Sore points
Firefighting race-wrecking problems that arise during successive days of riding is a crucial aspect of recovery
Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to saddle sores which are both supremely painful and uncomfortable
Saddle sores
Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to saddle sores, which are both supremely painful and uncomfortable and have a tendency to get bigger before they get better, once they’ve reared their ugly head. Keep everything ‘down there’ as clean as possible, so consider a fresh pair of shorts daily. Don’t wear underwear above your shorts chamois, as the material and seams rub to create sores. A good chamois cream, applied to your undercarriage before the ride, is priceless, and Sudocrem, an antiseptic healing cream, can work to stamp out sores before they erupt. Post-ride, don’t hang about in your cycling kit – get it o and get in the shower as soon as possible, and wear light, baggy clothing to let the skin dry.
Blisters
Occurring particularly on the feet or ankles, blisters happen as a result of friction on the skin that’s unaccustomed to it. Settle on a pair of shoes and socks well in advance of your competition, and keep a supply of Compeed blister plasters to hand.
Bad stomach
If you come through the other side of a multi-day competition without gastric issues, whether it’s bloating, upset stomach, nausea or constipation, you’ve surely dodged a bullet. Resist using the energy drinks or gels supplied by an event organiser at breakfast or feed stations unless you’re accustomed to them, as the stress of performance on your stomach can put you in a tight spot. Try to eat ‘normal food’ as far as you can during long rides and, if you do use sports-specific snacks, always test them out on training rides. Eat little and often as the body is limited in the speed it can absorb food. Check labels and avoid products high in ca eine or fructose as both can be irritating to the gut.