I happen to have a shitty back as well.  If you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees.  If you sleep on your stomach, put a pillow near your belt line.  I have a product from a company called back joy.  It is like an ass orthodic (assthodic?) for when your are sitting.  It puts the stress on your cheeks vs your spine.  Sounds weird...but it works well.  Backs can take time...or if you are like me it is chronic and you will have to live with it.  Epsom salt baths...moist heating pads help.  Really stretch your hamstrings...like every day.  Stretch them before bed and right when you wake up tight hammies cause back pain.  Buy a foam roller...use youtube for videos on how to use it for back stretches.  Drink lots of water and wear sunblock (ok the last one I just threw in there)  Good luck.  yacks

Hot diggity!  the new ones are drilled out...I suspect to save weight and improve aerodynamics...

I did my first 30 minute trainer ride tonight, a week and a half after the Branchbrook crash.  I went half the speed I usually do, and half the miles.  Too bad it was indoors, because an outside spin like that would have been quite pleasant.  

Glad to hear it Bruce.

I'm glad that you are doing OK Bruce.

I have chondromalacia patella....I received an injection at the orthopedist office and have prescription for an anti-inflamatory and 5 weeks of physical therapy ahead of me...good news = I can continue to ride the rollers and a moderate pace. good times....yack

That doesn't sound too bad.....I hope you heal up soon! 

Sorry to hear about your injury Yack, heal quick and kick some ass!!!

ITB:
"repeated flexion and extension of the knee during running may cause the area to become inflamed"

anti-inflamatory before exercise
ice after exercise

These will reduce the inflammation, which both causes the pain and inhibits healing. If it hurts while you are riding, you should stop.

In my opinion, stretching can't hurt, but it isn't the magic bullet and won't cause it to magically heal. Learn the stretches and make it part of your routine if you like it.

The PT's are always outraged by our mono-maniacal cycling. They take one look at your thigh and proclaim that the muscle strengths are out of balance, with the inner thigh muscle being way stronger than the outer muscle. I think most of our knee injuries are from over-use. You have increased intensity and/or length of your workouts and your knee just isn't ready for it. Get rid of the inflammation and work your way back gradually. The older you are the more gradual it needs to be. Even the pros complain of knee pain (e.g. Boonen)

OK, so some people probably need to adjust their position a bit. So fly out to Colorado and visit Yoda's cave.

Obliterate them with the foam roller and when that doesn't make you sob and sweat in agony, move on to the wooden rolling pin. And sure, give "stretching" a try.

Read the Bike Fit thread.  ITB problems can be *caused* by poor fit.

these two things might help

Thanks fellas. I rolled the hell out of my ITB earlier and although at times I winced like a little girl it did seem to do the trick. By the way I found a slightly erotic website detailing some good stretches: http://throughheatherslookingglass.com/it-band-stretches/

Whoops, meant no MORE than $10.

here...with free shipping. Do it.  I've got chondomalacia...my knee no longer has pain...it just feels like hamburger.  It sounds like it will be the new normal for me.... I'm going to need to do much more work in the weight room to compensate for my inability to load the knee with heavy training miles.  MY PT also recommended shorter cranks....which Ryan was kind enough to give me.  Good luck...getting older happens...our joints and tendons are going to need more rest and more stretching....yacks  

Thanks, Yacks.  It is done.

Here is a good resource from the "Medicine of Cycling" guys

Um, I think I would have trouble naming the months backwards. And please don't ask me which is my right or left hand.

Fractured my elbow in three places yesterday at Bike Jam in Baltimore. I'm at Johns Hopkins now awaiting surgery on Friday. Has anyone dealt with this injury?

Hopkins is fucking sweet!!!

@vlad - geez, hope you heal up fine.  The room actually looks like someone's bedroom.. haha..  Is that a special ward or something?  For bike racers only?

Vlad,

Bummer dude.

By the look on your face they gave you some serious dope.

Heal fast.

Vlad!
Sorry to hear about your broken bones,it must hurt like a mother);):@. Heal up quick buddy!

@dstokes you are exactly right! Last night I stayed at the Marburg Pavillion which I've been told is reserved for royalty. The rooms next to mine had a sheik and his entourage. Super luxurious. Lots of free stuff like Perrier in the family lounge.

Following clean up surgery this morning, I've been moved into this - http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2012-10/michael-bloomberg-johns-hopkins-hospital-building-article

Weird little adventure.

As far as pain, there's not much of if. Medication has been minimal. The bruising and the road rash is starting to bother me more. That's good. Breaking an elbow feels pretty weird though.

Vlad, does a broken elbow mean you'll feel the bumps in Floyd less?  

We'll find out tomorrow!

Kidding. Check out the digs though!