Originally Posted by
whm1974
I used ride everywhere, outside the small city where I live. Stopped doing that after I gotten my disability ~10 Y/O ago ... harder now that I'm middle age.
Originally Posted by
whm1974
Really let myself go.
Okay. So, injuries and/or disabilities. And let yourself "go."
Do your legs function appropriately, suitable for at least
some exercise, perhaps suitable specifically for use of a bicycle (even a seated/safe gym type cycling station)?
Does your sense of balance function appropriately, sufficient for simple weight-bearing exercise, simple gym "floor" exercises, and/or suitable for maintaining safe balance while cycling?
Do you have a muscle strength problem or limitation that would get in the way of general exercise or (seated gym) cycling?
Do you have a cardiovascular limitation that would inhibit exercise, or cycling specifically?
My own situation:
Decades ago, I had a near-catastrophic injury to some muscles in a leg. Took years to fully recover. And at about middle-age the injury's inherent weakness began to get serious enough that power levels were down from that "fully-recovered" state. Balance was down, ability to exercise frequently (at any sort of "decent" level of output) was down.
My solution was: start slow, with something stable and effective for boosting my cardio and enlisting my legs' muscles, then keeping at it and general exercise/weights until such time as I strengthened sufficiently to add more-general activities. Began on seated cycling and rowing stations at the gym, and incorporated weight training ... this done daily for nearly three years. Gradually, too damned gradually IMO, the legs got stronger and overall my balance improved sufficiently to the point I could do on-bike cycling on the roadways. At which point, adding in frequent cycling and commuting became easy. The key: starting slowly, safely, then keeping up with it, daily, plus as much stretching as necessary; eventually, your body will "wake up" again and begin working better ... even if it takes years of such turn-around. IOW, the body knows what to do, so long as you push it along down the right path.
Can't say that this will necessarily work in your case, as it's unclear exactly what your disability's limitations are. But, assuming you've got some balance and some muscle function, it ought to be possible. Try finding a couple of different physical exertions that you can do daily, do safely, and do sufficiently energetically to benefit your cardio and muscular needs. In time, I'll bet you will see sufficient improvements and increases in strength and ability that'll allow you to regularly (perhaps even daily) engage in cycling or other activities.