Hello everyone,
It's been a long time since I've been able to post at the site, but I thought I'd WEIGH in on this subject. Some of you know my story and some of you are new to the site, but needless to say, riding a bicycle had changed my life completely.
2 years ago, I was in the hospital thinking I was having an heart attack. I'd been having shortness of breath and was to the point I couldn't hold my new grandson and breath at the same time. I would be drenched in sweat just trying to hold him or walk across the room. I don't know exactly how much I weighed because my scales didn't read that high, but I'm estimating that my 5'3" frame was carrying 350 pounds or more. The good news after much testing is/was that there was no damage to my heart. It was as healthy as it could be for someone my age [42 at the time] and weight. The doctors put me on a diabetic and cardiac diet, which I'd followed to the letter. Within a year I'd lost some weight, but I still had a long way [still do now as well] to go to be healthy.
I ran into a former teacher who was getting ready to retire after 33 years of teaching at age 56 and was as healthy if not healthier than when I knew him as my teacher. I found out that he was a cyclist. I thought about if he could ride at his age why couldn't I? I wondered about getting my old 10 speed down out of mom and dad's garage? Well, it wasn't until recently that I was finally able to get that bike from the garage, but I was riding my son's mountain bike on the MONON trail and took a chance at looking at The Bike Line in Carmel. I told them my story [hadn't ridden since my teens] had been injured in an accident falling down 13 steps in '88 and gained all my weight back that I'd lost years ago due to a back injury and depression etc. I told them I wanted to ride to get healthy again, but that the mountain bike was beating me up and making my carpal tunnel worse. I was concerned about my back and wanted to be comfortable to ride. They recommended the Navigator 50 as a comfortable bike to get me around and moving. I rode it around the parking lot and couldn't believe how much more comfortable it was than what I was on. I put in layaway explaining that I was on a fixed income and hoped to get it out in a couple months, perhaps in time for my 44th birthday that would be in a couple months. When I'd called back to check on the bike, I was told that an anonymous donor had paid for my bike. I still don't know to this day who it was, but they have changed my life in ways they will never know.
I started riding my bike everywhere, thinking I just wanted to get heathy. This was late July. In August I finally set myself a mileage goal of 500-600 miles thinking Wow, don't know if I could possibly do that in a year. I passed that mark in early September and never looked back. In October, I rode my in my first Hilly Hundred in Southern Indiana. Granted I only rode the 40 mile route on Sunday since I worked Saturday, but I finished that 40 mile ride. I'd already started riding metric centuries. I ended the year 2005 with over 2500 miles [including indoor stationary as I count them] and 8 metric centuries [62.3+ miles]
I have ridden all winter on that little Navigator in all kinds of weather here in Indianapolis. I have upgraded the headstem and added bar ends [thanks to a good friend] This brings the handlebars up for me. I have also added a rack to the back and more recently gone from the stock 1.95" tires to 1.5" inverted tread and upped my average mph. I had already been told on more than one occasion that I have far exceeded any expectations of my little bike who's been named The Little Navigator that Could and already have 2255+ miles for 2006 [again including my indoor training] and have 5 metrics and more recently my first 2 CENTURIES. Just last month I rode 101+ miles in one ride and a week ago 109 miles.
If someone had told me this time last year I would have done what I've done on and off the bike, I would have told them they were nuts. I can hardly believe it myself. I had lost 100 pounds but I'm struggling with watching 2 grandchildren now and not getting to eat as healthy as once before, but I'm not going to give up. I'm 265 right now and would like to get back to 180 like I was in the earlier pic, I should weigh less, but will be happy there. Now if I could only turn back time too, but I'm already doing that getting healthy and lighter to see my grandchildren grow up.
The first photo in this series was May 2004, second June 2005 before I started riding the last was November 2005 and 250#. I plan on eventually making that dress into a jersey. I apologize for any mistakes spelling etc in this as I've been wrestling a teething 8 month old through a good portion of it. Grandma is lucky to get any time to herself anymore.