General Cycling Discussion - Cycling as Grief Therapy

On Tuesday night, I lost my dear grandmother. She was buried today.

She was vibrant and loved by everyone who knew her, and I'm going to miss her in a way that's hard to describe.

I'm not sure how I'd be handling this loss if it weren't for my "catharcycle (http://www.freesearch.co.uk/dictionary/catharsis)".

She always loved seeing the pictures I'd email her of the places I rode - and always pined for the physical ability to still cycle herself (born in 1923, and didn't have her first car until she was 24) - I guess part of me hopes/feels/wishes that now she can join me on my travels...


Eleanor Bartels
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3998/ellie6gs.jpg

- I guess part of me hopes/feels/wishes that now she can join me on my travels...


She will.

I'm sorry Bikepacker. I believe you may feel her presence with you as you ride your bike from now on.

My condolences, BP. She looks like she could have been my grandmother. I know you'll miss her.

Thank you all for your condolences,

But where I'd like to take this thread is how beneficial cycling has been during this time in my life. I still find myself in tears when certain memories come to mind, but the freedom I find on two wheels mitigates that pain - seeing life as a flow and flux, a cadence that cycles.

My pew is a Brooks B17.

I find that the freedom of riding pretty much cures all that ails me. I have time to think about my family and friends. I remember the ones I've lost and the ones I am worried about. I can pound out my anger or soothe my nerves. I can relax and smell the roses and just about anything else out there!

I agree with you Bikepacker. Riding is one great way to mitigate the pains of life.

I hope you have enough time to cycle as you go through these rough times.

I too have gone through tough times lately, I find that cycling is the best time for me to be really focused on being introspective. Everywhere else I go my mind wanders, cycling helps me to keep focused on my thoughts. I personally have found that it is a great time to think and pray through tough times.

thanks for the picture - I bet she was a super lady.

GG

I find that the freedom of riding pretty much cures all that ails me. I have time to think about my family and friends. I remember the ones I've lost and the ones I am worried about. I can pound out my anger or soothe my nerves. I can relax and smell the roses and just about anything else out there!

I agree with you Bikepacker. Riding is one great way to mitigate the pains of life.

I hope you have enough time to cycle as you go through these rough times.

+10

I find that the freedom of riding pretty much cures all that ails me.

It may take a mile or two, but ain't that the truth?

Once the sweat breaks, all becomes clear.

I know both the runner's high, and the weightlifting pump. but the bicycle is different.
It's both physical exertion and sublime philosophy.

When you're temporarily wiped from running you stop. When you're temporarily wiped from lifting you rest.
When you're temporarily wiped from pedaling, you COAST.

An analogy of life.

I hope you have enough time to cycle as you go through these rough times.

The funny thing about time is that you can always "make it" if you really care to.
I've always been a PM rider, but over these last hectic days it's been 6-8AM.

Sorry about your loss, Bikepacker.

I haven't had to deal with "grief" recently, but I find that bicycling almost always makes me feel better when I am down or frustrated about things.

Sorry for your loss. She looks like a great lady.

Over the years I have been through some pretty tough times.

Before I biked, I walked. Sometimes for miles at a time. Walking and bicycling gave me the time to sort through things, get things in perspective, and relieve that terrible tension inside of me. It helps greatly to "work it out."

To me, physical exercise is a great healer.

I am so glad you have been able to find and use this process of healing.

Thanks for sharing with us.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandmother, I'm sure she was a wonderful person and helped you in a lot of ways. I know what your going through with the recent loss of my brother. Keep her in your heart as you ride and she will be with you all the time.

There's no doubt cycling is very therapeutic. During the past couple of years I had some tough times, and right now things are stressful for me- job hunting and feeling depressed,etc. Sometimes it's the only thing that really helps- just getting out there! Also, when things are bad in your life, you want to do something "normal" for you, and if cycling is that thing, then that's what you do.

To me, physical exercise is a great healer.

Exactly.

I'm sorry for your loss bikepacker, my thoughts will be with you *hug*

I'm sorry for your loss bikepacker, my thoughts will be with you *hug*

Thanks Eve.

I'm doing alright... had the first day of no funeral arrangments today and went out for a nice long 80 miler (weather was perfect) and I even met a fellow poster and his wife from the forum (bentbaggerlen).

So it was a good day. A lil bit of crying a lot of bit of riding.