Getting Older: Coming To Grips With My Age

Getting Older Requires New Postures

I’m considered an older athlete. Two years ago I suffered a temporarily disabling lower back injury the result of cumulative micro trauma and one bad lift while moving furniture. Normally I would take this in stride; rest, get chiropractic care, rehab, etc. The problem was that I had big plans for the upcoming several months. I was preregistered to race 3 triathlons, one of which was a focus race, Ironman 70.3, St. George, Utah.

Once I was able to move and get off the floor I resumed my training. I was able to get through the first race, but my back pain was with me, although it was manageable. The odd thing was that I was most uncomfortable on my bike. This was distressing because the bike is my strongest portion of a swim, bike and run event.

I continued to train and continued to be uncomfortable on my bicycle. Less than 10 days before my focus race my back finally said, “ Enough! I’m done!”.

Following this last straw episode I sought professional guidance from my good friend and former professional cyclist, Derin Stockton.  We looked at my position and I explained my issues. We came up with a compromise of what would be ideal and what I could tolerate. Although this was a great step in the right direction, I would still suffer from intermittent lower back cramping with high exertion.

Then about a month ago a friend of mine asked me some advise regarding his triathlon bike. He wound up leaving it with me and I took it for a few rides. All I did was change pedals and did not make one other adjustment. From the first pedal stroke I felt more comfortable. As I got more confident I pushed it harder and harder trying to reproduce the backache I would get on my road bike with similar exertion. To my happy surprise the backache never came.

This bit of serendipity enlightened me.

I had been living in a fantasy world. I had raced bikes at the amateur level for 10 years until I was 38. In those races I would be “in the drops” 90% of the time, going around in circles averaging 28 MPH. Since retiring from racing, I never ride in the drops, nor do I ride 28 MPH average. I am no longer in my twenties or thirties. My body has changed. I can still pile on the self-abuse but my mechanics have changed. My new position is much more upright. I ride much closer to my bars and my saddle height has dropped.

I used to laugh to myself when we would pass “older” riders that looked like they were positioned like the “Wicked Witch of the West” posture while riding. Now I can relate. The important point is that they are still out riding.

Lastly, I am now the happy new owner of my friend’s triathlon bike.