Iain Treloar tests out a sports-oriented solution to chronic pain. You’re probably aware of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machines from one of two places: infomercials, where they promise six-pack abs from no more activity than sitting on the couch, and therapeutic applications, such as
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When confronted with back pain, the only way forward is to go back to basics, finds Iain Treloar. For the first hour or two of a ride, all seems well. Then, like a thread unraveling from a jumper, the first ache appears and soon enough I’m undone. The early twinge spreads from the mid-back and
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Iain Treloar searches for the perfect fit for the perfectly imperfect. With a heavy heart and aching body, I rode toward the clinic. As my pedals turned over, I mulled over my physical flaws; pronounced scoliosis that developed in my childhood, poorly-knit broken ribs and a chest covered in a patchwork of scars, knee pain.
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It’s hard to beat lunges for a lower-body warm up. Simon Vincett suggests this set you can do before any ride. The basic lunge is a superb exercise for warming up the major cycling muscles of the thighs and buttocks. With a few lunge variations as well, you can wake up the supporting muscles too, priming
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Stand tall and supported and ready for action with a solid core. Simon Vincett suggests these exercises. Just as aerobic exercise is important for cardiovascular health and a resistance workout is key for maintaining bone density, core-muscle strengthening is vital to provide a solid foundation in your torso. It’s from this strong base that your
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David Heatley offers nutrition advice to help you go the distance. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to push yourself to tackle longer rides, and knowing what and how much to eat and drink before, during and after a big ride will help you reach your full potential. Fat and carbohydrates
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Rhiannon Riches finds low vision does not have to mean the end of adventure – it can be the start. Sharing elbow room around a table in the meal tent on the RACV Great Victorian Bike Ride, it was hard not to notice the rider sitting across from me peering intently at his mobile phone;
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As the weather heats up, staying well hydrated is the key to staying on your bike. Melissa Heagney finds out how to keep your fluids up during summer. Knowing how to keep your energy levels up when you’re riding your bike has become second nature to Rebecca Hay. It’s not just because the 44-year-old is an accredited Sports Dietitian—she’s also
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After a hard ride you probably feel like complete rest but a bit more low-intensity activity will make you feel better in the long run. Simon Vincett explains. With the peak riding season upon us, you might as well make the most of your efforts. That’s what active recovery offers, with the added benefit of
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Warmer weather can be a trying time for asthma sufferers. Melissa Heagney finds out how to survive when the pollen count is high. Associate Professor Ian Charlton is a keen rider. The General Practitioner, and National Asthma Council of Australia spokesman, will often do house calls near his home in the NSW Central Coast on two wheels. However,
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