Bryony
Veteran
- Location
- Ramsgate, Kent
Hi, Cycling with health issues
- Thread starter Ged I
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I own 5 so may be a little bit biased!
I see no problem at all
My late brother suffered renal failure and could not travel far due to oedema and fatigue, my elderly mother and mother in law both in their 80's found shopping by bike difficult
Electric bikes gave them all an extended mobility that made a real difference to their lives and extended their social lives as well
My wife is disabled and runs a Bionx powered recumbent trike, and I have an eletcric powered Christiania that enables me to carry an 80 kg mobility scooter
We can now travel by bike AND also have mobility at the destination
They are unequivoclly a benefit and there is no argument that I can see against them
I see no problem at all
My late brother suffered renal failure and could not travel far due to oedema and fatigue, my elderly mother and mother in law both in their 80's found shopping by bike difficult
Electric bikes gave them all an extended mobility that made a real difference to their lives and extended their social lives as well
My wife is disabled and runs a Bionx powered recumbent trike, and I have an eletcric powered Christiania that enables me to carry an 80 kg mobility scooter
We can now travel by bike AND also have mobility at the destination
They are unequivoclly a benefit and there is no argument that I can see against them
terry_gardener
Veteran
- Location
- stockton on tees
welcome and just ignore narrow minded people, you will get comments from both kids and adults.
as a person with hidden medical conditions I know that it is very annoying when people pass judgement without knowing the facts but rise above them and don't let them get you down.
use whatever bike you like your the one riding it.
as a person with hidden medical conditions I know that it is very annoying when people pass judgement without knowing the facts but rise above them and don't let them get you down.
use whatever bike you like your the one riding it.
.. on a positive note
When we bought my MiL her bike it was a beach cruiser from ZZap (ex Demo form Open Road) with the intention of changing the components to a suitable bike for a 68 year old
She would have none of it and loved the style, wide bars and comfy seat.
The thing was with a US bike and a frail OAP it was fast and could easily do 20 mph
She used to love it waiting for a youngster to overtake and then burning him up!
.. and slightly less PC
We were out one day and a group of lads came up behind us..... looked at this cruiser with a female on it wearing leggings and a fleece
"Look at the arse on that!" says young man
OAP looks round, "gurns" and say's "Thank you young man"
Young man nearly falls off bike and spends the next mile having the pi$$ taken by his mates
When we bought my MiL her bike it was a beach cruiser from ZZap (ex Demo form Open Road) with the intention of changing the components to a suitable bike for a 68 year old
She would have none of it and loved the style, wide bars and comfy seat.
The thing was with a US bike and a frail OAP it was fast and could easily do 20 mph
She used to love it waiting for a youngster to overtake and then burning him up!
.. and slightly less PC
We were out one day and a group of lads came up behind us..... looked at this cruiser with a female on it wearing leggings and a fleece
"Look at the arse on that!" says young man
OAP looks round, "gurns" and say's "Thank you young man"
Young man nearly falls off bike and spends the next mile having the pi$$ taken by his mates
Ride before you buy!
Trikes (electric or not) have unique steering characteristics that some people cannot get on with
- Location
- Glasgow
Welcome to CC Ged!
Take no notice of the wee one's comment, did not know any better.
Enjoy the benefits you get from your electric bike.
What others think is of no importance, if it was nobody would wear lycra shorts
Saw a couple out cycling, on cool looking bikes fully loaded.
The couple was in their 80's, the bikes were electric, never would have guessed.
Last edited:
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Hi & welcome.
another (severe) asthma suffered here - in fact I am typing this whilst using my nebulisers prior to cycling 22 miles to my parents home! I think my asthma endures me rather than the other way around: I'm too pig headed to let it be the anything else (I'm on 4 inhalers, 4 sets of tablets & nebuliser, plus my asthma meds affect my adrenal glands & have left me with secondary Addison's disease now as well).
As others have said, the more you cycle the easier your asthma will become with time and I have found that if I can keep my fitness really high, I have far fewer issues with my asthma when exercising. I just find I take much longer to warm up that others - anywhere between 30-60 mins and that is currently (winter takes longer), I cycle slower and I have to accept that I can't always do what I want, but I still try to get out there 4 times a week at least (spent 3 months off the bike last summer because it was too bad
). My approach has always been 'stuff what the rest of the world thinks' and just to get on with it: I just have to accept they have no idea of the medical implications or impact it has on our lives and ignore them.
Best wishes.
SNSSO
another (severe) asthma suffered here - in fact I am typing this whilst using my nebulisers prior to cycling 22 miles to my parents home! I think my asthma endures me rather than the other way around: I'm too pig headed to let it be the anything else (I'm on 4 inhalers, 4 sets of tablets & nebuliser, plus my asthma meds affect my adrenal glands & have left me with secondary Addison's disease now as well).
As others have said, the more you cycle the easier your asthma will become with time and I have found that if I can keep my fitness really high, I have far fewer issues with my asthma when exercising. I just find I take much longer to warm up that others - anywhere between 30-60 mins and that is currently (winter takes longer), I cycle slower and I have to accept that I can't always do what I want, but I still try to get out there 4 times a week at least (spent 3 months off the bike last summer because it was too bad
). My approach has always been 'stuff what the rest of the world thinks' and just to get on with it: I just have to accept they have no idea of the medical implications or impact it has on our lives and ignore them.Best wishes.
SNSSO
Thank you guys' some very posative comments and feedback albeit from cycle fans. Anyone reading this or contemplating getting an electric bike due to whatever the reasons I would deffinately recommend it, as it has already helped me to loose weight and improve on my respiratory issues. I'm also thinking with the price of fuel now'a days and the extrac cost of running a second car anybike can offer great savings and benefits.
As a new member of this forum I'm looking forward to working my way through it..
As a new member of this forum I'm looking forward to working my way through it..
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
What bike did you get?
Mark White
Active Member
- Location
- Tha Sala, Thailand
When discussing asthma it can be too easy to jump in with an uninformed opinion, especially without knowing the severity of your condition. So, with that acknowledged...
I was a sufferer for 30-odd years, with a few hospital admissions and periods on the nebulisers, but mostly kept controlled with daily Becotide and Ventolin as needed, which was a few times a day. I was certainly not chronic, but it affected my life for a long time.
Then I came across the Buteyko Method. Within 2 days of reading about this and starting to practice it, I put my inhalers away and have not used them since, which is now 11 years. Naturally this has turned me into a huge advocate for the method, but I know it is not a miracle cure for all sufferers and you should not do this sort of thing without support from your GP.
There is loads of free information about this on the internet, and probably lots of paid information too. I didn't need the paid information, and I suspect it adds little to nothing compared to basic, simple, free method. I'm happy to receive private messages about this too as it's somewhat off topic. I urge you to look into this if it's not something you've explored before.
I appreciate this might sound spammy, but I have nothing to gain through this post except...well, after lurking here for a week or two I've initially joined just so I could post this message to you, So maybe now I'll de-lurk and post a proper Hello post and get chatting :-)
All the best,
Mark...
I was a sufferer for 30-odd years, with a few hospital admissions and periods on the nebulisers, but mostly kept controlled with daily Becotide and Ventolin as needed, which was a few times a day. I was certainly not chronic, but it affected my life for a long time.
Then I came across the Buteyko Method. Within 2 days of reading about this and starting to practice it, I put my inhalers away and have not used them since, which is now 11 years. Naturally this has turned me into a huge advocate for the method, but I know it is not a miracle cure for all sufferers and you should not do this sort of thing without support from your GP.
There is loads of free information about this on the internet, and probably lots of paid information too. I didn't need the paid information, and I suspect it adds little to nothing compared to basic, simple, free method. I'm happy to receive private messages about this too as it's somewhat off topic. I urge you to look into this if it's not something you've explored before.
I appreciate this might sound spammy, but I have nothing to gain through this post except...well, after lurking here for a week or two I've initially joined just so I could post this message to you, So maybe now I'll de-lurk and post a proper Hello post and get chatting :-)
All the best,
Mark...
I done a bit of research and it appears one of the key components and very much undersetimated is the battery pack' and the quality of it. I used a local Company and went with a bike called Smarta Bike, and have to say the bike is awsome, I was well overweight when I started and took this into account when choosing the bike, as I needed to think Tonka Toy approach. The bike has been amazing and helps me do what I do. I'm sure there are other bikes just as good and of course better, but I am really happy with my choice. it has a 9ah battery that is just right for my needs.
by the way I am now 3 stone lighter with the help of combined dieting..
by the way I am now 3 stone lighter with the help of combined dieting..
Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
Hi Ged and welcome to the forum! Hope you have as much fun here as you do on your bike!
I'm totally on your side about an electric bike, due to restrictions in health it's the right way to go .
(It gets my back up when people write jokes about being dyslexic! Unless you have to suffer with it you have no idea how much if a struggle it can be. )
I'm totally on your side about an electric bike, due to restrictions in health it's the right way to go .
(It gets my back up when people write jokes about being dyslexic! Unless you have to suffer with it you have no idea how much if a struggle it can be. )
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Do you have an ebike? Which one did you go for if you have?
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I've not long ago fitted an electric front wheel kit to my other half's Dawes Geneva and what with a rack mount battery and replacing the dynamo hub front wheel it doesn't look any different. Goes up hills a lot better though 
MattE72
Active Member
- Location
- North Wales
Hi Ged, welcome to the Forum. I too am a fellow asthma sufferer. Didn't go for an electric bike myself (although there are times I wish I had!) I hope you get as much enjoyment out of cycling it as I do.
I've been back riding just over a year now and in my last asthma check up the nurse informed me that my peak flow had increased by 100L which has made it all worth while! Good luck and enjoy!