Surprise! Back Pain!

I woke up a week ago with a stiff lower back. The next morning I felt better, and went for a run. By the time I was showered and ready for work, my back would spasm semi-randomly as I walked, causing me to grab a wall, door, whatever, then wait until I could move again. I've never experienced pain quite like this.

It all started the day after my first non-commute road ride in about a month. I have a fairly aggressive geometry on my road bike, but it's never caused me more than a little stress in my upper glutes / lower back. Perhaps it was the cause? Regardless, there was no way I could get back on the bike with the amount of pain I was experiencing. I hobbled through the week, grimacing throughout the Christmas holiday.

On Sunday, I was feeling better. I saddled up again, and went for a 40 mile ride. I took it easy, but could feel every pebble on the road. I rode up tiny little Moss Hill, which is pronounced enough that a town is named for it. Whether on a flat or on a hill, my back was tight. I couldn't get in the drops for more than about a minute. Once home, my back was hurting again and the periodic spasms were back.

Long Straight with Moss Hill in the Distance

And then suddenly, about an hour before bed, something changed. I noticed I wasn't in pain. A little sore, a little stiff, and a bit twingy, but not really in pain. And this morning, it felt even better. So was the ride the cause? The solution? Or just your typical back pain mystery? I think I'm going to find a chiropractor in case I need urgent services in the future.

It's Been Such a Long Time

Today I went out on my road bike for a 20 mile cardio pace spin. Back in the summer, this would not have been newsworthy. But recently, a combination of Houston weather, job and family constraints, and attending Texas Longhorns football games has kept me off my road bike. I've commuted to work several times, which is 30 miles round trip, but hadn't been on my road bike since November 8. That's right -- the same guy that was riding about 100 miles per week for the first half of 2009 has slacked off completely. And to me, that is depressingly newsworthy.


The only way to break the cycle was to get back on the bike. Surprisingly, I felt more than okay on the bike. It was a start-and-stop urban route, and I was pleased to average 17.6 mph. My quads and lungs felt a little weak, but thank goodness for my high intensity commute rides and my consistent jogging regimen which have combined to help keep my baseline fitness level somewhat static. If not for that, I'm sure this ride would have seemed almost like my first time on the bike.

The 20 miles felt great, and after the ride I knew I needed more. I know what I need to do to get back on the bike with more consistency. It will happen. It wont' wait on a New Year's resolution. It starts today.

The Safety of the Houston Streets I Ride

When I tell Housotonians that I occasionally ride my bike to work, they are usually incredulous. Some of their surprise is due to their impression of the effort required to cycle 15 miles each way, but the primary concern is because they think it is unsafe. There are a few sections of my commute that require extreme caution (Wilcrest near Harwin and Briar Forest east of Beltway 8 come to mind), but I think most of it is very safe.

For example, the roads near my office are very wide and lightly traveled. The photo below was taken on a Sunday, but it looks about the same on a weekday. The most dangerous thing about this section of road is the acorn covered surface, cracking and popping as I ride over them.

Executive Drive near Corporate Drive in Sugar Land, Texas

Even better, about 80% of my commute is through quiet neighborhoods. In the mornings, kids wait for the school bus, and my big worry is the occasional driver that doesn't look before backing out of the driveway. In the afternoons, kids play in the yards, and a few even say hello. Dads wash cars, and dogs are walked. Sure, there is a little traffic on the road, but it's as safe as it gets. The photo below shows what I see on the majority of my commute.

Belle Park near High Star in Houston

Like many bicycling advocates say, I feel most unsafe when I'm in a striped bike lane. Cars assume that I have plenty of room, and mirrors pass at 45 mph and only a few feet away from the end of my handlebars. I negotiate glass, gaps in the pavement, poorly installed drains, standing water, and other debris. The cars would rather crowd me out than crowd the lane of the vehicle to their left. Again, Wilcrest and Briar Forest come to mind. If I could avoid the bike lanes, I would. I only use them when other routes aren't feasible, and thankfully, it's for only about 15% of my route.

The first time I really got worried was today -- and it was due to rain, not cars. Even though I have waterproof panniers and my iPhone was safely stowed in a zippered plastic bag, when I turned east and saw the storm clouds and falling rain, I called for the family SAG wagon. I was only a few miles from home, but I was glad I did, because as soon as we loaded the bike, the rain hit us.

Rain Clouds near Briar Forest and Beltway 8 in Houston

I hope that any Houstonians (or others for that matter) that read this will understand that cycling in Houston is not as unsafe as you think. Don't think about riding the same route you drive; instead, realize that there are parallel alternate routes that are less traveled and more cyclist-friendly. Join me. You'll be glad you left your car at home.