Endurance race health warning !

Rat

Likes Dirt
I recently raced in a qualifier for the World 24hr solo and ended up suffering an unusual health problem that I had not heard of or considered. I'm posting here, which I will copy to the main thread about the worlds, and also post at MTBR.

This is so people can be informed and perhaps consider during races, or any endurance rides. We all know endurance racing can be risky and at times unhealthy, but how you manage your race and body can lower the risks.

I ended up having two areas of necrotic (dead) tissue removed from each buttock, about 6cm long and 4cm deep. The surgeon said this was because I had been on the saddle too long and cut off the circulation to my tissue which subsequently died.

The recovery is slow (and not much fun) and I'm now at the point where I must face the fact that I will not be up to competing in the Worlds. I should be OK to ride again in a few more weeks? and probably ride good distances after a long slow build up, but may not do 24hrs again.

I have done 24hrs before, and a few 12hrs and 100k races, this time I decided to go hard.
My race tactics were to ride as many laps as I could without pitting, my support passed me drinks and food on the run for the first 6hrs or more. I did stand sometimes for log rollovers and technical parts of the track, but not enough for my body at the time. I have been for 9hr road rides before without problems, so it seems this was partly due to just bad luck, but could have been avoided by standing more, stretching, massage and the occasional quick break.

Please add a bum circulation consideration to your race plans :)
 

BUSHPIG

Likes Bikes and Dirt
wowa never heard of that happening before? Maybe time to invest in a $300 sadle if your stepping it up to round the clock rides?
 

Knopey

Likes Dirt
This thread is better withOUT pics.

Hope you mend well, and it's a good reminder of the little dangers that often get overlooked. Ultra-endurance racing isn't natural and we're not designed for it so taking precaustions makes sense ;)
 

Stevob

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Not good mate.

My bum circulation plan is in the form of a rigid 29er single speed. Not much sitting happening there.
 

drew.d

Likes Bikes
hardtail or a duallie?

What kind of bike were you on - hardtail or duallie?

It seems to me that a hardtail would have been worse???
 

BigSplashBear

Likes Dirt
....but could have been avoided by standing more, stretching, massage and the occasional quick break....
Rat, I hope your recovery goes well and you make it for WSC2010. I'm sure you'll understand that there will not be too many people lining up for the support position of Bum Massager.

In all seriousness,
1. Selle Italia SLK with the love channel and carbon rails. Sooo comfy.
2. Has your surgeon looked at your overall circulation and confirmed you have no other issues/blockages? I'd like to assume yes but in things medical I like to ask the question to be sure.


In semi-seriousness: During Scott 2006 I was doing solo and spent some time riding beside a solo rider from ADFA on the Sunday morning. He says to me "Tomorrow I'm going to work and I am going to f... up badly in front of my boss."
"Why would you want to do that??"
"So he can tear me a new arsehole! This one's stuffed."

Again, here's to a very speedy recovery.

Bear - out.
 
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