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.