Putski08

Hello,
I'm new to the group. So, I guess I should introduce myself and let you know, I love working with my hands. Being a Jaguar mechanic most my life, I was devistated with the onslought of Fibromyalgia. But, as I wait for S.S.Disability to finally be approved, I have been restoring abandoned "Classic"10 speeds.
They are such a head turning conversation piece, and a true pleasure to ride!
My question is, has any-body else suffering from Fibromyalgia, found bike riding such a good excercise, as I have?
I have trouble walking 100 yds. without a break these days, yet I can ride my '73 Schwinn Continental......all afternoon! Great excercise, keeps muscle tone, without any weight transfer pain.
I recommend it, let me know if you do to. Hope to meet some new friends here.
Putnam.

CAtrikerider

I, too, have Fibromyalgia. Last summer I bought a CATrike Villager (recumbent trike). I love this machine. I could not balance a regular bike and thought the recumbent trike would work for me and it has. My trouble is it is so much fun and comfortable that I can over do and then I have trouble standing up, but that will not stop me from riding it. It's a good way to keep moving.

Putski08

Tell me about it, See,I get riding along, enjoying the scenery, forget how long it's been, then remember I must get home, and when I do, I pay for it the next day.
But I have found my limit........

CAtrikerider

Hi Again,

One of the things I have discovered, is if I get enough sleep, I feel much better. Another thing, is if I find something to do that I really like, I can get past the pain. I recently purchased a "Trikke". Been told it take awhile to get the hang of it. I'm still hanging, but I'm going to get it and then look out. Bought it from a fella in Lafayette CO. Have free lessons with purchase, also has a DVD showing technics to help you learn. Check out the website www.trikke.com. If you go to Comfybikes.com or springcreekrecumbents.com there are a lot of links to other recumbent bike/trike places. The people at Spring Creek Recumbent bikes are very helpful. Getting a machine that is custom fit is essential to the comfort of the rider. I don't know about other shoope, but Spring Creek will allow you to try out a trike/bike before you invest your money. You can rent rent them. When you go to the website, click on Links on the upper right hand side of page. This may be more than you asked for. Good luck and Happy riding.

aural exciter

Hello,

I had this for about 20 yrs. before they diagnosed it. They don't know too much about it. I kept ignoring it for years. The older I got the worse it got. Well I started rehab and they had me do various stretching (with rubber bands), corner push-ups etc. I couldn't do the corner push-ups and ended up hurting my lower back, anyway, they put me on the stationary bike and that's all it took. I could ride it for 15 min. straight. I used to ride long distance (road biking) when I was younger, I had been riding since I was around 5 or 6. I live in Pgh. and it is all mtns. and hills. To make a long story short, I went out and bought a new mtn. bike. I thought I was going to jump on it and ride like I did before. Not so. I could barely balance it. The bike was the right size and I had the seat pretty low, but my muscles were too weak and I was wobbly at best. I think the guys at the bike shop were worried. I took the bike home and rode around my parking lot. It is a loop. I started getting used to shifting the gears. (much easier than my old 10 spd.) The trigger shifters are great. I did the parking lot for a couple of days, then worked myself up to go around the block. It was down hill for a ways then I had to pedal up hill. Wow, muscle pain and burning and out of breath. I kept on doing the block then got enough nerve to go down the big hill. I was flying down the hill and feeling better than I ever. I was high on the energy. I have since worked my way up to about 12 mi./ day...50% hills. Now my seat is to where, I just touch my toes on the ground. The burning in my legs is getting less. The pain in my shoulders and back has lessened and I am sleeping much better. Before I coudn't sleep. My mind would race while I was sleeping. My blood pressure has returned to normal and many of the pains that I had are much less. I'm sorry for rambling, but I though this might help. I hope it does. There are some posts about this on Training and nutrition. Thanks for reading.

Putski08

Thanx all, who responded to this thread! Fibromyalgia is a disease that is unseen, silent and
devistating. It takes years to finally understand, why you feel like you fell off a two story
balcony...........every day. But, restoring old 10spds, keeps the conversations going, every
time I stop. It's amazing how people finally realize......you don't have to own a $3000.00
bike. All 5 of my '60's - '70's restorations this year......have cost $70.00- $100.00.
This includes new tires, paint and elbow grease. And people stop you on the street.....
ask "Where in the world did you find that cool bike?, I had one just like it.....!"
So, the riding and time spent keeping old bikes on the road....keeps the cheese,
from slipping off the cracker.......Good riding to all, Putnam, Soulsbyville, Ca.