Back on the saddle....

[julbee]

arial2black
A warm hello to all!
Just a quick hello to intorduce myself.

I am returning to bicycling after 20+ years of physical disability.
I was formerly an avid athlete. I'd jogged every day, I'd played basketball in high school and in college, I biked for the fun of it!

I'm going to take this very slowly, as gentle and very sound conditioning methods will certainly be in order! I, too, will need to master "spinning," as my knees are a bit "wrecked" from years of sports and a genetic predisposition for osteoarthritis!

I will have use of a personal trainer to give me some advice as I "train." (My training won't be at the level most of you train!)

I'll be very content to be able to go on moderately lengthy "joy rides!"
I'll do better than that if I can. I often walk with a cane and/or with my service dog for mobility support. I have found I can ride much more easily than I can walk!!!!!

I simply must tell you this: I have been lurking on this forum for about 45 days. The wonderful and very "candid" people here have given me the courage to try to get back on a bike! It's due to the many stories and the encouragement I see for one another here that I have purchased a "beginner" bike and all of the safety equipment. (I'd taken notes on various recommendations on equipment here in this forum.) I am starting with a "hybrid" because I have great difficulty "holding" the "racing position" due to the stress it places on shoulders, etc.

Here's the big news: I have already been on three different rides! I am very excited and have high hopes of expecting more from myself; yet, not enough to exacerbate my conditions terribly. I'll have to learn to maintain a delicate balance between increasing capacity and exacerbating my disability.

I LOVE it!!!! I love riding on the road, the bike paths, etc. I just love it!!!

A very big factor for me this summer will be.... trying to find a way to ride and to stay as cool as possible. Heat exacerbates my condition. I will especially have to keep my neck and head cool. (I have a conditon that effects my central nervous system.) Anyone have specific suggestions for that type of a need?

Thanks so much to all of you. Your instructions, your openess, your sharing has put me.... back on the saddle again!

Enjoy your day!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Welcome back to riding!

I wish I had some suggestions for you on the head & neck heat front, but... The only thing I can recommend is to make sure that you are wearing a helmet that is light-weight and that has a reasonable amount of vents so that you can get some airflow through the helmet. (But I suspect you already have that one covered!)

--- Denise

[spazzdog]

Welcome to TE and to being back in the saddle julbee! Don't forget to visit the "Getting to know you" thread in Open Topics and tell us about you (if you haven't already done so).

Enjoy!!

spazzdog

[CorsairMac]

Oh Julbee - welcome to the board. Your message brought tears to my eyes and reminded me yet again why I keep coming back here - heck I pretty much live here! As for the keeping cool front, do you have an REI or something like near you? They make a type of neck wrap that you can put in the freezer and then tie around your neck like a kerchief (did that word just date me?) and it helps to keep you cool during the heat of the day. Maybe our AZ ladies know where you can get them online. You can also try freezing or refrigerating your water bottles so the water stays cooler during your ride. I find cold water hard to take in when I'm riding long distance in the heat but let me tell ya.....when I stop cold water is the FIRST thing I want! I'm so excited about your adventures on the bike to date....and who cares if you're riding a hybrid or a beachcomber.....you're riding. That is what matters more than anything else!!

and along with Spazz: if you get a chance, check us out on the getting to know you thread under the open forum.....tell us some more about you!

[administrator]

Did a google search on "cooling headbands" and came up with the following products which might be of interest (I have no personal experience with any of these...)

Miracool Evaporative Cooling Headbands (and other "cool" stuff)
http://heatreliefdepot.com/catalog/d...b46b1c403d5007

Cool Ties (kerchiefs)
http://www.cooltiesareus.com/

[roughingit]

The cooling headbands and kerchiefs work great! We use them for hot-weather training in the Army. Wet bandannas make a good cheap sub as well.

[CorsairMac]

Admin: You ROCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!! I know we keep saying that but ya know what?...you guys don't say much but when you do - it is Exactly what we need right then and right there!!!

Thanks again!!!

[julbee]

I am grateful for your responses!

Thanks for the links from "Admin." My trainer and I have looked at those options and are going to try them out!

I will try to get a different introductory post, as suggested, in today.

Thanks for the informatioin and for the encouragement!
It's deeply appreciated!

With gratitude,

[CorsairMac]

let us know how they work for you! .....heckie dern - we may ALL be buying them soon!

[profàvélo]

I've already shared this with julbee, but just in case someone else is interested...

Here is a page of the National MS Society site:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/IMS...mersComing.asp
It has links to lots of cooling products that may be useful whether or not you have MS.
Stay cool this summer!

[SadieKate]

Way to go, profavelo! I was just going to look for that link from the MS Society. So far, no problem for me, but heat was one of the first things I was warned about.