Image: Pixabay
The Awakening
A couple of weeks ago, blogger friend Denyse made a comment on my blog that “she sensed a longing in me, for what was”. Well, Denyse is very perceptive. The longing in me lately has been to turn back the clock to when I was superfit and could do anything I put my mind to, and more. Denyse’s comment made me stop and think, making me face the fact that I am now a few years older than I was back then, and I’m definitely no longer super fit but considering my age, I’m still fit. Fit enough to enjoy a life of fitness in retirement. With this in mind, I have modified my exercise program, and am happy with how it is progressing, but that’s a story for another time.
However, there has been one gaping hole in my life in recent years, and that is the lack of cycling! I just haven’t been able to commit to regular riding, due to injuries, even though I yearn for it. I had planned to train for the O’Keefe Rail Trail Night Ride which was a few weeks ago, but didn’t do it. Cycling hasn’t been enjoyable for me for about two years, due to knee injuries and my broken arm. Thinking about getting on the bike just brings up thoughts of knee pain and struggles with lack of strength and power in my knees to push uphill. This lack of strength is due to injury, mainly overuse injuries, due to many years of very high impact aerobics. Those times when I’ve ignored worries about my knees and taken the bike out for a ride, have usually finished with me feeling quite devastated, and definitely not motivated to try it again.
The Decision
Denyse’s comment made me realise that I had to do something to fill the cycling gap, as cycling has always been a huge part of my life. After much thought, I have decided to leave the past behind and start a new phase in cycling. My big news is that last weekend, I decided to buy an ebike. This has been in the back of my mind for a while, as my cousin, who now rides an e-bike, has been encouraging me to go down this path. I’ve been interested but resisting.
Until recent years, I rode a road bike every day, and for distances of sixty km and often more. The thought that I may need an e-bike just didn’t sit right with who I thought I was as a cyclist. Stupidly, I would tell myself, that the day I need to ride an e-bike, is the day I will give up cycling for ever. These have been my thoughts until recently, when I’ve noticed more of my friends riding them and reporting that it’s still possible to have a good workout on an e-bike, as the motor only needs to be used as assistance, on the hills where the rider struggles. For the rest of the time, the bike is ridden as a normal bike. That definitely had me interested,and the more I thought about it the more interested I became, until finally I had a light bulb moment, that, of course, I’m better off to ride an e-bike than not to ride at all. Silly me, of course I am!
With that thought in mind, I popped into a new e-bike store that opened in our area just a few years ago, and was surprised to find that the owner was the person who took care of my road bike, when I was riding regularly, and was able to advise me on exactly the type of bike I needed. I trusted him, and felt happy with his advice, so chose a bike and went home to anxiously wait until after the weekend to collect it and start my next phase in cycling. It’s a long while since I’ve felt so excited about cycling, and once again having it be a large part of my life again. The irony is that I haven’t ridden regularly for a couple of years, but at the same time, the best thing for my knee is cycling. I’ve known that ever since I was younger, and that knowledge kept me on the bike, as I knew that if I gave up riding, I would end up with serious knee problems.
Pedalling Again
I had planned my first ebike ride for what turned out to be the first day of another covid lockdown. The regulations allowed me to ride only 5km from home which had me a bit disappointed, as I’d been planning a longer ride. I really felt I needed a long ride, to work out how to ride this bike, that is nothing like any bike I’ve ridden before. I wasn’t sure how the electric gears worked, but was hoping that I’d be able to work it out.
I headed out very tentatively on a freezing cold and windy day. The five km limit meant a circuit of laps which is very close to the house, adding up to 20 kms. It turned out to be perfect for my first ride as I was able to test out the gears and electronics on the many hills. By the time I arrived home, all my hesitations were gone, and I was feeling confident. My new ebike, even though vastly different to my road bike, was extremely comfortable and easy to ride.As it turned out most of my worries didn’t eventuate. I was mainly worried that an ebike would be an easy workout. Nothing is further from the truth. My 20k ride burnt up 480 calories which is only a little less that riding the road bike.
I can see myself having many great hours on the rail trails and tracks in our area.
I’m now looking forward to a longer ride on Tuesday, when I have the day off work. Later in the week I have four days off work, so of course, you know where you will find me. I will be on the O’Keefe Rail Trail happily riding my new ebike, and feeling great.
Image: cycletoscana.com
This post is linked to Denyse’s Life This Week
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This is great Jen 😊😊😊
Thanks Helen
Great decision, enjoy your new ride. I must get back on my bike too, no excuses here as the terrain is quite flat.
Going into winter isn’t ideal but not too bad
Getting in before I usually comment.
Oh my, how my heart sang when I saw what you did after my comment. I know that sometimes I see in others as I do in myself and I sure have spent a lot of time wasted over longing.
My recent life change is that I have to ‘accept’ the changes in my arthritic hands that are seeing me having to limit my use of pencils and pens. Of course it is my dominant hand and left index finger…So, I am learning to adapt. To do some painting – that doesn’t hurt the fingers and to cut out some things to paste on.
Adapting is what we are doing and I am cheering YOU on from NSW!!
Denyse.
Thanks Denyse and also thanks for giving me the prod. I have slightly arthritic hands too so I understand what you’re dealing with. Good that you’re able to adapt so you can still do what you love
Thanks so much for being part of the Life This Week Community by linking up. I always appreciate my blogging friends comments on my post too. Have a great first week of June. See you next Monday I hope. The optional prompt is: Motivate. Denyse.
I will be there on Monday Denyse. Thanks for all you do to create this space
Hi Jen – e-bikes are certainly the most popular thing since sliced bread over here in WA – they’re EVERYWHERE! I guess people are spending their travel $$ on something that gets them out and about without the strain of pushing a bike uphill. I seriously considered one but chose my scooter instead – there were benefits to both, but I felt I’d use the scooter more – and it goes faster! So glad you’ve conquered the learning curve and you’re going to have so much fun on it. Great decision!
Thanks Leanne. I had another ride today to confirm it was the right decision
I’ve never been a cycler, but when it’s something you love the gap is real. I think I’d be like that if I couldn’t do my walks. I have friends with cycles who have said it’s given their cycling a whole new lease of life. I hope the same applies to you.
I’m loving it so far Ho, but still a bit to learn as it’s so different to the road bike
Oh what a great decision and great you’re back on wheels, even with a bit of extra wizz, and getting out and about. And you’ve made me think more about my poor neglected bike that should be ridden more often.
I hope you do get your bike out one day soon Christine. I’m loving riding again.
So wonderful to read your post Jen and I know Debbie from Deb’s World will attest to the value of an e-bike. Alas, I’ve never mastered riding a bike but perhaps it is never too late! Enjoy and I look forward to seeing some photos of your riding trails. #weekendcoffeeshare
Never too late Sue! I’m sure there will be photos
Oh Jen, this made me sooo happy! I love riding my ebike and I agree it’s better to be out riding an ebike than not riding at all. It doesn’t hurt my knee at all and I just love knowing I have assistance to get home up the big hill if I need it! I’ve been out today on a cold 5degree day and we did a tidy almost 50km and I know I had a workout! Great news indeed for you.
I’m loving it more and more every day Deb. Better riding than not!
Congrats, Jennifer, on your new e-bike and getting back to an activity you love. It’s fantastic that you got good service from the store owner when you were looking to buy. Have fun cycling! Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.
Natalie I’ll pop in to #weekendcoffeeshare whenever I can until July, when I should manage to be a regular.
That is so awesome. I love bike riding but don’t do it often, usually when on vacation. Way to take her words to heart and do what you did. I had to look up rail trail because I had never heard of it before.
Rail trails are great Kirsten and very popular here