With the Cape Argus coming up this weekend we thought it was only appropriate to give all of you lucky souls participating a few tips to prevent injuries.

1. Back Pain

Back pain is a common problem with many cyclists, no matter what your age might be. If your bike is not fitted to your body properly, lower back pain will occur. Before doing a race like the Argus – or even a social ride – you should get your bike sized, with the correct adjustments made to handlebars and saddle before getting on the road. If your core strength and flexibility is not up to scratch, a badly fitted bike will lead to unnecessary back pain.

BUCHU LIFE TIP: Your handlebar should be an inch lower than your saddle whilst your crotch is cupped (ha) at the end of the saddle to prevent you from sliding forwards.

BUCHU TO THE RESCUE: An 80g tube of Buchu First Aid Gel will be just the ticket to Rehabville if you are suffering from back pain. Shown to be fast acting in reducing pain and inflammation, this will be an ex-injury in no time.

2. Knee Pain

Knee pain is a tricky one. Low rotations per minute (RPMs), not being positioned or fitted properly to your bike, and g0od old fashioned lack of fitness are all factors that play into a throbbing knee scenario.

BUCHU LIFE TIP: If you haven’t been cycling for a long period of time, start slowly with training to avoid injury. The Argus happens every year – you’ll survive if you skip out on this one. And for heaven’s sake, stop if you feel pain. You are not a machine. If you ride for too long without giving your knees a rest, you may end up with a Zimmer Frame.

BUCHU TO THE RESCUE: Buchulife Soft Gel Caps with Buchu oil are easy to swallow and full of healing goodness, this is the perfect thing to take if you experience knee pain after a cycle, chronic pain from niggly past injuries, or just for the sake of improving general health and joint strength. The gel caps reduce pain and inflammation, promote healthy joints, and optimize exercise recovery and overall wellbeing.

3. Cramp

You don’t need to have cycled to know what we’re dealing with here. When it comes to cycling, cramps are caused by the constant repetition of movement. The mechanism that tells a contracted muscle to relax tires out, which causes short muscle fatigue.

BUCHU LIFE TIP: Warm up before you cycle or in fact, before you do any exercise. If you do suffer from cramp, get off your bike and stretch the eina muscle for about 20 seconds until you feel the pain subside.

BUCHU TO THE RESCUE: A good stretch and a rub with the Buchu Life First Aid Gel on the affected area will do a world of good.

4. Skin Irritation

Constant sweat, repeated physical movement and certain clothing materials all lead to dreaded skin irritation. When your pores clog, the lack of hydration causes heat rash – not to be confused with bar rash. If you are doing the Argus it isn’t only heat rash that you have to be cautious of: chafing could befall you.

BUCHU LIFE TIP: Consult your physician about any rashes or discomfort you experience after exercise, as you may have a condition that requires treatment. Sis man. Stay hydrated while exercising. Wear synthetic shorts. They may not be attractive, but neither is a rash. We shouldn’t have to tell you this one, but a shower after exercising gets rid of the toxins you have just sweated out during your workout or race.

BUCHU TO THE RESCUE: The Buchu Life First Aid Gel is also a natural antiseptic, perfect for healing those nasty rashes.

5. Blisters

Continued pressure and friction on the skin results in painful little guys called blisters. This friction separates the outer layer of the skin from the layer beneath it, and the gap fills it with a watery fluid. Tightly gripping the handlebars when you are cycling is the main cause of blisters, especially when you are riding a long distance, like 110km. When you have trained enough your fingers and hands normally calus, making the skin hard and therefore blister-proof.

BUCHU LIFE TIP: Don’t pop it! Get yourself a pair of tight fitting cycling gloves. If you can’t afford gloves, get adhesive bandages and place them on the spots that are under the most pressure. Carry a small towel that you can use to dry your sweaty hands.

BUCHU TO THE RESCUE: The Buchu Life First Aid Gel comes in a 40g tube, perfect for you to carry around and reapply to your blisters. It will prevent infection and make the healing process faster.

Brought to you by Buchulife.

[Source: Article Click, Livestrong]