Between shin bruises and dirt in our eyes, we commuters have a unique set of pains to deal with. Here’s our list of the 7 most common pains and how to avoid them.
When it comes to common pains, road/mountain biking and commuter biking are entirely different animals. Google provides you with a whole scary list of long-distance cycling related injuries (where the hell is my scaphoid and how do I know if I broke it?) – but commuters have different issues to deal with.
Aside from needing all the anti-theft bike gear we can find, we also deal with an entirely different set of injuries. Sure, sometimes they’re more annoying than they are debilitating, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept them as a necessary evil!
Here are seven of the most irritating commuter pain points and some tips on how to deal with them:
1. Problem: Dirt in your Eyes
Do you know how much grit gets kicked up by your car tires? We do, because it all winds up under our contact lenses. Sunny days are easy: slap on the Ray-Bans and ride. But at night, or in pouring rain, we look super questionable wearing shades.
Solution: Although we may regret saying this, head to your local hipster hangout and grab some clear tortoiseshell frames for the commute. Look, we’re not thrilled by it either, but sometimes you have to go for function over form, so if anyone asks, just say that Fortified gave you permission to wear fake glasses.
2. Problem: Ankle Scrapes
Daily commuters go through weird calisthenics on the bike to avoid road hazards – sometimes we’re going to scrape a leg on the gears. This injury is super minor, but the accompanying wardrobe damage hurts!
Solution: Roll up the leg of those $100 suit pants and pack a washcloth to scrub grease off your leg. Scrapes will heal; your reputation is harder to fix, so roll down the pant leg after you’re cleaned up and pretend like nothing happened.
3. Problem: Chafing
Your fresh new jeans look sleek under your daily work wear – but they’re not exactly made for cycling, are they? All the chamois cream in the world isn’t going to fix this.
Solution: Bike shorts! Middle-distance commuters sneak our nicer skivvies in to work in a bag, then change in the bathroom at the office.
4. Problem: Shin Bruises
We spend more time walking our bikes than sport cyclists do – a consequence of rotten traffic, inconveniently placed bike racks, and all-too-many trips to the coffee shop. This means we’re especially prone to painful shin-bangs on the pedals. This is also a problem for to anyone who spins their pedals backwards for better kickoff after a red-light stop.
Solution: Get softer pedals? Honestly, most of us are just resigned to looking like we trip and fall a lot. At least in winter we’ve got long pants to cushion the blow.
5. Problem: Backaches
As if sitting in a desk chair all day isn’t bad enough … some days your back hurts as soon as you get off the bike! The upright bikes most commuters ride to work can actually be harder on the back than a bent-over road bike.
Solution: Watch that posture! Check to see if your spine is sagging or arching as you ride. Keep your core tight and your tailbone tucked forward for instant relief. If your bike’s still causing you pain, check with your local bike shop to see if it needs some seat or handlebar adjustments. Sometimes an inch here and there can make a world of difference.
6. Problem: Aching Wrists
Between the bike ride to work and all those hours logged at the keyboard, you’re starting to get cramps … and wrist braces are not the most stylish office accessory.
Solution: City riders: don’t stress-grip your handlebars! We know, traffic is crazy and you’re late and some angry driver just splashed mud on your jeans so they could hit a red light faster… relax. Keep a loose grip and your wrists will thank you. If you can’t stop clutching the brakes like they’re running away from you, try riding with some padded gloves to at least ease out the pressure points.
7. Problem: Knee Twinges
A lot of us commuters like the extra control higher gears give us in traffic – but it’s tough on our knees to be pushing that hard all the time. This sort of ache builds up gradually, so if you’re hurting, chances are you’ve been overdoing it for a while.
Solution: When you have a long stretch between red lights, drop a gear and spin out faster rather than pedaling harder. Wide, treaded pedals can help keep your feet from slipping around as you do this, even if you’re in smooth-soled work shoes.
We know we haven’t listed them all … share your daily-cycling pains and irritations in the comment section below! Keep reading our blog for more articles and tips on the city cycling life.