last few miles due to my back. Nova finished the ride on her own and came back to pick me up in the truck.
So anyway back to more recent times. About a month ago I was riding my newly built drop bar klunker as seen below.
I didn’t ride it all that far, maybe a dozen miles, but the reach on the bike is too long for me. My back didn’t like that. So for a couple of days I hobbled around and needed help getting off the couch etc… and no riding.
Shortly after that I had an eye issue and I ended up having retinal surgery. I didn’t ride for a couple of days during that ordeal. The eye I had surgery on is the same eye that has Adie’s Eye which I’ve had for years but I think the 2 are unrelated.
Then the snow came.
I started shoveling the drive. I know from experience that snow shoveling for me is a big gamble with my back and this time I lost. So I’m back to hobbling around and no riding. I have gotten out a couple times in the car just to be outside and the heated seat on high feels good on my back.
Some time off the bike is probably what I needed anyway as I’ve recently been dealing with saddle sores. Only one time before have I ever had saddle sores and that was from spending a day in the rain on a wet Brooks saddle. Not sure what brought it on this time but probably just a combination of the saddle, my attire and sweat.
So yeah at this moment in time I’m just one big basket case.
It’s been 4 days since I last rode. That may be a record for me at least over the past few years. I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike again soon.
Sorry to hear your having back trouble. I have had it for years and at times it has limited my riding. I found an inversion table to be invaluable to shortening my downtime. It is not a cure but does help speed up recovery when I do tweak my back.
Thanks Steve. Sorry to hear you deal with this issue too. Yeah I’ve wondered about an inversion table.
A fellow phone guy. I knew there was more good in you than just the biking part. I worked for four different companies. All of which are the same. New England Tel. Bell Atlantic, NYNEX and Verizon.
That’s right. I recall somewhere you mentioning you were retired from a phone company. For me it was Southwestern Bell, SBC and then AT&T. I assume 30 years of wearing a tool and climbing belt and hooking poles took its toll on me.
You’re not the only one! I’d try some yoga specific to relieving back pain. YouTube is your friend. At our age niggling problems are a given and a weak core contributes to all kinds of physical problems, including back pain. Unfortunately riding a bike does not strengthen our core. Take care Randy.
Thanks Annie.