BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Here's a heads up on a somewhat related matter.

Women for whom cycling represents a good portion of their overall exercise are at a higher than average risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia. (which have the result of weakening the bones....)

The article I read on it said that it results from the relatively high activity but non-weight bearing charaterisics of cycling.

The article I read (and the MDs Ihave subsequently consulted on the matter) recommend that women who ride lot stand for a portion of every ride (mimics a weight bearing activity) and/or engage in a weight bearing exercise in addition to their cycling activity.

That risk, while not as great, applies to men too.

Sounds like the first doctor's recommendation for riding a fixie...

what does "alot" mean. i ride alot compared to the average american, but don't ride alot compared to people who race/train, etc, many of which are my friends.

+1 on being careful.

I'm now three months downstream of landing in a West View snowbank, but I get hourly reminders that if I'd been paying attention, or thought to note that I was approaching the hump in the street I'd seen earlier that day, maybe I wouldn't be in the fix I'm in now.

Last week, I wasn't doored -- the guy was too far off the road to cause me real trouble -- but if he'd been three feet to the left, I might've taken another flight. Just didn't see it coming, was thinking about something else.

So easy to get complacent.

You're fine Erok. It's more towards riders who grew up riding competitively than anything else. I certainly worry abut it to some degree as I'm sort of in that group who spent their teen years on the bike, but I'm yet to have a bone scan done.

http://urbanvelo.org/la-times-reports-on-bone-loss-risk-for-cyclists/

meh, Brad beat me to posting the article I was thinking of.

Take your calcium supplements Steevo!

what does "alot" mean. i ride alot compared to the average american, but don't ride alot compared to people who race/train, etc, many of which are my friends.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/is-bicycling-bad-for-your-bones/

"A lot" simply has to do with the portion of your exercise regimen/accomplishment is weight bearing vs. non-weight bearing. Cycling gets the blood flowing pretty good, but for most people is non-weight bearing. As the blood pumps through the body it both carries nutrients to key organs and leaches key nutrients/minerals from key organs, including bone marrow. People who ride a lot -- defined as people who cycle as their exclusive or primary source of physical activity, or people who ride a lot -- many hours - at one time, are at risk of "consuming" relatively more bone supporting nutrients than they are consuming/absorbing. Interestingly, calcium is absorbed best in concert with Vitamin D. The absorption of Vitamin D from sunlight is one of three primary ways the body collects Vitamin D. Yet people living in northern climes (identified as north of 40 degrees latitude and which just barely includes us) rarely get enough useful Vitamin D from sunlight in the winter, due to reduced exposure, and the relative strength of the sunlight that reaches us. The use of sunscreen also limits the ability of the skin to absorb Vitamin D. If in doubt, factor in more weight bearing activity -- which includes walking - to keep the bones strong. As an aside, I wonder if the exertion of riding up all the hills in Pittsburgh increases the depletion rate (by getting the blood flowing that much harder) or mimics weight bearing exercise?

As an aside, I wonder if the exertion of riding up all the hills in Pittsburgh increases the depletion rate (by getting the blood flowing that much harder) or mimics weight bearing exercise?

Speaking as a person who cycles as his primary source of physical activity, and who rides for many hours at a time, I bloody well hope it mimics weight-bearing exercise.

A google search of cycling and osteoporosis will yield dozens of hits. I chose to provide a linke to just one here. Not necessarily the best, but it provides most of the relevant information

http://cyclingnutrition.blogspot.com/2007/11/cycling-and-osteoporosis.html

I used to bike a lot, not so many miles these days, but I'm also lactose intolerant, so I probably don't get as much calcium as I should. I started training for a marathon maybe 3 or so years back. I got up to the point where I was running 10-14 miles a day, following closely a training schedule provided by a professional coach, when I developed a stress fracture in my tibia and had to stop running. I wonder if the cycling had anything to do with that. Maybe I should start jogging to work one day a week...

Mountain biking is a more load bearing form of cycling, so mix it up a bit and head through the park on the way to work! Any unpaved surface can help put some pressure on the lower back and hips. Heck, most Pittsburgh roads probably qualify as an off-road experience.

i'll just make sure to hit a few potholes on the way home today

I'm compensating by weighing probably 30% more than I really should. Now I feel better about that.

If in doubt, factor in more weight bearing activity -- which includes walking - to keep the bones strong.

Just be sure to get a pinch flat or two from time to time, not have tools or spares, and so have to walk the bike home.

what does "alot" mean

It's not even a word. That bothers me a lot.

Just be sure to get a pinch flat or two from time to time, not have tools or spares, and so have to walk the bike home.

No problem there, just ride along Second Ave.

You're also at risk if you grew up here because we get relatively little sunlight.

Off road cycling is good but shock loading is best. Running, jumping rope etc. I suppose that's a good argument for 'cross.

All that said, I almost surely have bone density issues. It's actually something I need to track down in the next few weeks before I end up in the ER again. (disc generation=pinched nerve)

@joe: I like this alot

@ chris Mayhew All that said, I almost surely have bone density issues. It's actually something I need to track down in the next few weeks before I end up in the ER again. (disc generation=pinched nerve)

Some of that might be lack of abs exercises - something bike folks have to watch too.

Perhaps I shall name my steed "Alot".