Tag Archives: bikepilgrim.com

What is your pain threshold?

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There is a part of me that does not want to write on this subject.  It’s not that I’m embarrassed that I hurt, feel it’s unmanly to admit it or think people don’t care.   As an ambassador for all things bike I really do not want to put anything out there that is a negative reflection on riding, and the occasional (perhaps daily) truth is that riding a bike can beat your body.  As with any pain in life you can learn from it and become strong, or let it own you.

Years of riding have allowed me to become familiar with the “normal” gripes my body has.  Each ride starts with pain.  It almost always starts in my shoulder and then moves to my knee, groin, or lower right back.  Occasionally I have some issues in my Achilles or foot.  Just for good measure and equally annoying itch from my kit or feeling the helmet is too tight or loose or pressing mercilessly on my head.  I do not think I have ever been on a ride where some of these do not happen.  

What an amazing testimonial for getting on a bike.  If that was the end of the story I’m sure I would have abandoned the bike years ago.  However, I discovered something along the way.  Almost every pain is mental.  If I keep spinning and don’t think about it, it goes away.  Yes, it is often immediately replaced with one of the other woeful feelings, but that also soon disappears.  Some rides it is only 5-10 minutes to work through the issues, other days it seems to last over an hour.  If I ride for over an hour, I will hit a stretch where the only issues are my lungs burning from the effort or my legs searing in pain.  Even when that happens if I switch gears I can often move the sensation to another muscle group.

It has almost become a game for me.  OK, this is no fun, lets see if I can make something else hurt that will be a little easy to deal with.  One of the great joys of riding a bike is the ability to learn how much your body can endure.   When new to the sport it is often difficult to tell the difference between being sore and being in pain.  If your body is anything like mine there are all sorts of parts that I “feel”.   

I would not recommend pushing hard through everything.  I’ve been down that road this year.  During the 24 hours in the Old Pueblo I had a new sensation in my Achilles. It was a strain I had never felt before and I ignored it for the race and paid for it for months to come.  At the time I was riding every day and was unwilling to take any time off.  My take away is that if you have known pain, and have worked it out before, you are likely able to do so on each ride.  If I discover completely new sensations, I will back off.  It is a balancing act as my mind likes to do whatever it can to slow me down and learning the difference takes time and an understanding and study of your body.

The best tricks I have learned for breaking through the pain barrier is to be one with the pain,  breath deep into the area of discomfort and be active.  If you resist the pain it only will become stronger.  Allow it to flow through you and move onto the next and hopefully less annoying pain.   Deep breathing through the nose with the mouth closed while focusing on the area that is bothersome is how I work through most pain.  Feel it in the abdomen as the chest should not distend on inhale. In your minds eye focus on the pain, see the air entering the area and releasing the pain like a cool breeze blowing the irritation away.  Above all, stay active.  It is far better to be sore than in pain.

This post is the result of watching my son, Samuel, ride through a Migrane for 20 plus miles during a team practice.  As we were ending the ride and he said it was by far the worst experience he has experienced on a bike.  I said, “the only good thing I can say at this time is if you are able to push through this, there is really no limit to what you can do”.  On the next ride, and every practice since, he has been a completely different rider.  He has been staying with the team and even pushing the pace on Mt. Lemmon and A Mountain.  He said to me on one ride as our lungs and legs  were searing”Papa, after experienceing that pain, I know what I’m dealing with now is temporary”.

Barrio Trails

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Barrio Trails, One of central Tucson’s hidden bicycle gems is located in the San Antonio neighborhood South Of Broadway and a few blocks East of Park.

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Originally the vision of Rocky Serna it existed as an unauthorized BMX park that sat on the Arroyo Chico. At the time it was built it was the only organized place for catching some huge air and to ride BMX in central Tucson.

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A few years back the U.S. Army corps of Engineers were called in to do a flood control project in the area and this bike hang out was threatened to be demolished. However, due to an incredible turnout from the community Barrio Trails was saved. The original track that was constructed by volunteers was removed during construction, but permission was granted to put in a permanent BMX track.

The flood control work is now completed and work has started to carve out the berms, kickers, rollers and a half mile Mountain Bike Crit course around the entire park. As of august, 2013 it is coming along, but still has room for improvement.

 

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El Grupo Youth Cycling uses Barrio Trails for mountain bike practice. The existing BMX track is the start of the half mile loop. There are four berms that help hone in turning skills. Upon exiting the last turn the trail takes a sharp turn through 3 bollards onto a paved path that drops into the Arroyo Chico. The wash has a sandy bottom( and mud after the rain) that needs to be negotiated with speed in order to climb a steep bank on the other side. Just past the top of the bank is a 2 foot high wire rope fence. The idea is to clear the fence cycle cross style and jump back on the paved track. The Pavement carries you for nearly half the distance of the loop and is the place to make up ground and hammer as hard as you can. At the South-east corner of the park the course takes a hard right back onto the dirt, descends a little hill, crosses a flat straight away, another hill climb and another slightly winding flat that ends with a race to the finish.

Yesterday The El Grupo practice was to ride from the clubhouse to Barrio Trails and then to spend 15 minutes warming up, playing on the BMX track, doing a few laps, working on sections of the trail that may have given the riders trouble in the past. Afterwards the races were on. The race started with a mass start and was 3 laps. The A team went off first to give the B and C teams an opportunity to watch the race from sections that gave them trouble. I rode in the A team race. It was a solid performance, I did not win, but was not last and saw the winner cross the finish line. The B team race had the A team riders pacing the kids after the first lap. I was pleasantly surprised that Samuel came in second. His breakthrough week apparently has impacted his Mountain Biking as well as his road riding.

Throughout the fall El Grupo will be out practicing at Barrio Trails almost every Thursday afternoon at about 4:45-5:45 as they prepare for the High School Mountain Bike League inaugural season. At some point in the near future they will have access to tools and will start to groom the trails. Are you interested in seeing it first hand? Come out and ride or watch the fun.

On a side note.  You can thank me for the rain. It was almost guaranteed when I took my camera without any protection from the elements.

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El Grupo at the UA crit course

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You can expect to see many posts on BikePilgrim.com about El Grupo Youth Cycling.

I have had the joy of riding with these kids for a few years and my son Samuel is starting his second year with the team. I’m hoping that as Samuel moves up to the B and A team I’ll be able to keep pace. Currently, I’m assisting as the Coach of the C squad.

On August 13th our practice was a ride to the UA crit course at the UA Biopark located at Kino Parkway and 36th street. The Biopark is the ideal location for practicing as there is a section where cars have NO access and we have the safe access. As with most rides, El Grupo rides start at the clubhouse at 6th and 6th.

This practice was divided into a few different drills. The A team were practicing for the State team TT and focused on hard 180 degree teams in formation. The others did laps on the crit course. The laps were mellow for the first two turns, picking it up to a 7 out of 10 effort into the third turn and 100% for the final turn and straight away. We rode a total of 10 laps in 104 degree heat, 90 minute practice and back to the clubhouse.

As for the heat, on the way out I saw the Tucson High Football team practicing. If kids can be out playing ball there is no reason you can’t ride a bike. The bonus for us is we have the benefit of a cool (OK, warm… hot) breeze.

A little more about El Grupo form their website.

“Through our programs Team El Grupo & Youth Empowering Youth Outreach, we are getting youth on bikes, and they in turn are teaching, inspiring and empowering other youth to ride, enjoy and love bikes.
Through the use of bicycles, El Grupo’s goals are to…
Enable youth to become life-long bike enthusiasts
Instill personal and social responsibility and leadership skills
Empower youth to set and achieve personal and community goals
Educate and inspire youth to overcome obstacles, both personal and societal
Make riding bikes safer, cooler, and more accessible for those under 18 years of age
We embrace all forms of cycling from road and mountain bike racing to bicycle touring and daily commuting.
El Grupo is developing the next generation of active, healthy, and community-minded cycling enthusiasts and leaders in Tucson.
No special skills or gear are required. The lack of cycling gear should not be a deterrent, as we have access to free or low-cost bicycles, helmets, lights, etc. Through donations from the community, El Grupo provides all bikes, equipment, clothing and gear to youth.”

What is BikePilgrim.com

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For some time I have considered writing a blog, but have found that Facebook was adequate for telling the story I wanted to share and easy to use. Most of this tale has been told with Photos and The Damion Alexander Team Page has over 10,000 images in over 100 albums. Most of my narrative has been about the cycling community in Southern Arizona. Being a part of this community is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have discovered in life. Even though the page is mine, it is not really about me. It is about you. I love the diversity, the politics, the potential for what our community can be. Facebook has been a wonderful platform for sharing photos, but I am going to try and expand into more depth on many of the issues that I see are key to making Tucson a better cycling community.

Why call it BikePilgrim.com? Bike is exactly what it looks like. Most of this blog will deal with Bike related topics. Pilgrim is defined as a person who journeys, especially a long distance, to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. That is a concise summary of what the bike is to me. There is no place I feel more connected to God and the Universe than on a bicycle. Many friends have said on many a Sunday ride that they are in their church. I choose to attend that Church daily.
I’m hoping that many of my riding buddies will contribute to the blog with both ideas and comments. I expect it will be a little raw at first, but look forward to polishing it as we go.