Cycling is a great cardiovascular exercise and can help increase muscle strength, however, it’s important to make sure you’re taking the right precautions to prevent injury. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you remain safe and injury free while cycling this summer.
- Wear an approved bicycle helmet at all times while cycling.
- Many overuse injuries result from attempting to do too much, too soon. Start with short rides and gradually increase in time. For example, start with 20 minute ride and increase by 5-10 minutes each time.
- If you experience lower back pain, take time to rest and stretch your back and hips.
- Knee pain often stems from improper setup on the bike.
- Riding with the saddle too low places pressure on the knee and can cause pain at the front of the knee.
- Riding with the saddle too high causes pressure on the knee and can cause pain behind the knee.
- Improper cleat adjustment causes the knee to track incorrectly and can cause pain on the side of the knee.
- Neck pain can result from riding with the handlebars too low as it causes the rider to hyperextend and look up to see what’s ahead.
- Wrist pain can result from the handlebar position forcing the rider to lean unnaturally.
