Meet Fisher
Mostly Symptom-Free
Riding with Adjustments
Road, MTB & Track
Riding Type
Field sprints, attacks
Riding Speciality
Pelvic pressure with muscle spasms
Primary Symptoms
Aggressive riding position and insufficient recovery
Likely Cause of PN
How it Started
My symptoms started in winter 2019. At the time, I noticed a general sense of lasting pressure, both on and off the bike, along with sporadic “shooting” sensations while seated in the saddle.
Symptoms
My symptoms included spasms in the bulbocavernosus muscle and a general sense of pressure in the pelvis, which often felt like sitting on a lacrosse ball. I also experienced discomfort wearing tight clothing and during longer rides, especially those lasting more than five hours. At times, there was also a noticeable pressure to urinate.
Causes
I believe my symptoms were likely caused by a combination of aggressive saddle-to-bar drop, poor bike fit, and inadequate recovery management. Over time, it became clear that training load and recovery imbalance played an important role.
What Helped
I pursued several forms of physical therapy, including osteopathic manipulation and pelvic-specific physical therapy, along with a detailed bike fit and position analysis. Off the bike, I placed more emphasis on pre-ride activation, particularly banded glute work, as well as improved recovery through foam rolling and stretching.
Lifestyle changes were also important. I began prioritizing relaxation and maintaining a broader view of how life stressors affect the body. I incorporated deep breathing exercises that emphasized intra-abdominal pressure and ultimately switched coaches and training philosophies, which helped bring my training into better balance.
Current Status
The majority of my symptoms have subsided. I was able to begin training again and ride back into a competitive level of fitness, with racing resuming in 2020.
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Since then, my story hasn’t changed much, although I no longer race on the road or in criteriums. My competitive focus is now exclusively on the track, where shorter intervals and less total volume have allowed me to enjoy and explore competitive cycling in a way that doesn’t exacerbate my symptoms as much as the high-volume demands of road training and racing.
Finding Balance as an Athlete
I found that my symptoms improved when I shifted toward a more balanced approach to training - one that prioritized developing different muscle groups, recovery, and variety alongside performance.
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That shift led me to rethink where and how I was competing. Focusing on track cycling has allowed me to stay competitive while managing symptoms more effectively. Living near a velodrome has been a privilege, but it’s something I would recommend to others in a similar position.
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I now incorporate a variety of strength and cross-training activities, along with other cardio sports like backcountry splitboarding, backpacking, and trail running. This approach has offered me a better and healthier overall athletic balance.