HealthBee

I got a call from my old friends called me last night. We hadn’t talked for a long while, so we shared a lot of news from our lives as well as laughing about some of the memories we had.

My friend was a championship bull rider of her high school. I was blown away when she showed me one day. She made it look easy. When I said I wanted to do it, she actually told me I probably shouldn’t do it, that it took years of training before she had enough strength to ride bulls.

“Come on,” I said. “It’s not like cowboys are the athletic types.”

She took of her shirt and showed me the most ripped female body I’ve ever seen and then explained to me what it *really* takes to ride a bull — and for that matter — be in the rodeo circuit at all.

• An extremely strong, flexible back and shoulders: Part of the art of riding a bull requires a back that has the ability to take a lot of shock and be able to move freely. And, getting whipped around the way you do actually builds up muscle tissue.
• Strong Arms and wrists for gripping the rope and moving for balance. You use all the muscles in your hands and forearms to grip.
• A core and chest of steel Just as your back must be strong, your core must also be strong on the front of the body to handle the shock and jarring of the ride. Your core must be as strong as your back so your body isn’t lopsided.
• A sense of balance that rivals that of a gymnast When you’re getting whipped around, knowing which way is up is a valuable skill.

How did my friend get in shape to do all this. Among other things, by tossing 80 pound alfalfa bales in the fall on her neighbor’s horse farm.

When I was just out of college, my friend and I attended the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, and it really put my perspective of cowboys and cowgirls in a new light. Many people don’t give them the credit for the athletes they really are. If you get a chance to see a large rodeo with professional cowboys and girls, it’s worth seeing. Television just doesn’t show you the amazing things these athletes can do.

This year, Wrangler is sponsoring the National Rodeo Finals in December. I remember, 10,000 years ago when I attended that there were no bad seats in the house, so whatever ticket you get is a good one. Here is a place to buy WNFR Tickets.

This is a topic I think frustrates women so much. We all want to get in shape, but if your boobs bounce and hurt, it’s just more trouble than it is worth. Finding a good sports bra is crucial.

After hunting around, I’ve found a good video that shows how a sports bra is supposed to fit. Now let me tell you, I know this video shows off a woman who has tiny little boobs and has no issue finding a sports bra. The video *is* good, however, in showing you how a bra should fit.

OK. What about women with BIG BOOBS?

OK, so skinny people have no issues finding bras, but what about the rest of the population? If you are larger than a C cup — and most women are — this skinny people type of bra doesn’t work for you. I know many women who put on 2 bras hoping to cure the bounce problem.

The issue with wearing 2 bras is that you can’t breathe. And you don’t get that much more support. I actually saw a program on the Discovery channel that showed a scientist who studied nothing but sports bra design (who knew..?) and the best bra for the larger busted women actually had an underwire and looked something like this:

Notice there is an underwire and a seam through the cup. It’s also got wide straps in the shoulders so the bra doesn’t dig into you. Link to actual bra here.

I have to say, Freshpair.com is probably the best bra buying site I’ve ever found. They have more combinations of bra sizes than I’ve ever seen. Every combination from 30A to 52N. Their prices are a little on the expensive side, but if you can find a bra that fits, then it’s worth it.

This is an inflammation of the ulnar nerve, which is a major nerve in your arm their runs and your hand. Specifically, it is the part of the nerve around the elbow or the funny bone. It causes numbness, tingling, or pain in the arm and hand on the side of the little finger. In the biking world, we call this condition ‘handlebar palsy’. This is also called Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

How Does Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Occur?

When the elbow is bent, the ulnar nerve may be stretched and push against the funny bone — the bony bump in your elbow. Over time, this can irritate the nerve.

Some activities that can damage the nerve include repetitive movements of the wrist such as typing or using a computer mouse. Other times and injury to the elbow may inflame the nerve. Many times, people may sleep with their elbows bent, which may aggravate the problem.

But for bicycle riders, handlebar palsy occurs due to repeated shocks or bouncing when your hand is holding on to the handlebars. Or the nerve may be stretched when held in a lower position of the drop handlebar for extended periods of time.

What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms include numbness, tingling, or pain in the forearm or hand on the side of the little finger. This is different than carpal tunnel syndrome because carpal tunnel syndrome affects the hand on the thumb, pointer, and middle fingers and occurs when the ulnar nerve is irritated in the wrist area.

How is it Treated?

When you are bicycling, padded gloves may help relieve the situation. Also, try adjusting the position of your hands on the handlebar, such as by changing your group from the top to the sides.

• A doctor may suggest a over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as asperin, ibuprofen, naprosyn or ketoprofen. (Check with a doctor or pharmacist regarding side effects or drug interactions first before doing this on your own.)
• Massage the elbow with ice.
• Sometimes, a splint or brace may be is to keep the elbow from bending.
• Modify your posture during the day to avoid long periods of time with your elbow bent.

See also: Why do my hands go numb when I bicycle?