Getting back in to cycling
Discussion
I got back in to cycling over the last week.
Turning 50 and being overweight has given me a kick start.
I’ve done 46 miles which I think isn’t bad. Longest ride was 7.5 miles.
I have psoriatic arthritis & have had many spinal surgeries since 2005.
I was heavily in to cycling up to 2004.
I bought the bike in 2016 but further surgeries stopped me using it.
So far, so good. I’m going to break the 10 mile barrier by Friday.
Cheers,
Simon
Turning 50 and being overweight has given me a kick start.
I’ve done 46 miles which I think isn’t bad. Longest ride was 7.5 miles.
I have psoriatic arthritis & have had many spinal surgeries since 2005.
I was heavily in to cycling up to 2004.
I bought the bike in 2016 but further surgeries stopped me using it.
So far, so good. I’m going to break the 10 mile barrier by Friday.
Cheers,
Simon
If you have back issues, be careful to mix the cycling with some core strengthening exercises.
I've come close to spinal surgery several times with cycling. Mixing in swimming (not possible currently) and bosu ball (cheap copy) balance exercises keeps the surgery away.
Cycling is great for low impact exercise, but can be problematic with backs... Especially on long road rides.
ETA... Forgot to add... Well done. Good effort getting out in this bloody wind.
I've come close to spinal surgery several times with cycling. Mixing in swimming (not possible currently) and bosu ball (cheap copy) balance exercises keeps the surgery away.
Cycling is great for low impact exercise, but can be problematic with backs... Especially on long road rides.
ETA... Forgot to add... Well done. Good effort getting out in this bloody wind.
Nice work, certainly feels like cyclings given me a second chance at something sporting
Had two herniated discs in my late 20’s after lots of running to support my fitness for my main hobby at the time of Muay Thai.
Oddly, after having to give up the boxing, running and swimming and deciding not to have a micro-discectomy at Addenbrookes, cycling (albeit mainly road) has greatly improved my back pain and as long as I turn a pedal a few times a week I can manage it very well without any drugs.
I’m 44 now and really enjoying it still nearly a decade in. I remember my first ‘proper’ ride like it was yesterday. I managed 3 miles to the nearest hill, got halfway up, turned round and felt utterly depressed I couldn’t get up it. Just around the corner from my house and a couple of guys were cycling gave me the usual nod to say hi and that was that, I felt welcomed in to the club and I’m currently averaging about 150 miles a week.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is not to get caught up in the stats etc and just enjoy the riding, that was from a near 80 year old bloke I met on a club ride who still does regular century rides and is strong as an ox.
Good luck with it, hopefully the suns on its way back and you can enjoy it even more
Had two herniated discs in my late 20’s after lots of running to support my fitness for my main hobby at the time of Muay Thai.
Oddly, after having to give up the boxing, running and swimming and deciding not to have a micro-discectomy at Addenbrookes, cycling (albeit mainly road) has greatly improved my back pain and as long as I turn a pedal a few times a week I can manage it very well without any drugs.
I’m 44 now and really enjoying it still nearly a decade in. I remember my first ‘proper’ ride like it was yesterday. I managed 3 miles to the nearest hill, got halfway up, turned round and felt utterly depressed I couldn’t get up it. Just around the corner from my house and a couple of guys were cycling gave me the usual nod to say hi and that was that, I felt welcomed in to the club and I’m currently averaging about 150 miles a week.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is not to get caught up in the stats etc and just enjoy the riding, that was from a near 80 year old bloke I met on a club ride who still does regular century rides and is strong as an ox.
Good luck with it, hopefully the suns on its way back and you can enjoy it even more
I’m on 247 tablets a week for various things including morphine MST for chronic pain. I’m under the care of the chronic pain service too. I did say this was my goal so they said go for it but build up gradually.
I actually feel a lot better for it, aside from my hands (joint pain has increased) & the bit between my balls / butt hole...lol.
The mental aspect is really helping to & I reckon that’s half the battle.
It’s really quite flat where I live (Neath/ Swansea) & the cycle paths are great.
Feeling good
I actually feel a lot better for it, aside from my hands (joint pain has increased) & the bit between my balls / butt hole...lol.
The mental aspect is really helping to & I reckon that’s half the battle.
It’s really quite flat where I live (Neath/ Swansea) & the cycle paths are great.
Feeling good
Well done for making it back to the bike. Its good to have another person making a good go at it. Just build yourself up slowly and aim sensibly ( which you are so far) .
Gooch and hand pain are pretty common and easily resolved. Saddles can be a personal thing and I would advise ditching what you have on the bike , as standard saddles are very basic and a gel cover makes things too wide. I use Charge Spoon saddles and at £20 odd , work well for me, but like I say, its a personal thing. Also sort some padded shorts/ liners out for helping with comfort. I think you saddle looks slightly up at the front, just try and level it out a bit also helps.
As for hands , then again standard basic grips are pretty rubbish, so try some nicer grips, with more padding and some reasonable gloves to help.
I used to cycle loads and had an accident on the mtb nearly 2 years ago, where a branch went through my leg. Took 15 months to get it all working again, then lost my mojo for riding. But being furloughed has made me go back out and enjoy it again. Not in the same league whatsoever with your issues, but its made me feel rejuvenated and happier for doing it.
Good luck with this all and keep us updated on how its going , we all want to know
Gooch and hand pain are pretty common and easily resolved. Saddles can be a personal thing and I would advise ditching what you have on the bike , as standard saddles are very basic and a gel cover makes things too wide. I use Charge Spoon saddles and at £20 odd , work well for me, but like I say, its a personal thing. Also sort some padded shorts/ liners out for helping with comfort. I think you saddle looks slightly up at the front, just try and level it out a bit also helps.
As for hands , then again standard basic grips are pretty rubbish, so try some nicer grips, with more padding and some reasonable gloves to help.
I used to cycle loads and had an accident on the mtb nearly 2 years ago, where a branch went through my leg. Took 15 months to get it all working again, then lost my mojo for riding. But being furloughed has made me go back out and enjoy it again. Not in the same league whatsoever with your issues, but its made me feel rejuvenated and happier for doing it.
Good luck with this all and keep us updated on how its going , we all want to know
Squadrone Rosso said:
I’m on 247 tablets a week for various things including morphine MST for chronic pain. I’m under the care of the chronic pain service too. I did say this was my goal so they said go for it but build up gradually.
I actually feel a lot better for it, aside from my hands (joint pain has increased) & the bit between my balls / butt hole...lol.
The mental aspect is really helping to & I reckon that’s half the battle.
It’s really quite flat where I live (Neath/ Swansea) & the cycle paths are great.
Feeling good
Ah, yes, the not-quite-ballache. On my first 200 miler it was bad enough that I was mostly standing on the pedals for the last bit, and sitting down generally was uncomfortable for a day or two... I actually feel a lot better for it, aside from my hands (joint pain has increased) & the bit between my balls / butt hole...lol.
The mental aspect is really helping to & I reckon that’s half the battle.
It’s really quite flat where I live (Neath/ Swansea) & the cycle paths are great.
Feeling good
Good saddle + chamois cream for the longer rides, but a good saddle alone might well see you to 100 miles.
Yes, feeling really good about it. It is pretty flat with only 4 real inclines (not out of the saddle though).
I’m not sure I’d go out in the rain though but did have some showers on Friday.
I’m aiming to add another 10 miles on this before the end of next week. I think that’s really achievable
Got a slight gear shifting issue to resolve. Click but no change of gear. One of the shifters is sticky too. GT85 & a cable tweak I think!
I’m not sure I’d go out in the rain though but did have some showers on Friday.
I’m aiming to add another 10 miles on this before the end of next week. I think that’s really achievable
Got a slight gear shifting issue to resolve. Click but no change of gear. One of the shifters is sticky too. GT85 & a cable tweak I think!
Squadrone Rosso said:
Yes, feeling really good about it. It is pretty flat with only 4 real inclines (not out of the saddle though).
I’m not sure I’d go out in the rain though but did have some showers on Friday.
I’m aiming to add another 10 miles on this before the end of next week. I think that’s really achievable
Got a slight gear shifting issue to resolve. Click but no change of gear. One of the shifters is sticky too. GT85 & a cable tweak I think!
Constitution Hill next then?I’m not sure I’d go out in the rain though but did have some showers on Friday.
I’m aiming to add another 10 miles on this before the end of next week. I think that’s really achievable
Got a slight gear shifting issue to resolve. Click but no change of gear. One of the shifters is sticky too. GT85 & a cable tweak I think!
If that's Mumbles in the background of your photo, have you tried the Clyne Valley Cycle Path? It's the old rail bed from Blackpill inland to Dunvant, Gowerton, and on to Gorseinon. Or down to the Millenium Coast Path over Llanelli way?
yellowjack said:
Constitution Hill next then?
If that's Mumbles in the background of your photo, have you tried the Clyne Valley Cycle Path? It's the old rail bed from Blackpill inland to Dunvant, Gowerton, and on to Gorseinon. Or down to the Millenium Coast Path over Llanelli way?
Hi, yes, it’s Mumbles. I know Clyne very well. Was my playground in the 70s & 80s (Killay boy). I remember the cycle track being built. Used to BMX & Mountain bike over there. Still got the scars from gypsies dip....lol.If that's Mumbles in the background of your photo, have you tried the Clyne Valley Cycle Path? It's the old rail bed from Blackpill inland to Dunvant, Gowerton, and on to Gorseinon. Or down to the Millenium Coast Path over Llanelli way?
I remember cycling up Constitution Hill on a Raleigh Europa & a Record Sprint. Those were the days!
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
If you have back issues, be careful to mix the cycling with some core strengthening exercises.
I've come close to spinal surgery several times with cycling. Mixing in swimming (not possible currently) and bosu ball (cheap copy) balance exercises keeps the surgery away.
Cycling is great for low impact exercise, but can be problematic with backs... Especially on long road rides.
ETA... Forgot to add... Well done. Good effort getting out in this bloody wind.
Are a lot of the back issues down to poorly set up bike position though ?I've come close to spinal surgery several times with cycling. Mixing in swimming (not possible currently) and bosu ball (cheap copy) balance exercises keeps the surgery away.
Cycling is great for low impact exercise, but can be problematic with backs... Especially on long road rides.
ETA... Forgot to add... Well done. Good effort getting out in this bloody wind.
or maybe your riding a cramped racey frame when maybe a more relaxed endurance/sportive stlye would be better or maybe even a upright mtb would be kinder on your back ?
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