Day Four 7-26-10

Rode to work today, what a nice way to start of your morning. I sure noticed so many things that I had not even noticed before, like a creek that I cross over on my route that I never paid any attention to or that the RR tracks were easier bumps than I had anticipated and how important it is for people to keep their shrubs trimmed that stick out onto sidewalks and the number one item is the pitiful lack of contiguous sidewalks in our community! Fortunately, I'm in a position to do something about that. A short 2.2 mile spin leaves room for another short sprint after dinner.

2nd lap for the day was 2.4 so I have 4.6 for the day. Got a tip from Dawn the physical therapist for icing my knee after riding and I did tonight, will report findings tomorrow. The knee pain is much better while riding after the first block or so it's gone and even more importantly so is the stiffness, by the end of my ride I am very flexible. Strangley though, pain and stiffness have increased while walking since I began riding but maybe the icing will help that. I can tell that I am already building up a bit of endurance and balance. One thing that I noticed after the first day was that I had much greater flexibility in my toes. I was loosing the ability to flex my toes and just touching my toe against something was painful. The confidence level is rising but I'm still a long way from my youthful days of hopping on a bike and not giving safety or crashing a second thought. I am anticipating that I will become surer footed and maintain better balance even while walking, once I become more accomplished again. It's true you never forget how to ride a bike, but that doesn't mean that after years of not riding you regain your skill overnight. Ordered a beautiful wicker basket today. http://www.basketlady.com/Utility/Bicycle-Baskets-c282/

Day One

Day one, (well actually Day one was on 7-24-10 but I just now created the blog) bought my bike today! Wheels! I’m going to pedal my way to health. Rode around complex 4 times, down to the old firehall, on to peaberry’s looped around and down to the WLT, home again. Figure I have in about 3 miles today. Going to make a short term goal of 3 miles at least 3 times per week. Mid range goal is going to be 3 miles 5 times per week.

Long range goal is 7 mile ride 5 times a week. That was my ride pattern when I rode with regularity and it’s a good exercise regime, easily doable and uses up about a ½ hr a day in exercise and won’t burn you out. I should be able to get there in 4-6 weeks

I have both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and strengthening the muscles in my weakest areas (my knees) is of utmost importance. Gaining flexibility and getting more limber is high on the list of desires.

Working around these conditions is going to require a bit more thought than just hopping on a bike and going just a bit farther each day. It'll be important to note the changes in my body and how this affects my knees and other body parts. For sure, so long as I don't start off pushing the limits on long rides immediately, this will have to be a big step in the right direction.

Other unpleasant side effects of aging and dealing with a debilitating illness are that my balance has become poorer over time and there is a tendency to feel more timid about movements that were quite routine just a few short years ago. I've also experienced pneumonia twice in less than a year and have had on and off difficulties catching my breath and getting winded very easily. After loads of testing I still am not convinced that this is not related to the rheumatoid arthritis. Time will tell and so will more tests.

I am committed to pedaling for better health and expect to see great results from these efforts, not to mention this will be a good way to shed extra pounds taken on since moving from a highly physical career to the sedentary environment of working in an office. It's been a real change since arthritis has come into my life, moving from golfing and water skiing on a daily basis combined with the long physically demanding work days of life in a resaturant into a life of feeling a bit incapacitated by not being able to do these things and slowly moving into a lifestyle of less and less activity. Time for a turnaround and hitting the two wheeled trail.