A few years ago, an Outside magazine article about bone health caught my eye. The article begins with a story about a fit middle aged cycling enthusiast who had had borderline osteoporosis.
Depending on your activity level, a calcium supplement may help keep your bones strong.
And then the warning:
If you maintain your fitness level solely through non-impact sports like cycling and swimming, you could be at risk for waking up at age 50 with the bones of a person 20 years older.
…bones can deteriorate when not subjected to the rigors of load-bearing activities such as running or lifting weights.
Besides the fluids and sodium we lose while hammering the pavement, pumping iron, or playing a pickup game, an additional 120 milligrams or so of calcium is sweated out during every hour spent exercising. And unless you replace that missing calcium with the right foods, it ain’t coming back. So even those who go for high-impact sports like skiing and running can face a calcium deficit–and an increased potential for broken bones.
In subsequent conversations with other and older cyclists, I began to hear stories about cycling friends of friends who are having difficult battles with osteoporosis.
Outside offers a two-pronged approach to keeping your bones fit here.
The print version of yesterday's Wall Street Journal (Tuesday October 9, 2007, page D 1) has an article describing an emerging trend that the number of senior athletes (defined as athletes over 40) is growing, and so is interest in sports medicine tailored for these athletes.
It must be hell to be the mate of a cycling addict. Things that are hugely important like skinny tires, high tech toys, and the need for speed all threaten our closest relationships.
As discussed in other posts, evidence shows that fitness programs that rely heavily on non-impact sports like cycling can adversely affect bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Cross training that incorporates weight lifting, resistance training, and activities like jogging that jar the skeletal system are an essential component of a long-term health program, especially for athletes in their…
Just ask Floyd: This stuff is so powerful it makes DNA doping look low tech. During the 2006 Tour de France doping scandal involving Floyd Landis, I blogged about how it's common knowledge that Jack Daniels is a performance enhancing drug. I've been on the lookout for custom formulations for recreational athletes ever since. I mean, who amongst us wouldn't…
This isn't a regional ride, but the cycling enthusiast seizes the opportunity to spin whenever it arises, even when the location happens to be the trailing edge of a frontal system strong enough to blow several states on a visit with the Wizard of Oz.
Given the recent weather, and predictions of a wet, La Niña year, check out this training advice from PezCycling News about the importance of recovery and doing nothing for a while. A healthy cycling / fitness obsession includes taking time off.
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