trials and tribulations

[indianajo]

i just don't think i can enjoy sitting on a bike indoors. the only thing that would make it fun would be competing with myself to put out a few more watts or finish a little further in the virtual pack.

Indoor on my exerbike in winter, I watch music videos. If you don't enjoy music or watching people dance, I can't help you.

 

[Catalyzt]

Tough break, Mark. Let's see what the doctors say and what the next few weeks will bring. It may be that there is some diet, lifestyle, or other random factor involved that will tip the risk/benefit balance back in your favor-- or not.

How do we know when the moment has arrived? Well, I think it came for me this year, just not with this sport. I went down to the beach about three weeks ago to go body boarding. I watched the conditions for 10 minutes. Lifeguard on duty, check. Surf two feet or less, check. NO other surfers in the water-- that never used to stop me, I'd still get rides that would get the tourists of their blankets and taking pictures. (I'm only an intermediate, but my specialty was riding crap waves.) Close outs constantly, not good, but not a deal breaker. Close out close to shore, that's much more problematic, but I've managed that in years past, too.

Waves that are impossible to read-- literally. In the 10 minutes I watched, there were two rideable waves, but in all honestly? I could not have picked them. And there were about six waves I probably would have gone for, but that could have been neck-breakers.

The beach was badly eroded, too, so you WILL face-plant if you don't yank the nose of the board up as you get near the sand. Drop off steeper and closer to shore than I had ever seen it.

And I realized: I'm done. Walked back to the parking lot, stared out at the ocean, said a prayer to my higher power, and thanked my homebreak for almost a quarter century of epic rides and great fun. Body boarding made me a different person, changed my life in so many ways I can't even count. I've hit sharks-- seen a dorsal fin go right under my board-- been stung by stingrays, chased by seals, and escorted by dolphins. Got back in my car and cried, yelled, and pounded the steering wheel. I'm on blood thinners. The odds are just not in my favor. And I've been beating them for too many years-- decades really.

Might I go out again? Sure, in Santa Barbara or Kauai, if conditions were right. Could I get another run at my homebreak? Possible, but really unlikely.

But those years when I'd get in 15, 20, 26, or 30 days of riding a season are long behind me. It's not the same if you don't do it all the time, it's always like your first day out. I WILL go again-- somewhere, occasionally. And you may be able to ride again, somewhere, too-- maybe with max assist, maybe only with a buddy, maybe only within ready ambulance range. It will be different, but if it breaks that way, take what you can safely get and no more.

You may get a reprieve, you may not. The uncertainty is terrible, and for me, the decision is never completely final. But for me, a certain peace came with knowing that yeah-- this is probably it. I gave it everything I had, and I didn't get killed or disabled. There's a beauty in that, if it turns out that day has come for you.

Sorry to ramble.

 

[PSm]

Indoor on my exerbike in winter, I watch music videos. If you don't enjoy music or watching people dance, I can't help you.

I used to think indoor riding was terrible, but my opinion was completely changed with a smart spin bike and the latest virtual reality apps. Actually makes it fun, and really helps me improve my fitness with focused training and ability to ride at times when I couldn’t otherwise (due to work schedule, weather or it being dark outside!).

 

[Kayakguy]

Mark, I’m so sorry you’re having this adventure. Just read your latest about your new Scott bike, which we’ll discuss over there.

Chalk me up as another hater of indoor riding of any kind. Once winter shuts us down, that’s what all these guitars are for! Any time we get over 35 degrees and the road shoulders get clear, the Creo makes an immediate reappearance, though. If I absolutely have to get that bike feeling, the local YMCA has pretty good virtual world trainers so I can go pretend to be in the south of France.

Back in the beginning of the whole Lyme/Babesiosis/Erlichiosis era I had a very exciting and nearly fatal adventure where I was designated as the Interesting Patient in the ICU. Boy, that is the very last thing you want to hear the big time Lyme specialist tell you. My AFib issues that commenced about five years ago to go along with the cardiomyopathy all seem to have their origins in that experience.

I’ve been fortunate to not have that Old Familiar Feeling for a couple years now, but I know it’s always out there. I’ll keep that Creo going till I absolutely can’t. Much respect on your attitude to find a way to keep pedaling.

Even worse is hearing your surgeon or barber say "oops." I think every barber shop should post a sign saying, "Don't worry; it'll grow out."

 

[Taylor57]

Mark, I’m so sorry you’re having this adventure. Just read your latest about your new Scott bike, which we’ll discuss over there.

Chalk me up as another hater of indoor riding of any kind. Once winter shuts us down, that’s what all these guitars are for! Any time we get over 35 degrees and the road shoulders get clear, the Creo makes an immediate reappearance, though. If I absolutely have to get that bike feeling, the local YMCA has pretty good virtual world trainers so I can go pretend to be in the south of France.

Back in the beginning of the whole Lyme/Babesiosis/Erlichiosis era I had a very exciting and nearly fatal adventure where I was designated as the Interesting Patient in the ICU. Boy, that is the very last thing you want to hear the big time Lyme specialist tell you. My AFib issues that commenced about five years ago to go along with the cardiomyopathy all seem to have their origins in that experience.

I’ve been fortunate to not have that Old Familiar Feeling for a couple years now, but I know it’s always out there. I’ll keep that Creo going till I absolutely can’t. Much respect on your attitude to find a way to keep pedaling.

Join the crowd S Dave, I've got the doubleheader too. Cardiomyopathy and Afib. I will say, my docs have it pretty much under control with a handful of drugs. Got my EF back up to 50. I'm able to ride my bike 20 miles, play golf and walk up stairs. I do go to the gym every day and eat much healthier. I'm hoping to be able to come off of some of the drugs as well...

 

[Kayakguy]

The few times I've tried them, I quickly learned to hate exercise bikes, and treadmills as well. Best indoor workout for me is Nordic Track (ski machine), which is made tolerable by listening to music, or better yet, video on a little portable player (which I hope to purchase at Goodwill). I can do up to an hour's workout on the Nordic Track, and will resume doing so when the weather gets too snotty for bike riding.
Walked with a friend a few days ago, and a couple minutes into our walk, he suddenly upped the pace, and I had to work hard to keep up. He's quite athletic, and skis almost every weekend, though he found he'd almost forgotten how to ride his old 10 speed, and crashed it. Turned out he has some heart rhythm issues, and carries a little device that clamps on a finger and gives heart rate and oxygen something-or-other. He wondered why I didn't use such a device, and all I could think of was that my own sense of what's going on with my body is plenty of info for me, maybe even too much. Anyhow, we're both 86, and are living on borrowed time, so I can't work myself into a tizzy about my own health. True, my wife will be pissed if I die before cleaning up my workshop. I'll feel guilty about that up to the point when I'm actually dead, after which I won't feel anything at all.

Oh, just turned over 2,000 miles on the bike (took several years, and I realize some of you put on 2000 miles per month). But remarkably, I've never had a flat tire, and only needed to top up 3 or 4 times. The tires are CST Metropolitan Palmbay, 26X2.15. They have an ordinary street tread. It does say on the sidewall that they are for ebikes. Chinese, of course. They came on the bike, an Ariel Rider C class (step-thru). I have ridden them willy nilly, mostly on paved streets, quite a bit on gravel trails, and a few times on some very rough roads, where staying upright was a challenge. Even rode amongst goat heads in Eastern Washington. I do carry a spare tube and tire changing tools, but haven't needed them at all.

Replying to my own post which I ran across while browsing in the forum: More on health issues and imminent demise: I'm thinking about getting a tattoo (my first) across my chest in about inch-high letters: DO NOT RESUSCITATE. Also, going on a kayak excursion to west coast of Vancouver Island next week (Clayoquot Sound), for about a week. A few of us elderly types have formed a pact that if one of us should die out in the wilderness, it would be best just to leave the body right there. But (sigh) I suppose there would be public hygiene rules to outlaw such a thing.

Had to do a panic stop to avoid collision with a car a few days ago. Wasn't going fast, but jammed on both brakes instantly. Interesting, in that I hit them both hard simultaneously, and there was no indication of imminent forward pitchpoling (i.e. hurtling ass over teakettle). But it seemed to jam my rear brake, so had to cut the ride short and walk the bike home with throttle assist. Brakes are hydraulic discs.

When I got to looking into the matter, I found that my sudden hard braking had torqued the axle toward the rear on one side, causing the tire to rub on the frame. Easy fix: when I loosened the axle nut, the axle popped back into the proper position, and I just had to retighten the nut. Note to self: carry a 15 mm wrench.

 

[SpinningGears]

1 month into Keto...

How did you do?

 

[Chargeride]

Now this old thread has popped up, I can relate to loss of pastime, but mines a different risk.
After having three seizures, its pretty likely I will never dive again or take up paramotoring, even jetskiing is a bit of a no no.

Its rather odd that Im allowed to drive, but my seizures gave aura warnings, so I could pull over, thats more of an issue at 30m depth or flying a 1000ft in the air.

If I seized alone on the bike its likely I would stop and find somewhere safe.

In the lap of the gods I guess, but if you seize in water...you will drown.

 

[Taylor57]

How did you do?

Got Covid and stopped going to the gym. Stopped Keto. Have gone from 153 to 168 in 2.5 months. First day back in the gym yesterday. I noticed with Keto I ate at around noon and then again at 6pm or so with light snacking on Almonds, cheese etc. Now I want to eat every couple of hours!!

 

[Kayakguy]

Well sorry about the afib or whatevery your genetic condition is called.
My wife's brother swam regularly off a pacific beach, drowned there age 28. Not a surfer or diver, just a swimmer. Big mystery, he appeared to be in perfect health.
Forty years later my wife's other brother age 58 collapsed on the assembly line at an auto plant. Wheeled to the nurse, he was experiencing atrial fibulation. Great place to have an episode. It is obvious to the next guy down the line in 30 seconds that a worker has collapsed. Mystery solved. He has had procedures to kill certain cells prone to false rhythms and continues to work on the assembly line, until he reaches age 62 and can retire.
While the benefits of aerobic exercise are well known, including keeping my cholesterol weight and rest pulse under control, it does not do anything to prevent afib. While I love biking, I would recommend another hobby where you never exercise alone and never far from medical help. Aerobic dance, zoomba, even polka dancing as my 92 year old friend in Kansas did until her partner was killed in a car wreck. Mall walking with a club or group. Walking 3 mph gets my pulse up to 140 at age 73 but may not be strenuous enough for a younger person. Less supervision, weight & cardio reps in a gym. More dangerous, lap swimming with a life guard. My friend that died at age 99 swam laps at the Y 3 times a week until falls put him in a rest home.
Sorry about losing the beauty of the outdoors and the independence of different scenery, but reducing risk on an unsupervised attack is important to a continued life for those with heart rhythm problems.
Best of fortune in achieving your goals.

One of the women in a co-ed "Silver Sneakers" group that I walk with fell and broke her wrist while ballroom dancing. Which just goes to show how dangerous that sport can be. Any of you guys who want to use this story as a way to persuade your wife that you shouldn't go dancing are free to cite it.