Arthritis question

[katerine]

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on this forum and I've been reading it ever since. This is a great place and I'm so glad I found it.

Someone gave me an old single speed coaster bike and after some hesitation I've rediscovered the joy of riding. The bike is pretty junky and needs some serious work, but before I spend any cash on it I'm thinking of getting a new bike that might work better for me. The problem is I've been having bad flareups of inflammatory arthritis and there is simply no way I can tolerate hand brakes. It's hard enough to hold a cup or pencil in my hand sometimes, let alone putting pressure on a lever. So I definitely need a coaster brake.

I was thinking of one of those cruiser style bikes that have a coaster brake and integrated 3-speed. However, I also have to hoist the bike up some steep stairs, and the cruisers I saw weigh a lot. Also there is a serious shortage of cash, particularly on something that I may not always be able to use if my arthritis gets much worse.

Has anyone had any experience with the Trek Cruiseliner with the aluminum frame? I'm in the process of tracking one down, but so far all I've tracked down is a version with hand brakes that I could try for the feel of it. Then I would have to order the bike if I decide I want it.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated. I rediscovered bicycles and I do not want to give them up.

Katerine

[marni]

can you consider finding a place to store your bike that doesn't involve hoiking it up the stairs? That might make any decision easier.

Good luck and welcome to the adventure.

[KnottedYet]

There are folding bikes which have coaster brakes. Some of them can be pretty speedy!

Perhaps one of them (folded) would be easier to take up the stairs?

Some even come with bags or carrying straps.

(Take a look at Dahon and Downtube, their prices are good. Giant and the other major manufacturers all have various single-speed and coaster brake bikes too.)

[Miranda]

Don't have an earth shattering answer on your bike search question. Maybe check re-sale, garage sales, or local bike club to see if a member might know of something for sale. Our local club has a bike swap meet each year and lots thing get sold there.

Good luck with your search. Where there is a will there is a way!

[Velocivixen]

I don't have an answer for your question, but wanted to welcome you and to say "Hi" and have fun riding. Let us know what you decide and how it works out.

I did have a 3 speed Electra Townie that may have had coaster breaks. It was a behemoth, terribly long and heavy. If that's the type of bike you're considering, I wouldn't consider trying to lift it. I think with some research there are better options for you. I ditto looking into folding bikes.

[Catrin]

I've no constructive advice, but would like to welcome you to TE and congratulations to rediscovering the joy of riding

[katerine]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. Both are much appreciated!
I'll continue with my research and will check again with a couple of local shops. Eventually something will work out.

Katerine

[sarahkonamojo]

Not sure where you are located, but around here the single speed craze is big. Most single speeds are repurposed old road bikes. Most have hand brakes or are fixed. Fixed would probably not be what you want either. BUT thinking a coaster brake on an old road bike would give you a lighter option than a cruiser. It would be much lighter and more nimble and not terribly expensive.
Best of luck. And have fun looking at your options.
S

[OakLeaf]

Just googling and not sure what you want to spend ... but what about a Moulton TSR-2? It's only a two-speed, but that's still double the gears of a single-speed, and it only weighs 26#.

[grey]

I don't have any bike suggestions, but I HAVE suffered from arthritis symptoms.

For me, it was dairy. Dairy is extremely inflammatory for joints in some people. Cutting that out helped a LOT. There are some independent studies that had arthritis sufferers cut out dairy and checked back with them in a month - nearly all reported improvment. Three months later, they were asked again - those that found improvement earlier now had very few symptoms. Worked for me!

Also suggested this to my aunt, who was noticing arthritis flare ups. She hasn't cut out dairy entirely, but says it is better with less dairy in the diet.

When I have a flare-up, I take turmeric - you can put some in capsules and take 1 or 2 a day. I hate swallowing pills and so I dilute a half teaspoon in a little water and drink it like a shot - chase it with water. Turmeric has capaisain (sp?) in it, works very well as an anti-inflammatory. I've noticed it takes 2-3 days for it to REALLY kick in, but you do notice a difference in a few hours.

I get my turmeric in powder form, in bulk, from Mountain Rose Herbs.(www.mountainroseherbs.com)

[emily_in_nc]

My husband has a Trek Cruiseliner 3-speed, aluminum bike. It is really light for a cruiser bike! I looked far and wide for a ladies Cruiseliner model, but never could locate one. The local Trek shops don't stock them, though I guess they might have ordered one for me. I ended up finding another ladies aluminum cruiser (single speed, coaster brakes) on craigslist and went with that (see my sig) as it was used and thus a lot less expensive, and still a very nice cruiser bike.

That said, a cruiser bike is just that. We bought these bikes for riding on the beach. The position on them is very upright. It's not a bike I'd want to ride for long rides as it's not built for speed at all. Just some things to consider.

Best of luck to you, and sorry about the arthritis pain.

[katerine]

My arthritis is very tied to the foods I eat, particularly gluten and to a lesser extent tomatoes and other veggies of that family, also corn, cow's milk, sugar and beans. There are other foods that give me trouble but those are the principal ones. People think it must be a nuisance to be so restrictive, but the pain relief is worth it. In the past tumeric hasn't helped much but I think I will try taking it again and see how I do. Thanks for the suggestion.

My knees are now affected and I'm hoping that a three speed might be easier when I'm having an episode. I realize that you get what you pay for, but I really can't swing anything more than 500 at this time so that does limit my choices. We have a great lbs nearby and I have researched all the brands they carry and made a list of possibilities, including used. Worse comes to worse, I'll have the old junky bike fixed up and ride it until something better comes along. There's always a way.

This is such an awesome place. People's eyes tend to glaze over when I want to talk about bicycles, even my very supportive DH, but here I can read all I want about bikes and have people understand my single-minded quest to ride a bike despite some physical setbacks. Joy.

[gabriellesca]

Welcome Katerine - I don't post as often but read alot. its a really great forum and I agree with the eyes glazing over syndrome. The minute I start talking about riding or the Tour I put people to sleep!

I don't have any advice at all but I also suffer from arthritis - mine is in one of my ankles due to an old injury and I'm really struggling with it this year as I get back in the saddle and really hurt after riding - not sure if it has to do with clipping in and out. I also have issues with tennis elbow which breaking, shifting, and drinking from my water bottle REALLY hurts. I can't imagine how tough it must be for you. So sorry!

Hang in there and please let us know how it goes finding your new bike.

[surgtech1956]

Can't comment on the bike, but welcome to TE.

[lo123]

The problem is I've been having bad flareups of inflammatory arthritis and there is simply no way I can tolerate hand brakes. It's hard enough to hold a cup or pencil in my hand sometimes, let alone putting pressure on a lever. So I definitely need a coaster brake.

Have you actually tried a road bike with brake levers (on drop handlebars)? I had the same concern before I started riding, and I have an inflammatory type of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis. My hands are badly affected, and when I flare, that's one area where I really feel it.

I found that I can handle the brake levers as long as they're in the right spot and have the shims to make the distance necessary to brake shorter. At the suggestion of my LBS, my first bike had (well, still has) cyclocross brakes mounted in addition to the shifter brakes (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Cane-Creek-Cro.../dp/B000ZTIVCK and mounted to the flat part of the drop bars just to either side of the headset). When my hands flare up badly, I use those brakes a lot as I can stop with them using much less force. It is a good safety net to have.

So, I'd encourage you to give it a try. Ask the wrenches at the LBS about it. Let them know your issue in general terms. They make have suggestions that you haven't thought about.