Neck....again. Sigh

[Fredwina]

Have you tried riding a trike? They are a blast,

[Blueberry]

Have you tried riding a trike? They are a blast,

This is SO true! DH and I test rode them a few years. They are like little go-carts! We would own them except we already have a lot of bikes, and have no where to store them that is convenient. Plus, we know we'll be moving (potentially to somewhere a lot smaller depending on if/where I get in med school and then (hopefully) where I match for residency) - too much uncertainty for now. But I will have one one day!

[Catrin]

This is SO true! DH and I test rode them a few years. They are like little go-carts! We would own them except we already have a lot of bikes, and have no where to store them that is convenient. Plus, we know we'll be moving (potentially to somewhere a lot smaller depending on if/where I get in med school and then (hopefully) where I match for residency) - too much uncertainty for now. But I will have one one day!

I must admit that this becomes more interesting the more I hear and look at pictures. Unsure how realistic it would be with my car and an upstairs apartment, but it is worth of lengthy consideration. For now, my budget won't allow anything like this, even at a good price. My goal for 2014 is to finally develop an emergency fund, and I am afraid that buying a new bike isn't the way to get there. Perhaps, however, in 2015...

[Rebecca19804]

Hi Catrin

Sorry to hear of your dilemma.

If you've got a bit of time on your hands at some point, my friend Helen's blog may be of interest. Due to a problem with one arm so that she can't put weight on it, she cycles (extensively!) on a series of recumbent trike. She doesn't talk much about her health problem on her blog, but you can get a feel for all the types of riding she does, here in the UK and in Germany, with the trikes.

All the best

[smilingcat]

If you've got a bit of time on your hands at some point, my friend Helen's blog may be of interest.

Your friend, Helen, has a wonderful web site. Spent some time reading about her test ride and purchase of the velomobile.

She pointed out lot of pluses of a velomobile and a trike that people may not be aware of. So please let her know I appreciate all the information she has provided.

It is definitely worth spending time reading her posts.

Thanks.

[Catrin]

It is indeed a very nice blog, thanks for posting it! I probably won't go this route for a couple of reasons, but it sounds like your friend has had, and is having a great deal of fun with it! The information is quite useful and thanks!

[Rebecca19804]

Your friend, Helen, has a wonderful web site. Spent some time reading about her test ride and purchase of the velomobile.

She pointed out lot of pluses of a velomobile and a trike that people may not be aware of. So please let her know I appreciate all the information she has provided.

It is definitely worth spending time reading her posts.

Thanks.

Helen asked me to post this reply on her behalf!

"From Auntie Helen: Thanks so much for the comments about my blog - I'm glad to know that it's helpful. I don't dwell too much on the medical reasons for riding (which are many - I have recumbenting friends who ride because of neck, back, leg, balance and arm problems) as I think there are more significant reasons for riding a recumbent and a trike in particular - fun, safe, fast (not that I personally am fast). There are of course disadvantages (the space they take in storage, difficulties on some trains, they cost more than normal bikes) but the advantages very significantly outweigh the disadvantages.

For Catrin, the recumbent trike world is very friendly and lots of people lend out their trikes to people for test rides (my spare trike regularly goes to other people who have short-term injuries or just want to give it a go) so it's possible you might be able to borrow/hire one near to you to see if it might help you out - or to help you rule it out completely (although I think you've already decided it's probably not the best option). There are lots of Americans on the ICE Trikes Yahoo Group, for example, as I think ICE sell well across the pond.

Anyway, I'm glad that people enjoyed reading my blog. I'm moving to Germany in a month's time and will be doing lots more cycling in my Velomobile and on my trike whilst there, plus will be sampling lots of different German cakes and pastries, so I hope some of you will come back and have a read now and again at www.auntiehelen.co.uk.

Auntie Helen"

[emily_in_nc]

...the recumbent trike world is very friendly and lots of people lend out their trikes to people for test rides (my spare trike regularly goes to other people who have short-term injuries or just want to give it a go) so it's possible you might be able to borrow/hire one near to you ...

I can vouch for this. While I was out riding on N. Padre Island, where we spent January, I came up upon a woman on a recumbent trike. I told her I liked her bike, and she immediately said "Want to try it?"

I didn't, because the last thing I need is another bike now with our nomadic lifestyle (already can't bring all three of my bikes along), but I thanked her just the same. She said she had gotten it due to multiple physical limitations and she absolutely loved it. She was quite slow but was definitely enjoying the ride. I thought it was neat she immediately offered to let me try it it. I am sure it's fun!

[Catrin]

Is there some sort of physical therapist/bike fitter or coach you could go to to work on your position and posture? Like how to align and pull up while on a bike? Kind of suspicious if there are other things that don't affect. Being locked into a position on a bike can exacerbate small things.

I don't mean bike fit. I'm thinking about how you align your spine. Maybe?

Done this, several times The problem is that there are so MANY things going on with both my cervical spine and shoulders, multiple nerve entrapments, etc. I've been told an even more upright riding position will likely solve it, but frankly, my fitter tells me that would require the kind of changes that might affect handling. It isn't that other things don't cause problems, I just don't DO those other things

It is quite possible that I need a PT/Fitter with a different skills set and experience, but that isn't available in central Indiana.

[OakLeaf]

that isn't available in central Indiana.

Sounds to me like Wahine needs to go on a nationwide tour to advertise her new business.

[Catrin]

Sounds to me like Wahine needs to go on a nationwide tour to advertise her new business.

Yep, her and Knotted

[Catrin]

Also, to be clear, my neck does have issues pretty much 100% of the time. When I say that <insert crazy activities here> doesn't bother it, I mean that XYZ activities doesn't make it worse then or over the following 24 hours that I have noticed. It isn't that my neck is perfectly normal except during/after riding. I went back and read my earlier wording and it could be interpreted that way but that isn't the case. My coach and I have figured out <insert crazy activities here> that are safe, those that are acceptable if I focus on 100% perfect form, and those that I simply cannot attempt or should not do. It is a balance, and the reason I still am paying the extra fees to be in the small group environment. He keeps me from hurting myself...

If I didn't love riding so much it would already be on the "NO" list. Trying very hard not to put it there, we will see how things go this spring. That mountain bike purchase was almost an impulse buy, little did I know what the full cost would be. I do not regret it however, it was certainly fun when things were working for me!

[Dogmama]

Sorry to hear about your neck from another neck sufferer. I still ride, albeit not the long distances that I used to do.

BUT - like you said - we're in MUCH better shape than most people our age and younger!

[Catrin]

Sorry to hear about your neck from another neck sufferer. I still ride, albeit not the long distances that I used to do.

BUT - like you said - we're in MUCH better shape than most people our age and younger!

Good for you Dogmama! I am glad that you are still riding. I will see how things go this spring, but if I am still limited to 20 minute rides with neurological consequences, I will hang up my helmet. I don't want to do that, but there are so many other things that I CAN do without the same level of after-effects. I've seen everyone local that I can see with the qualifications to help me with proper bike fit/positioning. I wish Wahine or Knotted lived here, if anyone could help me on this it would be them

[azfiddle]

Catrin, I do hope that a recumbent or trike might work for you. One of the gals on my team is close to 70 and rides her recumbent everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Let us know if that ends up being a solution for you.

Sharon