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Ever cycle to a doctor's appointment?

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Old 10-09-07, 05:53 PM
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Ever cycle to a doctor's appointment?

I had to schedule a doctor's appointment for tomorrow morning but would rather not miss a day of bike commuting. Would it be too gross showing up for the appointment on my bike wearing cycling gear? I'm leaning against it, but the weather is supposed to be really nice tomorrow.
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Old 10-09-07, 05:55 PM
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I don't wear lycra on my bike, but I rode to a dentist appointment once, to fix my teeth that were broken in a bicycling crash. (Guess where my avatar icon came from)

I say do it. You can always bring some clothes with you and change in the bathroom if you think it will make things better.
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Old 10-09-07, 05:59 PM
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I have. I usually don't wear kit though, even when not going to the docs. If I'm going to be poked and prodded (ie. tests run), I'll wear a set of scrubs because I refuse to wear the humiliation gown/straight jacket thing they hand you at the hospital.
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Old 10-09-07, 06:13 PM
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I gone to doctors and dentist appointment all the time. I do ware shorts and a tank top there and then put on a pull-over shairt when I get there.
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Old 10-09-07, 06:38 PM
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I once rode to a dentist appt. around 2pm on a 115F summer day - 8miles to get there. I was 30min early by plan and pouring with sweat, even though I took it easy on the ride over. No time to cool off, they took me in early (yes the opposite is what usually happens)

I told them I was going to cool down first. They said no worries it's better to take me early. I sat in the vinyl seat and was slipping all over the place (I had shorts over bike shorts, but everything became drenched)

Then I relaxed and stayed put for the cleaning. When it was time to get up, my legs, back of thighs and other exposed skin were stuck to the vinyl seat - really stuck. I had to peel myself off, it stung a bit.

I've cycled to physical therapy which was great as I didn't need to spend 10min warming up on the exercise bike.

I've cycled to dr. appt in cooler months with no problem and to eye dr. If the nurse takes your pulse too soon well, its higher than it would normally be, but still lower than most patients

Al
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Old 10-09-07, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
I've cycled to dr. appt in cooler months with no problem and to eye dr. If the nurse takes your pulse too soon well, its higher than it would normally be, but still lower than most patients
Resting rate in the 40's, and quick recovery time for the win! I'm still fat, but I'm healthier and feel better at 190 pounds than I felt going up at 150 or 160 pounds back in the day.
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Old 10-09-07, 07:03 PM
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Doctor and dentist. I wore cycling shorts, and a t shirt. No problems.
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Old 10-09-07, 07:06 PM
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I went for my yearly physical a month or so ago and I rode my bike there and headed straight to work afterwards. I wore my bike shorts and some regular shorts over them (that's how I always dress anyway) and just a t-shirt. No big deal. I only live about 1 1/2 miles from the doc, though...
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Old 10-09-07, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
If the nurse takes your pulse too soon well, its higher than it would normally be, but still lower than most patients
I had the doc chew me out for high blood pressure and pulse one time. Was telling me I should exercise more and couldn't figure out why I was laughing at him. I had JUST walked in from sprinting to get there when they called me in. I made him retake it, and it was low, low, low. He couldn't figure out how the nurse had messed it up so bad... then I explained it to him. He got a pretty good chuckle.
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Old 10-09-07, 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
I had to schedule a doctor's appointment for tomorrow morning but would rather not miss a day of bike commuting. Would it be too gross showing up for the appointment on my bike wearing cycling gear? I'm leaning against it, but the weather is supposed to be really nice tomorrow.
Don't be a wimp. I rode my bike to and from an appointment with a proctologist for an examination by Flexible Sigmoidoscopy. What I wore hardly made a difference.

I'll be riding my bike to the dentist for a nerw crown on Friday.
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Old 10-09-07, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
What I wore hardly made a difference.
But I bet the ride home was extra smooth.

Al
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Old 10-09-07, 07:47 PM
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I wasn't gonna go there
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Old 10-09-07, 07:54 PM
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Both doctor & dentist, never really gave it much thought. Both places are within 20 minutes commute from work - shorter from home. Kit or no kit, why would it make a difference? No one suggests that we change from other common work clothing attire, why would bike kit be any different.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:00 PM
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Being in bike kit is better than one of those open back gowns.
I go in proudly wearing bike kit.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:06 PM
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I wouldn't ride one to a vascectomy.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:24 PM
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I'm sure that your doctor has to deal with patients far more gross than a person in cycling gear.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Don't be a wimp. I rode my bike to and from an appointment with a proctologist for an examination by Flexible Sigmoidoscopy. What I wore hardly made a difference.

I'll be riding my bike to the dentist for a nerw crown on Friday.
Somehow, I am certain, there is a joke here to be made about proctologists and seatposts. I think there might be extra mirth involved if there is a way to mix in carbon fiber somehow.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by john bono
I think there might be extra mirth involved if there is a way to mix in carbon fiber somehow.
Carbon fiber is old school. Titanium is the material of choice.
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Old 10-09-07, 08:44 PM
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What's the big deal? I've done this many times. Heck, the people at the dentist know me as the bike guy.
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Old 10-09-07, 09:09 PM
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i don't own a car; thus, this is how i get to the doctor's office. if you need to get blood drawn, make sure you wait about 20 minutes and eat a little before getting on the bike. and start slow.
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Old 10-09-07, 09:44 PM
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Yep. Doctor and dentist. Most times. No problem.
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Old 10-09-07, 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Don't be a wimp. I rode my bike to and from an appointment with a proctologist for an examination by Flexible Sigmoidoscopy. What I wore hardly made a difference.
Winner!

Seriously, though, I too have ridden to the doctor's office for an appointment. My doctor thought it was a great demonstration of how seriously I was taking his advice to get more exercise.
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Old 10-09-07, 11:33 PM
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I've ridden my bike to chiropractic and massage therapy plenty of times. I try to take it easy on the way there so I'm not too sweaty - but they've told me they don't mind a bit of honest bike sweat anyway! My doctor's office is a block from my house, so I just walk there.

One thing I am really noticing lately is how my recovery time is improving. I used to take about twenty minutes for heart rate and breathing to slow down completely - now it's about five! If only the sweat would disappear so quickly...
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Old 10-09-07, 11:44 PM
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I've been going to my chiroprator weekly in lycra and jerseys. She told me that she is glad to see someone who is serious about helping themself to get better by exercising. She wished that some of her patients would do something about their health too instead of just relying on doctors and chiropractors regarding their pains.
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Old 10-10-07, 12:24 AM
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I always bike to the doctor. The nicer ones let me stash the bike in their office
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