Nordy, I thought of you
I finally got a bike! I did some research, test drove and decided on a brand I liked. Couldn't afford new right now, so I found a vintage version in a consignment shop. I love it. It's a late 90s Specialized Crossroads Sport. Definitely old school, but was $30. It's now in the shop getting some TLC - a tuneup, new tires and hand grips. I just couldn't forget that bike ride with my friend in the fall and your encouragement. I fall down, I get up! LE sucks, but life is also great! I swear LE makes me crazy one day and then I'm normal the next. Still fighting Blue Cross!!! Grrrrrr!!! but I'm smiling at this moment! You are my exercise hero! I may be 54, but I'm not going down yet!
How do I post a pic from Photobucket?
Comments
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Tina!!!!! WOOOOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hurray for you! Cycling is freedom, I think! Freedom from thoughts of most anything else - allowing you to just be in the moment pedaling away... Exhilarating - and in my mind falls second only to skiing as far as bringing me to a place where my mind can just let go of everything else and focus on the enjoyment (sometimes fatigue/pain) of the moment. I do own a Specialized mountain bike, as does my husband (although I am not a "mountain biker" - but he certainly is), and we both like that brand very much for that type of bike - so I think a hybrid (which is what I am pretty sure the Crossroads is) would also be a great ride. Keep me posted - there is nothing you cannot do. So you go for it.
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Way to go Tina!!! I am considering getting poles for my walks. Onward and upward! Becky
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Becky, that's great! Those poles sound terrific. Maybe I need those, too!
Nordy, thanks for putting into words what I used to love about riding . . thirty years ago. That little taste in the fall touched a place deep inside me and refused to let go. Yes, the Crossroads is a hybrid, so I can ride on the rails/trails, even in places where it's not all paved. We are fortunate to have many of these trails in my area, and they are finally all hooking up with each other. There is now an opening to one section about a mile from my house - what better invitation do I need?
When I lived in NJ, I road my bike on the roads since they all had large shoulders. I loved it, and I would take the back ways through farmland from town to town. It was heaven. Now in the suburbs west of Phila, the roads are all twisty and hardly any shoulders worth mentioning. When I first moved to the area, I took my bike out once and was scared to death. I know of several bikers who have been hit or knocked off the road, so I just won't do that here. However, I will be able to take my bike back to NJ when I visit my friend, and she and I can ride where I did all those years ago!
Thanks again for your support!!
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Tina (and Nordy), you INSPIRE! Thanks so much!
Binney
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Tina - You are welcome! Yes, I agree - sometimes the roads can be crazy! I ride with a group of women during the warmer months. I will come home and tell my husband where we have ridden and he will inevitably ask me if we are all crazy. And he rides! I always feel slightly safer in a large group (at least there are witnesses!) - I refuse to ride many of the roads that we ride as a group by myself because of the lack of shoulder. And if someone did hit me - I think it would be days before anyone found me in the ditch! Soooo... I pick and choose my routes when I have to cycle alone. I think you will have a GREAT time on that bike!
Binney - You are welcome also!!!
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OK, all you cyclers, here's a question I've been wondering about: Do you suggest any particular type of bike or modification to take some forward load off an LE arm? I'm a casual rider (read: slow!) and have a hybrid that's an old friend. Haven't been on it since bmx/recon in July, but looking forward to cycling in the spring. We have some gorgeous bike and multipurpose trails in W. Michigan that go for miles and miles. I'm wondering about the forward body pitch with arm weight pushing on the handlebars. Any issues or suggestions?
Carol
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Carol, I was concerned about this and actually told the person in the local bike store I visited. I was worried about pressure on my trunk and arms. So while I was testing models to see how they felt, he was checking my position. A couple actually felt wrong for different reasons and I felt pressure in my arms or chest. Now Nordy can probably explain the mechanics of it, as I am a novice. I just happened to test ride my friend's hybrid and it felt great. That gave me confidence to go look for my own. All I can say about my friend's bike and my bike, is that the posture is upright enough so that my trunk, arms and hands feel relaxed while holding the handlebars. From what I understand, hybrids will pitch you a little more forward like a mountain bike - some more so than others. For a more upright and relaxed form for the arms and chest, a "comfort bike" is probably better. That sounds like a perfect solution if you are not concerned about speed (not that they are slow by any means).
I don't know where you are in Michigan, but an owner of an independent bike store in Saginaw (Chicky & Chippi Cycle and Fitness) gave me a quick lesson on this by phone and steered me toward the Specialized brand. I had been doing a search on the kind of bike my friend has, and a used one showed up out there, so I was looking into shipping - stupid, I know, but I was enamored with that bike. This guy knew he would never sell me a bike since I live near Phila and was just being nice and helpful. I really appreciated it. He said people usually come into the store all jazzed and want a certain bike they were told was great. He always tells them to slow down and take your time and try out several brands and styles. What is right for one person isn't always right for another. The one reason he did suggest I check out the Specialized brand is because they have a line for women that not only has a low entry but has different proportions than the men's versions. With most brands it's the same bike but a low entry vs the cross bar.
While I was dazzled and would have been thrilled with a new bike with current technology, I didn't want to make a major investment in something my LE might prevent me from enjoying. And I wanted to make sure I would actually ride. So I determined which brand/model bike felt right and looked around for used. I ended up with the men's version, but the frame size was right and it felt good.
Oh, and the guy at my store said there is a piece that can be added to the handle bar stem to slightly adjust its position. Not sure if that was only the Specialized brand, but it is worth asking about for your current bike, since it might be something that makes your own bike feel great. -
Thanks, Tina! Lots to think about and plenty of time to make a good choice, as there's a lot of snow in between me and Spring! I live quite far from Saginaw but there are good bike shops nearby. I had not thought of altering my bike, so what a great suggestion. I have a good friend who does bike repairs and I'll bet he could modify my handlebar stem as needed.
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Carol - Tina gave you tons of good advice! Yes, totally test drive different bikes. See what works best for you. Go to a reputable bike shop and see what size frame fits you on each particular brand - or mainly the brand that you like the most. And yes, you can most definitely alter your bike to some extent (obviously you can't change the size of the frame!). The easiest way of moving into a more upright position is by having the stem changed out. They come in different lengths and angles - so having someone who is good with fitting a bike can really help you find a position that is good for you. And this is a fairly inexpensive fix. Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!
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Thanks, Nordy. In the years that I have owned my faithful bike, about the only thing about me that has NOT changed is my frame size! I will definitely look into adapting the stem, so I can see how I feel about riding with weight forward at all, before committing funds to a new bike. Then if I find that a different style of bike would work better, all options will be available. Can't wait til spring!
Carol -
Shop called and bike is ready!
Nordy, it's great to know there is such flexibility with the stem. Guess I will eventually need to get a rack for the back of my car. Any suggestions for one that won't scratch like the old ones did? -
Hmmm... Tina - I don't know! We have one that is on the roof... My sister has a great one for the trunk of her car - I am going to go look online and see if I can find it!
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Hmmmm... How much do you want to spend? Yakima makes great rack systems as does Thule. Here is one I found - just to give you an idea. But you may be able to get a better deal on something at your local bike shop or rack shop... check REI maybe???
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Thanks, Nordy! I will have a look at your link and ask at the shop. There's an Eastern Mountain Sports not far from me and REI in the area. I am willing to spend enough to avoid scratching my car though. Hopefully the one my friend had was poorly constructed. How in the world do you lift a bike onto the top of your car?!
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LOL... Tina... my bike does not weigh much! But when my husband brings his mountain bike, I have to have him lift it up! Some roof racks have you remove the front wheel - mine does not. It was specifically designed to carry the whole bike in one piece. Which is great... except when you forget that the bike is on top... and drive into the entrance of Best Western on your way to your husband's first Ironman and rip the bike and entire rack off the top of the car... LOLOLOL! I am not saying I did this...
Okay, well maybe I did do that... but I haven't done it since. And just to put it out there - my car and the rack took more of the brunt of it than the bike did. They did a quick fix on it and he was out racing the next day. At least with a trunk rack you won't have that possibility!!! -
Nordy, the visual on your hotel canopy drive-through is certainly vivid! You must be married to a man with a world-class sense of humor!
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OH... Carol... He was so mad... LOL... For like, a minute. Then he calmed himself down and was okay. The thing is, he was in the car with me and he had forgotten too! Now when I am traveling and have the bikes on top, I put notes up on the inside of the windshield (not blocking my field of vision, of course) to remind me. One would hope that I would not do that again...
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My DH would probably never let me drive with a rooftop payload again. Which would be fine with me. I like being chauffeured around! We move bikes, boats and kayaks around using a pickup truck, which limits the chances of missing a low ceiling. Otherwise, I'm totally capable of doing exactly what you describe. The note is a fine idea. I would need it to be done in neon lights, however.
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Hi Ladies,
Congrats on your new bicycles! A few things I have learned:
- My preference is a rack that is rear-mounted as just too easy to forget you need clearance on top. A few months ago, I talked to a guy who did $5, worth of damage when he forgot.
- There are professional bike fitters. Riding position can make all the difference in the world.
- Anyone just starting again....a hybrid is probably the best choice. There are handlebar extensions so you can ride even more upright. I have one of each, but mostly ride my road bike.
- I am one of the 10% using Campagnolo shifters/brakes, as Shimano are too large for my hands. On hybrids, the shifters with levers are easier to use than the twist type.
- Padded shorts and tights are NOT an affectation.
- For long rides, energy gels can make the difference between exhilaration and misery.
- Smartwool socks in different weights for summer and winter. I have a Smartwool helmet liner which keeps my head toasty for winter.
- Along with energy gels, electrolyte replacements make for better endurance and reduce cramping. But again, for rides of more than ~20 miles.
Congrats on cycling. I ride winter and summer, although ice is a show stopper. All of us waited yesterday for the ice to melt, and then were greeted with glorious sunshine. Not sure about today, as dragging from a nasty cold. I will need to see.
Enjoy your new bicycles. When I started cycling again, I started with a garage sale 3-speed, then to a hybrid, and finally a road bike. I am far better endurance than I had in my 20s, and this was even true during chemo. Just the most amazing and fun exercise. - Claire
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Nordy, oh my word, that really is a visual! So sorry you had that experience. Glad it was an easy repair and your husband could race. He really sounds like a good egg!
Carol, a truck must be the perfect solution. I guess you have a permanent hitch? From what I read, that seems to be the most safe and stable for both vehicle and bike. I wish I could install a semi-permanent hitch. I will admit I am sort of a goofball and have a love affair with my car, and I don't know if I could permanently disfigure Her Highness. Oh, and it's not some fancy car, it's just me being weird.
Claire, those were some great suggestions. I have been wondering about winter gear so I might get a little riding in before it's terribly cold. Although earlier tonight I noticed it was 28 degrees, so maybe it's too late. It IS almost January! -
Tina - burrrrrrr.... ! My husband rides his bike to work everyday - rain or shine, cold, wind... you name it. He hasn't ridden in snow, however... but it doesn't snow here very often anyway - we have more of the wet/damp winters. I would much prefer the snow! Anyway, we both ride in the cold - but it certainly does require more gear. Definitely hand, head and foot warmth are key. Then layering in the trunk area is good. I definitely agree with the Smartwool socks - or even the wool ones from REI - however Smartwool is my favorite and I would go with a midweight one for cold temps. If I wear too thick of a sock I have issues with my feet while cycling. Around here we deal with rain and chilly, damp weather more than the frigid cold, so rain gear is essential.
On the subject of bikes - when people ask me what kind of bike to get, I tell them, "The one you will ride." I have had friends that thought they were going to do a lot of long distance road cycling and that is what they purchased, only to trade it out for a hybrid or commuter bike the next year. Then there are people like my sister that started with a hybrid and loves riding so much that she purchased a nice road bike this past year. No bike is any good if it stays hanging in the garage most of the year! If you start on something basic and find that you absolutely love it, you can always trade for something better or different, depending on what you want to do!
Oh, and last - I definitely agree with Claire on having nutrition on hand for longer rides. I did not realize how important it was until my first big ride (which was over a hundred miles longer than anything I had ridden prior to that). It was at about mile 120 and I was just DONE. I stopped, guzzled a Boost (which I take for REALLY long rides), ate a package of Shot Blocks and some gross Power Bar (not my favorite) that my husband had on hand and in about 5 minutes I was good to go. Now when I ride anything over 20 or 25 miles, I have food on hand all the time. I eat about every 15 minutes on longer rides.
I am so excited about you ladies getting into cycling! Yeehaawww!
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Nordy, you and your husband aren't riders, you're athletes! I had those Sport Blocks, but it was after a myofascial release session when I hadn't had a chance to eat before. I got off the table and was totally spaced out. Fortunately, the PT's wife is a nutritionist and was there and she had me eat the blocks and a power bar, and I felt a world better. Maybe next time will be while I'm exercising, for goodness sakes!
This is one of my favorite memories of riding. Not long after I bought my second 10 speed in 1978 (a Motobecane which I loved like my car!) I took off on a ride and reached my destination town. Still felt like riding, so I went further . . and further. I knew I was heading somewhat east but didn't have a map and never had driven there by car. I'm exploring. So I finally come across a convenience store, and go in and ask where the heck I am. They tell me, and when I say where I've ridden from on my bike, they look at me kind of funny. I was thirty miles from home! I decided I better turn back at that point, so I had some water and food and was on my way! Totally unplanned trip! I google mapped it not long ago, and I was amazed. When I was young I dreamt of riding to the beach from my house, and if I hadn't been going a little south at the same time I was heading east that day, I would have been there! I was 21 when I made that solo trip, but long before that as kids my friends and I rode everywhere and our parents never worried about a thing. Strange how things have changed so much.
I used to run on trails and walk a lot when I started dating my husband. He kept saying I shouldn't do these things alone, and after a while of not doing, now I'm paranoid to go. When I recently got the bike and was talking about riding, he said I wasn't planning on riding alone . . . I immediately told him I most certainly was and to not start that stuff with me because I would hardly ever go if I had to find someone all the time. Besides riding is like the trail running and I enjoy doing solo. To be honest, I am sort of angry he got me to stop running like that. I'm not a fool and know you need to be safe, but you can't be afraid of everything or you never do anything fun! It's weird because he would go walk by himself at the park but would worry about me doing it! My husband is not a nut job, rather, he comes from a family of worriers, and I know he loves and cares for me a lot. I think the chances are that I've survived the most dangerous risk to my life, don't you?!! -
Tina....Agree that you need to "go anyway". I have learned though that a few things aren't wise. Such as the time I did a backcountry ski after the season, and realized I hadn't seen anyone for about three miles. This was in the mountains. I go out by myself all the time on trails.
As for winter sports, I dress in layers. Silk turtleneck base layer with a silk/wool v neck layer over. Then one or 2 cashmere sweaters. Finally, a bright yellow windbreaker which is also water resistant. I wear a scarf around my neck too. This takes me down to the high 20s. Colder, and I wear a parka.
I also have fleece cycling tights, and THICK Smartwool socks. I could do with covers over my vented shoes. The bright windbreaker is so that I will be seen.
I dress similarly for x-country skiing. I buy the cashmere sweaters on eBay and they last for years. Smartwool also makes layering pieces in merino wool. Wool is breathable, and keeps you warm even when wet. Important in this climate.
Anyway, need to get going. The only thing that stops me from getting out there is serious ice. I won't do that. Otherwise, I add layers and do my thing. - Claire
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Do you mind if I ask everyone's age? And were you all in shape prior to your BC surgeries? I mentioned I am 54, and while I was fit most of my life, the last three years are a waste, and I had slacked for a couple years before my diagnosis. Sometimes I feel like it would be impossible to get anywhere near the condition I was 8-10 yrs ago. It's horribly depressing when I think about it.
Someone please tell me you went from being out of shape prior to your BC and that even with LE you have gotten in such great shape. Anyone? I don't even care about super high performance, just a level of fitness that makes me feel strong and capable. My stupid pecs are shot from the implant reconstruction and then deconstruction. I fear that is a permanent limitation. I think I can be realistic about expectations, but I'd love to feel hopeful and positive that I could recover some of my strength. My husband worries about my solo exercise, while I fear LE more than anything. -
Tina, I am no athlete, but I can walk a mile in 12 minutes and keep up that pace for four miles or more. I don't run because I don't care for what it does to my joints. My diagnosis was LCIS so not BC, but a marker for very high risk. Given my very, very big family BC history, I opted for prophy bmx and recon, which of course, let me off the hook on much of the full-body onslaught that comes with chemo and rads. My diagnosis also was not an emergency, so I had time to prepare, which for me meant returning to the fitness I had enjoyed in my forties and largely let 'go' in my 50's.
The day I scheduled my surgery--11 weeks out--I marched into the only gym in my little town and introduced myself as a woman in need of a fitness miracle. I had the wonderful fortune that the gym owner and its sole certified trainer took me seriously, and I worked out with him on strength training 3 times per week for an hour, and did cardio work at home (using Leslie Sansone DVDs, lots of outdoor speed walking, and an elliptical gerbil machine) six times a week, going at least 60 minutes on non-strength training days and at least 40 minutes after strength training. Todd, my trainer, was a rock of motivation, he did not baby me, and we worked out a very specific plan of attack to get ready for the bmx/recon surgery (diep) and recovery. I am self-employed working from my house, so I am fortunate to have the flexibility to keep this kind of schedule. And no kids at home to keep me busy and tuckered out!
To our thread discussion here, I haven't done a serious bike ride in years, but now I'm really looking forward to the 20-milers I used to do when younger. Ditto for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in our snowy Michigan starting pretty soon, I imagine. I'm still not back to pre-surgery shape, because I'm being very cautious about core work (diep ended up a muscle-sparing free flap, so I lost a tiny bit of muscle), taking that slowly and carefully.
Also, I have not started my strength training program anew. First I was waiting for PS green light after my July surgery, and then I realized I had LE, which prompted me to research the strength training guidelines. Just a week ago, with some sponsorship help from a few hospitals, I brought in a workshop that teaches the PAL protocol to personal trainers (you can bet Todd was there!). Two days later, I had my stage II recon surgery, so now I wait again for a PS green light to begin lifting weights.
The important outcomes for me are that a) I proved to myself that with enough focus and commitment, I could recapture my fitness level from 10-12 years earlier, given 11 weeks to do it; so b) I feel very confident that I'll get it back again, after surgery is fully behind me (I'm already at pre-surgery cardio fitness level, but now with a little timeout for stage II recovery), and most of all c) I realize how much I love being fit and how much I missed the joy of exhausting myself physically, whether in a killer strength training session or on a joyous, speedy walk in wooded trails or whether on a hike. So--come spring, I'll be on that bike (I'm in awe of those of you who do this when it's frigid....!)
To answer your other questions, I was seriously out of shape before my diagnosis, embarrassingly so. And I am 57.
You can do this. I know you had more wicked, energy-depleting BC treatments than I had to endure, but I just think that based on all your enthusiasm as expressed in this fun biking thread, you have a wonderful goal that will help you focus and get you where you want to be! So, best wishes for doing just that!
Carol
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BTW, I write for a living...some would argue that words come entirely too freely! Sorry for the lengthy post!
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Tina, Nordy, Carol and all the rest of you, a really heartfelt THANK YOU for this encouraging, cheery, can-do thread. Lymphedema brings limitations and frustration, but you all offer the much-needed reminder that there is also exhilaration and accomplishment and -- well, there's still a whole lot of livin' to do!
Ride on!
Binney -
Binney, it's just so affirming to focus on what you CAN do instead of what you should not do! Now, back to that holiday baking (after eating therof, I will need to hoof it with gusto to compensate....).
Carol
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Have to chime in here.. Nordy is one of the most exceptional women I have ever known! I'm so glad I stumbled across this thread and got to see her contagious enthusiasm in action yet again!
Smiles,
Marcia -
Marcia - You are so sweet! Love you!
Binney - Thank you!
Carol - I am thinking that has to be a typo up there that you can walk a mile in "48 minutes"... LOL - do you mean in 18 minutes? Or 14 minutes?
Tina... I was in superb shape before I got pregnant with my first daughter. Then I kind of gained a fair amount of weight during my pregnancy (50#) because I seriously ate everything in sight that had sugar or chocolate in it. Unfortunately, that is also when my cancer showed up. I honestly attribute its rapid growth more to the crap diet I was eating than to the pregnancy. But I have no proof of that... just my opinion - and knowing that that tumor had been there ten years earlier as a tiny little pea, but had "disappeared" while I was working out and eating extremely healthy. So go figure. Anyway, so I call my cancer scenario the never ending pregnancy, because I went from being pregnant and always feeling slightly nauseaous to postpartum and being a weepy mess, to cancer diagnosis and treatment of chemo, then surgery, then rads - all with an infant - which also made me slightly nauseous and fatigued, to a slow recovery of fatigue for about a year - during which I developed the lymphedema... to another mastectomy with tissue expanders, to a second pregnancy (more fatigue and nausea), to a move and more surgery to remove the expanders due to complications... (I am not done yet, hold on... ) to more surgery for flaps from my hips, to total hysterectomy with ovary removal, to stage 2 of my reconstruction... Ahhhhhhhhh.... So... I would say that I didn't start really getting back into shape until 2 years ago when I got back on a bike with a goal of riding Seattle to Portland (STP - 206 miles) in one day. I started riding in April and the longest ride I had done prior to the STP was 34 miles. Well, STP is in July - so I trained from April to July and rode that sucker in one day. I was certainly not the fastest person out there... but I was determined to finish it. The last 50 miles was a mind game. I just kept thinking, "If Lance can come back from cancer to win the Tour de France, I can ride a little 200 mile ride." And I did it. I shocked my brother (but not my husband - he knew I could do it
) because of my lack of a longer ride prior to that. The next year I did 3 centuries (100 miles), 3 triathlons and a half marathon. This past year I cut back just a little bit just because of lack of training time (spent 3 weeks on vacation in June with my family) and only did 1 triathlon, 1 century and one half century. But I did a lot of other rides in there too with my riding group. SOOOO... It is totally possible to get back into shape. You just need to find something you love to do. I have to say, cardio wise I am probably in better shape than prepregnancy, but strength wise - not so much. Before I got pregnant I was ripped. I mean... yeah, ripped. You could see every muscle in my back, arms and legs. But now I run around playing taxi to my little ones and I just can't spend 2 hours a day at the gym, 6 days a week. It is all good. I had my time for myself before kids, I will have time again afterward. Right now they are my light and my life. I still take time for me everyday (except the past week with holiday stuff - I am burning the candle at both ends!) and I certainly feel a difference that AGE makes with all of this - but exercise for me is my anti-depressant drug. It allows me to focus all my energy on whatever workout I have chosen for the day - and I like to mix it up (Zumba, cycling, skiing, jogging, walking, weight training, yoga...you name it, I probably like it!). Oh, and I am in my 40's so a little younger than you Tina - but not all that much. Anyway... I think I just wrote a novel... isn't that Carol's job??? LOL! My point is - just do it... well now that was not very original. Shhhhh, don't tell Nike I have stolen their slogan... LOL
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