Riding and dealing with life

[KkAllez]

Yesterday, Ben and I went for a 20 mile ride. I have been so completely overwhelmed with nursing school that we haven't rode in two months. It felt so good to get out there and ride I can't believe I had let other things get in the way. I really needed to get out and let loose some steam. One of the students in the class below me committed suicide yesterday. I don't even know what to think about that, I am so stunned. Finals are next week, and some of the students can't pass and will have to start all over. I guess this guy just couldn't think of any way out.

I love this forum and lurking here. All it takes is the inspiration of everyone else out riding and I get the urge to ride. When I started road biking last May, I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. And I also can't believe how much I let everything else get in the way of biking.

I spent years riding horses and I never, ever thought I'd find anything I'd like better than that. But my husband, who was such sport and tried horses, just didn't much care for it. Now you couldn't give me a horse. It is so much simplier to ride the bike. Plus, for what we spent on horses we can buy a new bike about every four months.

I have one more semester left of this nursing school. Then I plan on working med/surge and simultaneously work on getting my RN online. Ben and I have this big goal of riding our first century next year. Can't wait.

Oh, guess what? Our nest is going to empty in January. Our sixteen year old son is going to go to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell to finish out high school. He wants to go on to Westpoint and NMMI is an excellent prep school. So, I'll probably be needing to ride a lot to keep from crying all the time. He and I are very close. But I cannot deny him his dream.

I know I'm rambling. It has been a hard week. The weather has been nice here in west Texas. Ben has been a darling and took off the afternoon to ride with me yesterday to help me deal with everything. He will come home early today, too, and we plan to hit the road again. I am so happy that he has embraced cycling as much as I have. I fall in love with Ben over and over again lately. Plus, I really, really get turned on watching his cute rear end and nice calves when he is ahead of me....only he tries to stay behind me to watch my butt!

Carry on ladies and ride forward! You are all a wonderful inspiration. Although I've simply not had time to post here lately I do keep up with the forum.

[SadieKate]

Oh, its good to hear you dealing with all these things. You've got a lot on your platter. It's funny what getting on your bike can do. Health issues, the time changes, the weather have all kept me from riding much also, but we managed 3 mtb rides over Thanksgiving break and then both days last weekend. It makes me feel incredibly better. I face up to my own problems so much more easily when I ride regularly. I'm just getting starting treatment for MS and going through weekly crap with the side effects. I realized that getting in a good ride just before that 12 hours of yuckiness is critical. The good feelings from a ride just give you a huge boost, don't they? There's another thread about affirmations for cycling, but its amazing what cycling does for the rest of your life.

And, here's to hubby-bottoms in lycra!

[pedalfaster]

Sorry to hear about all you are dealing with; great that you were able to get on the bike tho' and blow off a little steam.

I went through the empty nest thing this past August (and I'm a single mom of an only child so we are talking really empty).

The one thing I did for myself was I tacked on a vacation after I dropped her off at school. That way I didn't have to immediately return to an empty house.

One bonus? I no longer feel guilty about those looooong rides because I'm not at home spending quality time with my daughter...AND if I just want to eat popcorn for dinner I can do so!

[KkAllez]

SadieKate, I'll keep you in my prayers. I cannot imagine what you must be going through but I am glad you've found cycling to be a help. I remember reading a few years ago about a singer, I think it was Clay Walker (does that sound right? I don't listen to country music), anyways, he has MS and whatever treatment he has to go through is like having the flu one week of the month, every month. The thing about nursing for me is that I am such a mother hen. I so want to be there for people when they are having a hard time health wise. For me the greatest thing I can do for someone is to hold their hair out of their face when they throw up...gross huh?! I wish we could ride together. Now, when I ride, I'll have you on my mind!

pedalfster, good idea, the vacation! Ben and I are excited because we tend to want a large lunch and not much for supper. I am happy with cottage cheese and an apple and he loves scrambled eggs and toast. Our little sprout refuses left-overs, which just ticks us off royally, so I am more than ready to NOT have to fix a big meal after a long day at school or clinicals.

On January 28 & 29th there is a log house expo in Austin, TX, I think we'll go to. We are wanting to build a log house. Also, when school is over in April, Ben wants to go to Mexico to this resort that is clothing optional I had better be spending tons of time on that bike to drop the 20 pounds nursing school has added. (but hey, at least I grew some boobs!) (we also look forward to having loud sex! )

[JanT]

Kim,
I say good for you for getting out for the ride to ease your stress! And good for you pursuing your nursing dream, and letting your son pursue his dream, too. The riding will help you get through all these tough things, not only because of the exercise endorphins, but also because it is just such a free, child-like thing to do. As a teacher, I NEED my riding! I bought a road bike last spring because I just couldn't get to the trails enough during the school year. Although I've had rides where I hurt myself falling, bonked and felt sick, got lost in the desert (pre-GPS days!), etc., etc., I still say there is no such thing as a bad ride. It's always an adventure, and it's always good! Ride on!
Jan

[DeniseGoldberg]

I can only imagine what you're going through. But I have to second your statement that getting on your bike helps. I'm actually still working back to fitness after my crash last May; when I first got back on my bike I was lucky to be able to ride 15 miles (a long way from my normal mileage), and I still felt lucky to be back on the bike; biking helped me keep my sanity. I know that my experience isn't an equal comparison with yours, but I know that you are absolutely right that cycling is an even more important aspect of your life as you fight MS.

[SadieKate]

Oh, my gosh, Denise! I just looked at the pictures! Beyond the injuries, the amnesia is also frightening. Sounds like you're fighting back and on the way.

It is amazing to see how each of us uses bicycling to heal, maintain, balance, all kinds of words can be used, -- even though, as in your case, bicycling may have been part of the original injury. I had 4 knee operations in my early 20s and I still remember my first bike ride post-up. I rode 5 miles and burst into tears I was so happy. I still get teary-eyed when I do something like a full century because at one time it was so hard to believe that I ever could. I had to learn that there was always another 5% deep down. As time goes by I've been able to extend the effort before I need to find the next 5%. We get through a lot of invisible hills that way.

Keep riding, everyone!

[bikergirl62]

Hey Kim! Go back to Austin in the summer and check out hippy hollow on Lake Travis

[KkAllez]

Originally posted by bikergirl62
Hey Kim! Go back to Austin in the summer and check out hippy hollow on Lake Travis

Ha! Too rocky! Nope, nothing but soft Caribbean sand for me. Just the hike down to Hippy Hollow looked too scary for me.

[KkAllez]

Denise, great web site, awful crash! Good grief. Thank God for helmets, huh?!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Thanks Kim. And I'm very happy that I was wearing my helmet - I've worn one without fail for a long, long, time, and this time I really believe it saved my life!

Riding is wonderful, isn't it?

[Dottie]

Denise, Just read about your awful accident. I think we all have that fear in the back of our minds that IT could happen. I know I pray before I go out and ride and have prayed out loud together when starting out on a group ride.
Randy and I also have experienced empty nest this year! It is neat how we got into cycling about 3 years ago in preparation of this time. God has given us a new hobby to enjoy together. And since our area here isn't a real cycling mecca we have really made an endeavor to get friends and family involved in cycling and a few have climbed on board, which makes it so exciting!! Right now the roads here in michigan are covered with ice or snow. Boo-hoo. So to the basement we go on our trainer and indoor bike.
I had ms symptoms about 9 years ago for two years!! Nothing since, thankfully. I don't think about the possibility of a recurrence but I suppose it could happen. I just know that the exercise I get from cycling, walking, and working out is good for my muscles should I have a recurrence.
Our three grown children think it is so funny how fanatical we are about cycling but I think they are proud of us and secretly (?) glad we have a LIFE, a life beyond raising children. Maybe things will change a little when we have grandchildren someday!!!! Hey, I already invison (sp.?) pulling one of those kid trailers behind me!!!!
Thank you for listening as I am a new member! Dottie