Thursday, September 13, 2012

There’s a song title that fits this post


I used to ride a lot, when I was much, much younger.  I’ve ridden as an adult, not nearly as often as when I was young, but I got myself a nice bicycle 15 or so years ago and I rode occasionally.

Now I haven’t even been able to ride at all in quite a long time, maybe 10 years.  First I had a knee problem and then there was that whole 2 months in the hospital thing.

But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about riding.  I have no idea why.  I always loved it and it may just be that it’s one of those things that I feel has been taken away from me and I want to get it back.  Personally I think I’m being irrational.

Be that as it may I dragged my bike to the shop today to see what kind of shape it was in.  Turns out it’s in much better shape than I am.  Ten years sitting in the basement, even with the sump-pump failure episode, have done no damage.  The bike is in great shape and only needs a tune-up.

If only the same could be said about me.  I am in decrepit shape and there isn’t anything that can be done about most of my issues.  Still, I think I am going to try this.  I don’t even know if I can still ride.  Of course everyone says that you never forget and it will all come back to me and it will be easy because I can take it easy to start.  That is all true, but there’s more to this than just being rusty.  My body doesn’t have the ability it once did.  I have balance issues and even though the bicycle supplies some of that for you with the gyroscopic effect of the turning wheels, I have my doubts.

If my balance issues are all due to nerve damage in my legs, ankles and feet then I should be OK.  If the balance issues are brain or head related then the bike won’t help that much.  Beyond that I don’t even know if I’m coordinated enough to get on or off of a bicycle.  Well, I can always get off of the thing.  Falling can accomplish that.

I am really excited about picking up the bike on Saturday.  I am going to give this a good try.  To hell with any problems I have.  I’m just going to do it.  I am not, however, going to ask my doctors first since they might say that I shouldn’t.  As I have said before, I have to try.

Well, that was long and rambling and more or less pointless, but sometimes that’s the reason for this blog.  I share so other people can see what someone else is doing.
Thanks for letting me work all of this out in public.