stevetailor125
Active Member
I haven't done any serious cycling for 25 years, I have owned a 1930s butchers bike and a 1940s Home Guard bicycle that I rode to the shops and around local events in full uniform.
I gave up cycling all those years back when as a younger fitter 24 year old I was coming down a hill, noticed a car slowing to turn right, across my path. The driver stopped and waited, we even made eye contact, for some reason only known to the driver when I was feet away he suddenly turned into my path. The end result was the racing bicycle I was on was destroyed up to the saddle,I went over his roof my head impacting with the roof edge, I landed badly splintering my fingers on my left hand length wise,smashing my knees up and saying ouch or words to that effect.
I was in a wheelchair for a while and had my hand/arm plastered for ages, every time they removed the plaster the bones went again.
It wasn't that the accident that put me off, I had a young family and it was easier to use a car.
It was thanks to my son that I ended up back on my cycle, he's in the army and had some leave before deploying to Afhanistan so wanted a bike to keep his fitness up whilst on pre-deployment leave. I was actually given 2 free bicycles, my son opted for the fullsuspension MTB and I decided I'd ride the standard MTB, his never got used by the way.
Mistake number 1, me still thinking I'm the fit 24 year old not the car softened 49 year old decided that I would ride to my regular treatment every Monday, well I'd ridden round town( all of 2 miles) so how hard could a 34 mile round trip be.
Ok journey down went ok, odd couple of hills and by the time I got there I was out of breath and with legs like lead but I'd be fine coming home after my hours treatment break( now stop laughing).
Now although I had checked every piece of the bike, changing tyres etc for less chunky, I forgot one important thing to check the pedals, about 4 miles on the route home, the left one started getting tighter and grinding, the other thing I hadn't realised was it was mostly uphill home, my legs and knees were in pain, I was down to doing more walking than cycling, getting slower all the time and in more pain. I finally gave up 4 miles from home and got me and the bike dragged home in a taxi. I realise now, not enough short trips first, trying to push to fast and burning myself out
I then had the sense to do some small journeys and managed the 34 mile trip, although I walked a few hills, still making the mistake of pushing to hard up hills and burning out too soon, so hill advice most welcome.
I have changed bikes, I'm now riding a Ridgeback Adventure GLS hybrid which came about by accident, I actually went to a LBS I was driving past to buy a inner tube for my 6 year old bikes and the Ridgeback was outside with various other second hand bikes.
My wife obviously spotted me drooling and got me to ask how much, now money is extremely tight so I didn't expect to buy it, my cycle life was planned around a free MTB and goodies from Tescos.
Still nothing ventured, the guy in the shop was really helpful, insisted on me test riding it and it was love at first sight, lightweight, comfortable and with gear levers that I now adore one lever for up and another for down, shimano v brakes. I'm testing it thinking nice dream and then almost fell over when he told me the price £79 less £15 trade in for my no make catalogue special MTB. Now you have never seen anyone drive home so quickly to get the old bike back to him before he came to his senses, they even included a warranty and made sure it was set up to my height etc.
I did still make one mistake I had 2 weeks off treatment and for one reason or another didn't ride at all, diving straight into the 34 mile journey, variable high speed winds on the way down, thunder, lightning and hail storms on the way home but I made it, walked some hills, ached a lot butI did it.
I've read a lot of advice on here and if I'm right drop gears down, spin and just keep steady going up the hill.
I'm currently trying to ride at least 5 miles a day to keep my legs used to it, watch this space for Mondays 34 miles.
PS excuse any poor spelling, just getting used to varifocal glasses
I gave up cycling all those years back when as a younger fitter 24 year old I was coming down a hill, noticed a car slowing to turn right, across my path. The driver stopped and waited, we even made eye contact, for some reason only known to the driver when I was feet away he suddenly turned into my path. The end result was the racing bicycle I was on was destroyed up to the saddle,I went over his roof my head impacting with the roof edge, I landed badly splintering my fingers on my left hand length wise,smashing my knees up and saying ouch or words to that effect.
I was in a wheelchair for a while and had my hand/arm plastered for ages, every time they removed the plaster the bones went again.
It wasn't that the accident that put me off, I had a young family and it was easier to use a car.
It was thanks to my son that I ended up back on my cycle, he's in the army and had some leave before deploying to Afhanistan so wanted a bike to keep his fitness up whilst on pre-deployment leave. I was actually given 2 free bicycles, my son opted for the fullsuspension MTB and I decided I'd ride the standard MTB, his never got used by the way.
Mistake number 1, me still thinking I'm the fit 24 year old not the car softened 49 year old decided that I would ride to my regular treatment every Monday, well I'd ridden round town( all of 2 miles) so how hard could a 34 mile round trip be.
Ok journey down went ok, odd couple of hills and by the time I got there I was out of breath and with legs like lead but I'd be fine coming home after my hours treatment break( now stop laughing).
Now although I had checked every piece of the bike, changing tyres etc for less chunky, I forgot one important thing to check the pedals, about 4 miles on the route home, the left one started getting tighter and grinding, the other thing I hadn't realised was it was mostly uphill home, my legs and knees were in pain, I was down to doing more walking than cycling, getting slower all the time and in more pain. I finally gave up 4 miles from home and got me and the bike dragged home in a taxi. I realise now, not enough short trips first, trying to push to fast and burning myself out
I then had the sense to do some small journeys and managed the 34 mile trip, although I walked a few hills, still making the mistake of pushing to hard up hills and burning out too soon, so hill advice most welcome.
I have changed bikes, I'm now riding a Ridgeback Adventure GLS hybrid which came about by accident, I actually went to a LBS I was driving past to buy a inner tube for my 6 year old bikes and the Ridgeback was outside with various other second hand bikes.
My wife obviously spotted me drooling and got me to ask how much, now money is extremely tight so I didn't expect to buy it, my cycle life was planned around a free MTB and goodies from Tescos.
Still nothing ventured, the guy in the shop was really helpful, insisted on me test riding it and it was love at first sight, lightweight, comfortable and with gear levers that I now adore one lever for up and another for down, shimano v brakes. I'm testing it thinking nice dream and then almost fell over when he told me the price £79 less £15 trade in for my no make catalogue special MTB. Now you have never seen anyone drive home so quickly to get the old bike back to him before he came to his senses, they even included a warranty and made sure it was set up to my height etc.
I did still make one mistake I had 2 weeks off treatment and for one reason or another didn't ride at all, diving straight into the 34 mile journey, variable high speed winds on the way down, thunder, lightning and hail storms on the way home but I made it, walked some hills, ached a lot butI did it.
I've read a lot of advice on here and if I'm right drop gears down, spin and just keep steady going up the hill.
I'm currently trying to ride at least 5 miles a day to keep my legs used to it, watch this space for Mondays 34 miles.
PS excuse any poor spelling, just getting used to varifocal glasses
