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I useed to be serious cyclist, cycling 200 to 300 miles a week. That was many years ago. I used to wear female cycling clothes, lycra shorts and tops etc, but it's fairly unisex. I stopped cycling 10 years ago, maybe longer.
A year ago, a massive pulmonary embolism nearly killed me. Thankfully it didn't but it was close. It's taken me a year to to get where I am today. I'm about 80% the person that I used to be. After a meeting with my consultant the other say, he wants to put me through a capacity test. I'll be on an exercise bike, and they will push me to my limit. This will allow them to monitor blood oxygen levels under load, monitor my heart under load, and monitor my recovery time. The consultant thinks "deconditioning" might be creeping in as I have been inactive for so long.....
With this test in mind, I thought I'd go for a quick ride on my bike. This time I'm in normal Cerys clothes. Above the knee denim skirt, pink jumper, tights and ankle boots. I've never ridden a bike in "normal" girl clothes before. Getting on it took two attempts. It's a man's bike so there is a crossbar 🙂 Once on, I was away. It was great to be back on the bike and it was great the feel "the breeze" 😉 You don't feel "The breeze" when wearing lycra cycling shorts.
The down side was I went less than a mile. This was only a test ride to make sure the bike was good. When I got home, I was knackered. Puffing like a steam locomotive going up a steep hill. Recovery time was 10 to 15 minutes. I could have gone longer though.
I really enjoyed being on the bike in normal girl mode. It felt great! There will me more, and distance will increase. Whilst I will always have an impairment (The remaining embolism is now scar tissue), it is believed that I should be able to exercise my way to almost as good as I was. I might not be able to get better, but I can get fitter.
Hopefully this is the start of me getting fit again. Short rides will be in normal mode, but the longer ones, when they come along, will be in proper cycling clothes. Now that I know that I can cycle in a skirt and boots, I might decide that trips to the shops will be done on the bike instead.
Cerys
I'm still ride regularly but, like you, not what I used to. I keep Lauren and "that Other Person" separate so I don't ride in women's clothing (at least not now). But your observations made me think of the problem I have when it comes to being a woman and cycling- tan lines. I've always tanned easily so I get very pronounced tan lines after a few rides. Tried spray tanning to even things out but I didn't do a good job of it. Tried sunning myself but I don't like sitting in one place like that very long. Maybe sleeveless riding jerseys? That would help with the arms. Work in progress I suppose. Best wishes! Lauren
The down side was I went less than a mile. This was only a test ride to make sure the bike was good. When I got home, I was knackered. Puffing like a steam locomotive going up a steep hill. Recovery time was 10 to 15 minutes. I could have gone longer though.
Keep in mind that you can expend more energy and more effort while on a bike because you don't have to support the weight of your body. If you get off the bike and have a hard time standing, then you should consider not pushing things too hard, for a while, until you are in better shape. I have no idea how your exercise affects your aneurism, but this sounds risky.
@harriette I don't have an aneurism, I have an embolism. It used to be a blood clot in my lungs. It's not scar tissue. It's a lot smaller than it was. Exercise is suggested by my consultant. I'll never be as fit as I was, but I should be able to get fit enough to make up for my lack of capacity.
All is good... So far 🙂
Cerys
Way to go Cerys! I haven't ridden a bike in years, the last time I did it was cross town to a friends house, they all asked if my car was broken and did I need a ride home. I enjoyed my ride home but like I said just haven't ridden since, which is to bad because we have an extensive bike trail system in our town.
Enjoy the wind up your skirt!
Sherri
I have enjoyed casual biking myself but was never a serious long distance cyclist like you Cerys. Years ago I bought a girl's cruiser with no crossbar at a garage sale and have gone down the bike paths and beach paths along side other families and tourist on sunny days. I have been in summer dresses and skirts as well as capris for a hour of afternoon delight. It sure is wonderful to feel the warm breeze under a skirt and greet other people with smiles. The bike has a basket in front which I use when stopping to pick things up from the farmers market and always enjoy the experience on warm summer days. I do recommend you girls try it
Good for you Cerys and I am sure, within limits, it will do you the world of good and improve your well being.
I’ve been a serious cyclist myself for as long as I can remember Cerys, although never quite got to the 200+ miles a week level.
It sounds as if one ride wad enough to give you the bug again, I know it did for me after a long lay off caused by surgery.
I’ve just had an enforced lay off after some git stole my bike, but should be back in the saddle soon.
Luckily it’s great exercise for not over stressing the body.
Good luck and enjoy!
Cerys =
Good to hear that you are able to ride again. Taker it slow and build up your endurance level. You'll be back to your old self soon. I'm sure it was nice riding in a skirt. Hopefully that opportunity will present itself again.
XOXO
Suzanne
Hi Cerys,
200-300 miles a week is seriously impressive! It’s good to hear that you are able to enjoy yourself again.
I am trying to imagine getting on my bike in a knee length skirt. I don’t think I could accomplish that. I can imagining that breeze through, and it is divine.
Best of luck with your capacity test,
Lara xo
Pleased to read you are hopefully getting your cycling mojo back Cerys 🙂 I lost mine about 5 years ago, I had been doing about 1800 miles a year, just circular routes locally for exercise, but my road bike started to eat my elbows within a year of upgrading to it. I since store a classic car in the way of getting my faithful old hybrid out of the garage. Sadly my appetite didn't diminish with my enjoyment of cycling, as my dress size bears out!
Cerys
i have a nice Trek bike. When we had a nice day a,
Week or so ago, I went for a ride but found my arthritic knee could not bend enough to pedal. I don’t know if this is permanent but it is depressing.
Hi Cerys,
My best summer riding was during the pandemic. With everything closed I had nothing better to do than ride. I logged around 2500 miles on the hilly, gravel roads of Vermont. Then I moved indoors and put my road bike on the trainer and logged another 2000 miles riding the virtual roads of Watopia in Zwift. I haven't been out on the roads since 2020, partially time and partially I like riding to Zwift. I am looking forward to getting back on the roads this summer.
Hugs,
-Robin
I can't ride indoors. I got into cycling many years ago when I bought an exercise bike. I put hundreds of miles on it and one day I thought to myself "I could be going somewhere". The next day I went out and bought a cheap, steel mountain bike. I rode this into the ground. In the first couple of years with my son in a child seat behind me. The with him on a tag along. I really did hammer that bike into the ground. It was heavy, but got got me fit. I then upgraded to a half carbon hybrid. This was a little too high spec for my local roads. Pot holes and speed humps meant that I was aligning the wheels evey other day. I became very good at straightening wheels! That bike got stolen, and I replaced it with a more solid hybrid. That was a great bike.... Until that too got stolen.... I now have a later model of that bike.
Cycling was my main mode to transport. I had a car, but I preferred to cycle. I have a trailer that I used for going shopping. I had a V/UHF ham radio on the handlebar and used to talk to people all over South Wales and the south West of England whilst out on rides. I seriously enjoyed it.... Then wham! Death came a knocking.... Thankfully I didn't answer the door, so he left me a message. I've been slowly recovering ever since. It will be a year in April. Now that me heart has been give the all clear, I can start to push myself a little. My lungs will forever be compromised, so I'll never be who I was.... At least I can still be me!
Cerys
Ah yes, the joys of watopia.
I’ve spent many an hour on there. I’ve just let my zwift subscription lapse as I haven’t used it in a while.
I still ride indoors a lot though. Amazing what you can do with a smart trainer.
Several years ago I let my inner geek out and purchased a Rad EBike. I'm nearly 70 and the joy and contentment I have gotten from having an EBike has been a game changer. Wind....no problem, hills.... no sweat, places I've biked....more than anytime in my life. And while exercise is part of the equation, it's also about fun. I haven't been riding enfemme but this discussion has me thinking......hmmm......
