Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Rider pain

> how much pain do you endure for the love of your sport?

Not that much really. I've whine more on slow training rides than I do
cruising down the trail on a 100.  Now...2 days later I'm not so much in
pain, as weak... my knees may buckle as I go down stairs....so I go down
backwards...possibly spreading my legs out as if both had casts on
according to the level of stiffness. >g< Ever gone down a hill backwards
with a wheel barrow? (My neighbors must wonder about me)

Best advice is fix something that is bothering you immediately.  Don't
put it off. 

If your knees hurt...move your stirrups up...or down...just move them.  

If your ankles hurt and you ride a western type saddle, oil the leathers
and always keep those stirrups turned with an ax handle through them when
you're not riding.

If the stirrup leather buckle under your knee hurts, move it.  If it's
riveted to the fender, *find* a way to move it. 

If the girth buckle hurts your leg, get a shorter one.  

If your pants rub, try tighter ones. 

If the girth knot is under your knee, run it through the cinch, then up
to the back ring to tie it.

If your feet hurt, get a deeper stirrup and wear better running shoes.

If your back hurts, get a saddle that puts you over your feet so you're
not constantly leaning forward.

If your neck hurts, and you've been in the mountains, take the visor off
your helmet. You're leaning your head back too far to see up ahead.

You don't have to ride with pain that's avoidable.  Fix it.  Even when
you're riding without pain you're going to be good and sore later.  I
like it.  Makes me know I've done something.

Ride a horse that enjoys it as much as you do so you don't have to
squeeze him for every stride.

Fifty is *not* twice as bad as 25.  The third loop is the only
difference, (if there's 4). The third one is when you're really tired. 
The fourth is easy as pie. :-)  100's are not twice as bad as 50.  You
have to hurry so much all day to get as far as possible before dark that
the clock seems to be going *too* fast.  Then it's suddenly dark and you
just kick back and relax.  That's when it's fun. 

Angie

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