Had an off road OTB on a techy section of trail on gravel bike last thu. Having had cracked, bruised, and broken ribs previously, I’m 90% sure I have either bruised or cracked this time.
The first few days were very sore, easing a bit now. Similarly getting into and out of bed was very sore, now just quite sore. Coughing hurts.
I went to the pool on Monday, and gave up after 2 lengths (I normally do 100, so 2.5k).
I went on my Wattbike yesterday for an hour, it was fine as long as I didn’t stand, sprint or cough, and I think I was a bit sore for the rest of the day compared to if I hadn’t done it, probably.
its a lovely sunny morning and I’m itching to get out for a road/gravel ride to and around the nearby windfarm, my sensible head is saying give it a rest and let things ease off, maybe do some gentle low intensity Wattbike stuff for the next week, by which time it’ll be 2 weeks post injury.
i was kinda setting up to go out and mentioned to my neighbour on the morning dog walk earlier, she’s a nurse and keen and able runner, and was very much in the no camp, due risk of further injury in the unlikely event of a tumble, or more likely delaying recovery by straining it on climbs etc.
What are the views ? I’m nearly 60 so not a quick healing youngster !
Patience, young padowan.
If it's that painful then just wait it out a bit.
Thanks Colin, I reckoned you’d say that, and you are not wrong I’m sure !
Wanting to keep bike fitness up as have the annual Strathaven 50 in just over 3 weeks, think it should maybe be Wattbike for the next while of prep..
From experience they can't be that bad if you are even thinking about.
I've bruised my ribs a few times and it's some of the worst pain I've had. Riding a bike wasn't top of my list of things to do - trying not to move at all was! 🙂
Yeah i think I’d listen to your friend, patience is key.
I absolutely know that aint what you want to hear though.
^^ the tumble was early on a 2 hr loop, and only started to get properly sore about 15 mins after coming off. An hour or so later at end of ride it was proper sore and by the time I’d driven an hour home I could hardly get bike out of car. Weekend was very sore and sleep deprived, Monday and tue saw beginning of pain reduction
for me ( and its not my medical field at all) would be "exercise within the limits of the pain" so a gentle pootle
Wattbike and dog walking . Don't watch any comedy and no,you do not need any comfort shopping 😉 🤣 🤣
Hope with rest it heals quick. 👍
In my experience of these things, your body will tense up immediately after the fall, almost like it's holding the injury in place. After a while, it relaxes a bit and then the freedom to move is when it begins to hurt.
Take your retirement as a win. Even with a short break you've plenty of free time to recover a wee bit of fitness, and, in any case, time not exercising is time getting stronger.
Is op the same person who crashed their ebike shortly after getting it? Need to ride within your limits fella! 🙂
I broke ribs at BPW a while ago, you've just got to do what your body tells you. Give it a couple of weeks rest, then if breathing heavily hurts, take the rides easier.
And don't. Ever. Sneeze!
Is op the same person who crashed their ebike shortly after getting it? Need to ride within your limits fella! 🙂
indeed 🤪. You have a good memory !
Yeah, that was back in summer 19, probably led to my eventual move away from mtbs, and e-bikes. I now have 2 gravel bikes and a road bike and ride pretty tame stuff. The fall last week was an unfortunate muddy puddle across a single track trail that looked shallow…
Yeah, I remember being gutted for you, you'd been all keen to get out on the eeb. 6 years ago! Blimey 😳
Take it easy anyway 🙂
I'd stick to a no gnarr pootle on smooth tarmac or very smooth hardpack.
Is it not more about risk assessment, if they are cracked and you fall over/off, more danger of internal damage, hence usual advise is not to ride! Steady static maybe Ok But IAMNADr. You can enjoy the sunshine in other ways, having a rest from cycling is a mental** exercise, you will survive not riding....probably;)
**Once you've worked that out let us know:)
Thanks all, have spent a couple of hours on very gentle garden tidying and going for dog walk shortly. Will get on the Wattbike for an hour later.
I've cracked ribs before but didn't realise until I went to a comedy club in the evening. That was sore.
IIRC it was a few days until I could ride on the road gently, and about 1-2 weeks before things improved enough to offroad. However, I was in my late 20's when this happened...make of that what you will.
if it were me, I’d be taking it gently until I could stand up and do some effort on the indoor bike.
