I have a narrowing of the spinal column in the lumbar area, a partial labrum tear in my left hip and degenerative arthritis in my hips thanks to the congenital hip defect I was born with so I experience knee buckling pain that shoots down my legs from time to time due to the nerves getting pinched in addition to numbness in my left leg if I stand or walk for too long. *When I started dealing with this issue last summer I was at my heaviest and had started to*walk at a early park but had to stop because of the pain and numbness. Frustration set in to say the least.

One day in late June I was having lunch and some beers on a Friday (I dont work Fridays). I was surfing the net while enjoying my meal and beers. Researched spinal stenosis and found that one recommended form of exercise was RIDING A STATIONARY BIKE (assume they figure those with more severe cases would be willing to ride stationary bike). Reason is that the body position on a bike changes how much room the nerves have as well as blood flow thru the hips. So I got the bright idea...I should get a bicycle! So I headed to my LBS where I had gotten my mountain bike 13 years earlier. Test rode a couple Trek FX bikes and put a deposit down.

The rest is a story most of you know.... In order to ride tho, I have to take Motrin before my rides or suffer later. Stretching is a must as well. I monitor how I feel and try to ride accordingly. But I am so grateful for how great I feel lately and I owe a big chunk of that to my newfound love of cycling. It as been a lifesaver.