feeling determined!

LadyA

LadyA

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I've left my bike in for an overhaul. It's only about 4 years old, but has been sitting in a damp shed for most of that! I originally bought it for cycling to the village, thinking I wouldn't want to get the car out and drive to town if all I needed, say, was milk. The village is only about 2 1/2 miles. Mind you, it's downhill all the way there, so quite a climb all the way back! When I got the bike, I was still taking care of my husband, and couldn't go to the loo on my own, never mind out cycling. And then, after he died, I found myself far too nervous on the roads here. The main road is very busy, and traffic goes so fast. So, I never got going with the cycling! Which is a shame, because the exercise would be good for me!

Anyway, I've been here: https://outsider.ie/ireland/waterford-greenway/ walking a couple of times, and it's fabulous. So, I started to think that it would be a great place for me to cycle, even to build my confidence. And it's safe for cycling. ONly thing is, it's over 20km from me to there! And I couldn't get my bike in my car. So now, yesterday, I got the bike mostly in the car, by putting all seats except the driver's seat down, and then I had to tie the back door of the car down so it wouldn't fly up, because the rear wheel of the bike was still hanging out the back! :mrgreen: And off I went to Halfords! Dropped off the bike and bought a bike rack for the car! So, now, I'm all set!! Woo hoo!!

I just hope I do take to cycling now, because between the repairs to the bike and the carrier for the car, it's cost quite a lot! All the cables on the bike had rusted, and I just didn't trust them. I'm going to have to pad my saddle though! I've got no padding on my bum!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
Best of luck LadyA, I hope you do take to cycling, its a fabulous pastime and way of seeing the countryside nice and slowly as well as keeping fit and getting plenty of fresh air. That looks a lovely routeway you have chosen. My OH is a very keen cyclist, but its too hilly here for me, so my bike goes in the car as I search for flatter lands as well. I have to take the rear wheel out to fit it in the car, and I have to say I find that easier than grappling with a rack. Well actually I can't reach the roof bars, and I can't figure out the boot rack! Have you tried removing a wheel (or even both) to get the frame into the car? I used to be able to get my OH's bike into the back of a Triumph Herald (many years ago) and even now I can fit a bike into a coupe, although they do have quick release which makes it easy. I just say this in case you can as well, then you could take the rack back. Get Halfords to show you the wheel release/or how to take it off anyway if you aren't sure.
 
And it might be worth getting a WOMAN'S saddle, which is broader at the back and sides to accommodate female hips. I found it made an enormous difference in my cycling days (not any more - our hill is obviously undergoing geological shift and is getting steeper every year.)
 
I started cycling last year, when OH stumped his toe and could no longer endure our daily 6 mile walk. He insisted the toe was broken, yet didn't seem to have a problem pedalling. Ho hum. ? I ride 5 evenings a week, 8 miles, for exercise. It's a chore I wish I didn't have to do, but middle age spread is beckoning ?. Now the nights are drawing in, it will be back to walking with a torch. LadyA you can buy a padded gel seat cover from ebay cheaper than Halfords.
 
Looks a great place to cycle Lady A. I had my bike overhauled just before I moved here 4 years ago but what with the four ties stock lorries delivering lambs to the abattoir and the size of agricultural vehicles I haven't plucked up the courage to cycle yet. I have a lady's saddle rather then the narrow racing saddle originally fitted which is much more comfortable although it is still quite hard. You need to check the various "padded bike seat covers" on eBay to be sure they will fit your saddle.
 
Having endured knee pain in quite a regular occurrence, I bit the bullet and got my bike and trainer out of my mother's garage.
Set it up in my spare bedroom and do some peddling most days. It's really sorted the knee pain. Must have built the muscles up around the kneecap.
 
Well, I have the bike back. I just had a little teeter around my driveway, which is too small really. It's a bit nervewracking. I felt very, almost out of control, on the bike. I think it's because not only is it many (many, many!) years since I've been on a bike, but the last bike I had was a Triumph 20! Not only no gears, but also, small wheels!! This thing feels enormous, with large wheels, so every push on a pedal feels as if it's sending me shooting forward! The weather was too miserable this afernoon to go out anywhere, and there's heavy rain and wind forecast, but some day.....!
 
Once you have been out a few times, you will become steady. I was all over the place when I got on my bike after 30 odd years. Not quite so bad i needed stabilisers, though. ?
 
Tweetypie said:
Once you have been out a few times, you will become steady. I was all over the place when I got on my bike after 30 odd years. Not quite so bad i needed stabilisers, though. ?
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I will (hopefully) feel safer on the Greenway, where I know there won't be any cars coming behind me!
 
Good for you LadyA, I am sure you will do great once you get on the Greenway, do let us know how you get on
 
Slight delay to plans!
Today, I dragged my dau and grandson out for a long walk. We went here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lefta4aSaWU The Anne Valley Walk. It's a favourite walk. It was a glorious day here, cold in the morning (so I stupidly wore a jumper, AND brought a coat!) but turned very warm! I was boiling! We did the whole walk, and climbed to the castle. With a toddler. Bless him, he trotted along most of the way out to the castle, but eventually, dau put him in his buggy so we could make a bit more speed, and he had walked a very long way for such a little boy (he won't be 2 until New Year's Eve). The way up to the castle is a very steep climb, so he needed a lot of help, but was delighted with himself! Then he sat in his buggy and ate snacks (apple and cucumber), all the way back.
Unfortunately, after going home with them to collect my own car, I then walloped my knee very badly getting in to my car! Really hard! So, now I have a very painful, stiff, swollen knee. No cycling for the moment, and no more long walks until it heals up either. I don't know how I managed to do it! I get in and out of that car at least twice a day!
 
LadyA I also love walks and this looks a fabulous place. This time of year is great, when as you say it is warm and sunny, yet not too hot (unless you take a coat, LOL). So sorry to hear you banged your knee, that's sod's law! The bike can wait. It's so nice to hear you had a fabulous day with your Grandson. My three grown up children are not in relationships, so there's little chance of me being a Mammar for a long time yet. I bet it's great fun and I bet he keeps you all on your toes :-)
 
Tweetypie said:
I bet he keeps you all on your toes :-)
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Oh, you can sing it! :mrgreen: Going home yesterday, I kissed him goodbye and left, and from outside the door I heard outraged yells of "Nanny! Ug!" I had dared to leave without a hug!
 
Yay! Go, me! :-)08 :-)08 :mrgreen:
Absolutely fabulous day here today, so, I took myself (with, I admit, some dithering and had to give myself a good talking to!) off to the Greenway with my bike, and had a lovely, leisurely cycle! I didn't go far, just did about 40 minutes. I figured that would be enough for my first time on a bike in about 20 years! It was just lovely, and I really enjoyed it! I decided to just concentrate on staying upright and moving, and not bother about gears for the moment, so just left the bike in 3rd gear, which is about the middle. It has seven gears on the back. There were a number of other cyclists, walkers and runners out. Can't wait to go again, but with Storm Helene due in tomorrow sometime, it will be a few days at least before I get an opportunity!
 
Well done :-)17 I think 40 minutes is great and not to be sniffed at. It took me a few times to become steady. I have a basket on the front which I think hinders me, but it's useful for carrying stolen blackberries, apples and dare I say, potatoes from the edge of the field. :oops: It's great fun ridi g a bike and at the same time keeps you fit and healthy. Hope you don't leave it long til your next adventure :D
 
Tweetypie said:
Well done :-)17 I think 40 minutes is great and not to be sniffed at. It took me a few times to become steady. I have a basket on the front which I think hinders me, but it's useful for carrying stolen blackberries, apples and dare I say, potatoes from the edge of the field. :oops: It's great fun ridi g a bike and at the same time keeps you fit and healthy. Hope you don't leave it long til your next adventure :D
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I'll have to empty the bike basket. It's been sitting on the kitchen floor, full of photographs waiting to be put in albums, for about three years!! It's a nice basket though, and has a zip out rain cover, and handles, so (if one were to ever manage to go on the public road and get to the shops! :mrgreen: ) I could take the basket in to the shops. It's even got a zip compartment for holding keys & purse!
 
Well done 40 mins is pretty good for 1st time. Get that basket emptied so handy for blackberries apples, chestnuts and anything else you may find.
The Anne valley walk looks lovely, just the place for autumn or spring strolls. Guess it gets pretty busy at weekends
 
Looking like I won't be out again this week. Tomorrow I'm babysitting (and there's Storm Helene due tonight/tomorrow morning anyway), Wednesday, I have a doctor's appointment, Thursday I'm working, and Friday mum has her cataract surgery! Time does really fly by, doesn't it?!
Rather bizarrely, in work this morning (I work two mornings a week as a Home Help) i had a severe dizzy spell! I do occasionally get brief light headed feelings, which, if I stay still and concentrate, pass almost immediately. This morning though, it didn't pass, and I had to sit on the floor and bend my head until it passed! Very weird. I will mention it to the doc on Wednesday, because I was a bit worried about driving home. I know my blood pressure tends to be on the lower side of normal, so maybe it "dips" now and then? Weird, whatever caused it! And very unpleasant.
 
I'm glad you're going to discuss this with your doctor tomorrow, LadyA. Dizziness, lightheadedness, and low blood pressure definitely need checking out, as they may be early signs of heart problems which shouldn't be ignored. And don't feel apologetic or allow yourself to under-describe how you feel, especially if you have a male doctor. It's generally accepted nowadays that women's heart attack symptoms are often different from men's, more subtle and less obvious, often not involving chest pain, and also male doctors are inclined to underrate and under-report what women tell them. See https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/heart-attack/women-and-heart-attacks
I've had hereditary progressive heart disease for years, and back in April I felt very ill, just before we were due to go on holiday, and managed to see the doc. before we set out. He was really patronising and made me feel as if I was making it up to get attention, as if I didn't know my own body after all this time. However, I did get him to refer me for tests at the hospital, and although these have taken 6 months to materialise, at least I now have a female consultant at the hospital who LISTENED when I told her what is happening, and dates soon for a raft of tests to find out what is going on.
Of course there are all sorts of reasons why you may be having dizzy spells, and it's possibly something quite mild and very common, but particularly as you live on your own, you need to keep a careful check on your heart health and get good advice which will make you feel more confident you're being properly looked after. It will take a while to get things done, so if necessary it's good to start ASAP and be able to get a baseline assessment which will be available for comparison in the future if relevant. There's a lot of helpful and reliable info on the British Heart Foundation website, including downloadable booklets on various topics which are good if the doc has told you something you haven't fully taken in, and want to check up on. See https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions
 
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