Encouragement needed/hamstring question

[Catrin]

Great news - hang in there! This too shall pass, and will eventually be forgotten. I remember when I had a bad bout of ITB syndrome back in 2003, I think it was, and had to lay off the bike for many weeks, eventually coming back very slowly. Now that seems like another life; I can barely remember it. In the overall scheme of things, what you're going through now is but a blip. Not trying to minimize your pain or frustration, but there are many more rides in your future!

One of the women on the Bike Forum said something very wise - she reminded me that I am not 18 and while I have made great progress in the last year, I have to allow time for my tendons and muscles to catch up with my mind.

I got to thinking about it, and 10 years ago I took up Taikwondo for a time and I did a major number on my knees! I started at 210 pounds (at 5'3) and had been very sedentary for years. My poor knees didn't know what hit them and I was in great pain for some time. It hurt to step off a curb, to step on a curb, steps were sheer agony, or to do pretty much anything but to walk on a flat surface. I did not stop - nor did I see a doctor - just backed off a little and eventually it passed. Eventually I got away from martial arts - it just isn't for me, but one knee has never been quite the same. While I did gain much of the weight back, I never was in as bad condition as I was when I started. I should have remembered that lesson.

Of course, ignoring the knee pain did work - which just added to my experiences of how ignoring pain makes it go away

Thanks for the tip Malkin, that is so true about sunshine and so easy to forget. I've been told that I may take a spin for no more than 2 miles - if it isn't windy and on flat ground as long as I promised to stop at the first sign of discomfort of any kind. Tomorrow is supposed to be 65 and sunny - so guess what I have planned for tomorrow afternoon