George

Well today is my one year anniversary, and boy did it go by fast. Anyhow with the rheumatoid arthritis somewhat under control, and my crash at the end of March ( my ribs still hurt) and my wife having a stroke, doing very well, thank you. A bad bike fit and sore knees and saddle issues ( of course) I managed to get 3340 miles in for the year. It's not many miles compared to what you guys a use to doing, but I thought it was a pretty good start. Hopefully , this year I wont have as much excitement, but time will tell, and I'll just take it as it comes. I did learn a lot from the forums and I'd like to thank everyone that helped. Anyhow, happy and safe riding, and please, don't worry about fear. I knew a lot of people that worried about fear, when I was riding motorcycles, and it seemed that it made them worse riders. Anyhow I think I'll go for a ride, thank you, George.

Beverly

Happy anniversary!

I hope I can manage 3340 miles.....fantastic!

stapfam

Cause you can- Just forget the gardening- the washing- the house chores and get out and ride.

George- Well done on the milage and getting over the problems that to lesser people would have stopped them from riding. Now the arthritis- Has this improved due to riding- or some other factor?

Keep riding and keep the excitement related to riding.

Jet Travis

+1 and well done.

jibi

Happy anniversary George.

Glad to hear the arthritis is under control, tell us all your secret.

Well done on the mileage too.

george ( 2)

VegaVixen

Sorry you've had such a bad year, George, but glad to see you working through it. I hope the ribs feel better soon! ((gentle hugs))

And you may borrow my favorite mantra anytime: "And this, too, shall pass...."

Keep riding! There's a strange holistic healing that comes from riding a bike.

George

I think the main factor was getting on Glucosamine/Chondroitin, it took about 3 months to get the full benefit from it. I asked the doctor about it and she said the G/C was good for osteo, but not Rheumatoid, which I'm on Methotrexate and Naproxen. I guess you could say I'm doping, but it works. After everything got squared away, I was able to start working out the way I like too. I feel this last week, with that Serfas saddle, I was able to put more power out, but with the set back seat post I have coming I'm going to try the Brooks again ( I'm into masochism). After a 35 mile ride yesterday the Serfas started to give me saddle sores, no good. I thought I had a ace in the hole, but now that, that is gone, I'm really hoping that the new seatpost works. Anyhow thanks for the encouragement and well wishes, George

will dehne

Happy anniversary.

35 miles and saddle sores? Something is wrong. Shorts? Cream? Powder? Getting off the saddle every ten or less minutes?

George

Thanks Will, I'm glad you mentioned about getting out of the saddle more. If I'm spinning, how do you guys get out of the saddle? I remember when we were kids with a single speed, going into the wind, we had to stand up, but we had a lot of pressure on the pedals. Do you go into a bigger gear?

Yen

George, I have tears in my eyes after reading your post. You're an inspiration. I wish you and your wife a healthy year ahead. And, Happy Anniversary!

Digital Gee

3340 miles in your first year is an amazing achievement. I haven't exceeded 2,400 miles in one year yet. And I ride a white bike.

So congratutions and here's hoping you find a happy ending for that saddle problem!

SaiKaiTai

3340 miles in year? Why, sir, if I was wearing a hat it would be off to you.
Keep on keepin' on.

Beverly

The white bike is the problem

My old black bike had 2400+ on it last year and I think the new black bike is going to surpass that mark this year. Hmmmm...wonder what another new black bike would do for me

Digital Gee

White is already so last year. We need gold, or copper, or whatever the heck stapfam is getting.

VegaVixen

I shift up one or two gears before coming out of the saddle on hills, but sometimes I just need to come out of the saddle for comfort, and so will choose a fairly flat stretch, and go up to nearly my tallest gear and gently "lope" along at a fairly low cadence, enjoying the respite and increased blood flow for maybe two tenths to a quarter of a mile. Then I sit and gear back down. Seems to help.

Louis

Way to go George. Your enthusiasm has helped inspire me.

After all these years, my motivation sometimes needs to be jumped started, and your posts help.

Motorad

You're the man, George. Got me beat by 3,000 miles, give or take a few miles.

roccobike

3350 beats my total. Congrats on completing a good cycling year. Everything else sounds like its under control. Maybe year 2 will have all positives!

Yen

I was going to say that too... you need a black bike, and a pink helmet.

solveg

Cogratulations! Do you think the cycling is actually helping* the arthritis, or is it unrelated?

Big Paulie

I do 6000 miles a year now, but it took a long time to ge to that number. Your first year is great, George!

Zipper

Good goin, George. 3340 is a mess of miles, particularly given that a whole lot of them had to be ridden in a Texas' summer. And I don't ever remember Katy as a destination spot for folks seek relief from summer weather.

tlc20010

Fabulous, George, congrats......I think that as we get older, we ought to get a factor to improve our mileage...you know, like a 10% or 15% extra credit for each decade over 50...what do you think?

I wish I had your fortitude and strength of character to make it through such tough times and to keep on keeping on. My hat (and loafers) are off to you.

George

Thanks again, for all the encouragement, and guess what, the setback seatpost came in the mail today, and what a difference. I pushed it all the way back, and my knee is right where it's suppose to be. It really something what 3/4 of an inch will do. If anything else it sure made me happy. Now I'll have to give an update on what that little bit will do. You probably know already, but I'll tell you anyhow.

dbg

Amen. I get misty thinking about all the things biking has helped me through.