Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Exit Stage Left on 06 November, 2010, 06:01:03 pm

Title: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 06 November, 2010, 06:01:03 pm
I've only had severe bruising, having been knocked off, and mild achilles tendonitis. No persistent problems. One bloke did tell me of a condition that caused a certain amount of marital stress which lasted for 3 months.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Feline on 06 November, 2010, 06:06:30 pm
I've only had severe bruising, having been knocked off, and mild achilles tendonitis. No persistent problems. One bloke did tell me of a condition that caused a certain amount of marital stress which lasted for 3 months.

That is deeply worrying!
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: simonp on 07 November, 2010, 06:20:17 pm
Numb hands for 3 months

Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: clifftaylor on 07 November, 2010, 06:23:38 pm
This thread is useless etc etc
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Gus on 07 November, 2010, 07:03:05 pm
I bailed out after 500 km, due to psychic problems, but I don't think it was psychotic.
I didn't see weird things except exhausted riders.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ivo on 07 November, 2010, 08:02:46 pm
No problems lasting more than a few days (after I caught up on sleep). So I miss the 'none' option in the poll.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: valkyrie on 07 November, 2010, 08:09:05 pm
Numb hands and feet lasted from August to about Christmas that year. My neck failed on the last day but got better pretty quickly - I just needed a decent sleep to give the muscles a chance to rest. No psychotic episodes, though during the second night (just before the secret control) I was seeing double so badly that although I knew there were only two bikes in front of me I could see four and I wasn't sure which two to follow.

Last year's Eightsome Reel had no adverse effects at all. This year's HBKH has given me the numb hands and feet again. :(
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: vorsprung on 07 November, 2010, 09:18:01 pm
I had a knee problem that started two days after PBP

During the event my knees were fine, they felt a bit "used" and I put voltarol on them.  Then I guess I over did it because of the pain killers

I ignored it for a few weeks, it got worse, then I rested it for a month and was fine
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: dasmoth on 07 November, 2010, 09:36:21 pm
Are you ever going to allow those of us who haven't PBPed before to see the results?

Or is this an initiates only thing?
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 07 November, 2010, 10:36:10 pm
Are you ever going to allow those of us who haven't PBPed before to see the results?

Or is this an initiates only thing?

I'll let it get to a decent sample size and then show it. It may never rise to a significant sample though, as I may have a skewed view due to actively seeking stories in researching the nature of long rides. I will however change the title to PBP and other 1,000+ rides.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: border-rider on 07 November, 2010, 10:38:53 pm
Useful that you've included the "none" option :)

Some measure of response rate is good.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ian H on 07 November, 2010, 10:39:29 pm
What about twisting your ankle walking into a control and finishing with an increasingly swollen and painful joint? (It was worse on the ride back to Le Havre the following day).
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: JStone on 07 November, 2010, 10:50:13 pm
Still have two partly numb toes after PBP07 - shoes were probably a bit tight.

Outside the scope of this survey - but it would be interesting to know the number & extent of injuries suffered over the same period by people not riding PBP.
Title: Re: PBP injuries Poll.
Post by: simonp on 07 November, 2010, 10:50:31 pm
My main issue was the hands.  But I also had knee pain when stopped at controls, sitting in chairs, after about 3 days.

Though this went away quite quickly after the event, I might connect it with the fact I seem to have more knee pain nowadays than I used to.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: geraldc on 07 November, 2010, 11:00:24 pm
I had numbness in little fingers and little toes after LEL. Feeling in the little finger came back after a week, little toes came back after about a month.
Riding through the night in the pouring rain, left me with wet bottom related chafing (hooray for Sudocrem!).
On the BCM 600, I didn't get enough sleep the week before, and I started hallucinating on the ride, so I guess that's a psychotic episode.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ian H on 07 November, 2010, 11:09:03 pm
...I started hallucinating on the ride, so I guess that's a psychotic episode.

I used to hallucinate: boxes of vegetables (occasionally green plastic garden tools) in neat rows on the verge; once, Chinese dragons tossing their heads, each dragon dissolving into several as I approached (wind-blown trees if you wish to know). All this seemed to stop around 1998. Nowadays I just get tired.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: mattc on 07 November, 2010, 11:31:42 pm
How does one decide which is "... the most serious" ?  :-X
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Feline on 07 November, 2010, 11:40:21 pm
How does one decide which is "... the most serious" ?  :-X

Most people would rate genital numbness pretty high on the list LOL
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 07 November, 2010, 11:41:42 pm
How does one decide which is "... the most serious" ?  :-X

It's the one that comes to mind first, I could have allowed multiple votes, but that would have skewed the votes towards nature's self dramatists.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: geraldc on 07 November, 2010, 11:50:04 pm
How does one decide which is "... the most serious" ?  :-X

Most people would rate genital numbness pretty high on the list LOL

Yes, but it doesn't stop you completing the ride...
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ray 6701 on 08 November, 2010, 12:44:34 am
I've voted none, however I did have slightly tender achilles tendons & a tingling sensation in my left middle toe for about 3 weeks after my 1400 end2end.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Fixedwheelnut on 08 November, 2010, 01:14:21 am
Worst was Achilles trouble after PBP 2003 and again the cause of my only DNF the New Forest 1000 at 750km

 Had numb hands after PBP 2003 as well but Achilles was worse.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: arvid on 08 November, 2010, 04:34:27 am
I am a cheater (recumbent rider), and the worst suffering I had was due to an aphthous ulcer in the two weeks after Mille Miglia.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: border-rider on 08 November, 2010, 08:39:34 am
Numb fingertips after LEL 2001 for a couple of months; same after the Mile Cymru this year (just the middle finger tip of one hand).  That's the result of riding a bike I only finished building the day before.

Other LELs and PBPs have been OK.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Greenbank on 08 November, 2010, 09:51:51 am
Nothing of note after LEL 2009:-

Total injuries:

One small (2mm x 3mm) blister on inside of left thumb.
Sore palms of hands but fading quickly.
Lips slightly cracked due to the hailstorm outside Sleaford.

That's it. Knees fine, legs fine, no numbness. That bike must fit me.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Paul D on 08 November, 2010, 10:30:53 am
My knees always ache a bit each morning from day 3 onwards, but get better after and hour or so.

My tip for PBP first-timers: a 1300k in May was good training to ensure I had an injury free 1000k in July. ;)
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Needham-matt on 08 November, 2010, 10:58:16 am
Numb feet which gradually dissipated over 4/5 weeks
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: mattc on 08 November, 2010, 11:21:57 am
My tip for PBP first-timers: a 1300k in May was good training to ensure I had an injury free 1000k in July.

Sadly there isn't a poll option for inflamed ego           ;)
Title: Re: PBP injuries Poll.
Post by: vorsprung on 08 November, 2010, 11:44:28 am
My main issue was the hands.  But I also had knee pain when stopped at controls, sitting in chairs, after about 3 days.

Though this went away quite quickly after the event, I might connect it with the fact I seem to have more knee pain nowadays than I used to.


You had a cold at the start too
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ian H on 08 November, 2010, 12:28:23 pm
Numb feet which gradually dissipated over 4/5 weeks

There's nothing worse than dissipated feet.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 08 November, 2010, 12:41:59 pm
Numb feet which gradually dissipated over 4/5 weeks

There's nothing worse than dissipated feet.

Are you sure?

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5157465097_e37563d6ca_m.jpg)

Title: Re: PBP injuries Poll.
Post by: simonp on 08 November, 2010, 12:49:28 pm
My main issue was the hands.  But I also had knee pain when stopped at controls, sitting in chairs, after about 3 days.

Though this went away quite quickly after the event, I might connect it with the fact I seem to have more knee pain nowadays than I used to.


You had a cold at the start too

Nah, just a sore throat.  It went away about 2h before the off. :)
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: sekhem on 08 November, 2010, 09:10:49 pm
I've never experienced saddle sores before - including on 600K's.  The issue on a recent 1200K was so severe I ended up over dosing on topical lidocaine and ibuprophen (yes, you absorb lidocaine thru the skin- especially when it's applied near mucus membranes and other tender parts).  On the third day I was hallucinating so severely I was completely loony toons and had to stop for for almost 3 hrs to get back in my body.  The hallucinations lasted for several days afterwards.  Also ended up w/ mild accute kidney damage from the ibuprophen which created other issues both on the ride and several days afterwards.  The advice to mediate pain issues early and often clearly needs to be replaced with mediate wisely!
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Ivo on 08 November, 2010, 10:05:29 pm
I did once pack at a 1200 due to a shoulder injury. But that injury was not caused by riding the 1200 but was (and is) work related. Same for some writst troubles I have ocassionally (bandaging them is usually enough), caused by work. So I can safely state that work is a larger hasard to your health as cycling 1000+km.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: scottlington on 09 November, 2010, 05:01:58 pm
Knee injury sustained on LEL 2009 meant pretty much the rest of the year off the bike (one or two short rides). Came back strong in 2010 only to sustain an achilles injury on MC1K. This was't quite so bad although it did keep me off the bike for a while and I can still feel a little tightness even now if I push it.

So, 2 1000K+ events, two injuries. Wonder what will come of PBP?  ;D
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: hellymedic on 09 November, 2010, 06:12:18 pm
Left ulnar nerve damage (post Great Eastern 1000k - never did PBP) had mostly resolved in 6 months but probably was permanent.

Genital numbness is not the same as erectile dysfunction. Methinks you should ask about ED discreetly...
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 09 November, 2010, 06:20:11 pm
Left ulnar nerve damage (post Great Eastern 1000k - never did PBP) had mostly resolved in 6 months but probably was permanent.

Genital numbness is not the same as erectile dysfunction. Methinks you should ask about ED discreetly...

You just did Helen. Votes are up to 43, I'll show the results at 50, which is a fairly small sample.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Pete Mas on 12 November, 2010, 04:01:57 pm
Had numb fingers after PBP07, using steel bike with straight bars and cork grips. Lasted about 4 months. Could only play guitar using two fingers (and thumb) chords.

No such problems on LEL or Mille Miglia. I  ride a Carbon Specialized Roubaix now and the handlebars dont transmit vibrations as much.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: leeg on 13 November, 2010, 07:24:47 am
Two days after LEL 09 I started to get pain in my left shin.  If felt as if something were rubbing/grinding against the shin bone whenever I moved my foot.  Shin splints?  Walking was very painful for a week or two.  No lasting damage.
 
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Simonb on 14 November, 2010, 08:21:58 pm
Tingling toes for a couple of months afterwards. New shoes.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: frankly frankie on 15 November, 2010, 10:50:31 pm
Genital numbness is not the same as erectile dysfunction. Methinks you should ask about ED discreetly...

It's a plus ... isn't it?
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 16 November, 2010, 09:26:54 am
Genital numbness is not the same as erectile dysfunction. Methinks you should ask about ED discreetly...

It's a plus ... isn't it?

Ir depends what sort of a problem you had before the ride. A PBP marketing opportunity perhaps.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 16 November, 2010, 04:46:20 pm
The voting has reached 50, which is not a big enough number to attach a great deal of significance, but a bit better than anecdotes. Bear in mind that many will have had multiple problems, such as numb hands and numb feet. I've opened up the results to everyone. So feel free to comment on the vote. Would it be useful to open up the poll to multiple voting so as to include secondary complaints?
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: GrahamG on 17 November, 2010, 02:13:41 pm
Numb feet, achilles, knee - that's in my list for 200's! (I guess I'd better 'HTFU'...)
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Chris S on 17 November, 2010, 02:25:52 pm
I don't qualify to vote - but ISTR stomach problems were a major cause of DNF last time out.
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: andrew_s on 04 December, 2010, 03:06:48 pm
My big toe nail fell off 2 or 3 weeks after, growing back at the normal rate. Due to a toes down climbing style and shoes not tight enough to prevent my feet slipping forwards a bit. Of less significance than numb feet from tighter shoes may have been.

In the absence of an "other" category, I voted "none"
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: alexb on 13 December, 2010, 11:27:19 pm
Tendinitis in the right knee which then aggravated the left knee leaving me unable to walk without considerable pain and unable to ride at any more than about 25kph in a very low gear. This caused me to bail at 320km, but then had to ride another 100km to meet my wife for a lift back.

Then the gearbox in the car failed, not the best of holidays...
Title: Re: PBP (and other 1,000 km+ rides) injuries Poll.
Post by: Datameister on 14 December, 2010, 01:54:20 pm
I've voted none, however I did have slightly tender achilles tendons & a tingling sensation in my left middle toe for about 3 weeks after my 1400 end2end.

I seem to recall a certain inability to sit down comfortably north of Inverness too.

As for ED, I'm not up for talking about that