I've been considering it for a few days... I have a little extra cash in my savings at the moment, and god knows I need the outlet...
I'm thinking about buying a new bike.
You may recall my old bike was stolen four months after my accident. I never got the opportunity to fix it up or ride it again. It's just as well, though, because in my consideration of buying a new one, I've realized something.
I'm still scared shitless of it. The crash was pretty traumatic -- it was the first time I went to the emergency room and had to stay -- four days, no less. Major reconstructive surgery, piles of painkillers. And while it made for great conversation, it is something I never want to repeat. The pain was excruciating and the lasting impact of having to replace my teeth haunts me to this day (remember my apicoectomy last summer? Owwww...).
But then... this little philly (well, Raleigh) spoke to me from a shop window. And I remembered how much I really enjoyed the ride. And as I've gained a little extra heft since my bout with pneumonia, I have to get my exercise in somehow.
"But, but, but you work in a gym!" you may say... true. But when you spend eight-ten hours a day working in the place, the last thing you want to do is hang out for another 90 minutes. And knowing myself and my patterns, I will never start anything up unless it is an ingrained part of my daily routine. Biking to work would take about the same amount of time as taking MARTA, with the added bonus of physical activity. The nifty side effect of biking to work was that I actually had the desire to do a real workout at the gym, regardless of the ten hour day.
But still... scared.
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5 comments:
So, it is not the fear of riding... it is the fear of falling off.
So don't fall off. Any more problems you want me to solve for you? :)
Seriously... you rode many years without incident, so there is no reason to expect that you would have any other problems... but wear skate boarding pads at first, just to be sure.
John
A little time on the mats might not hurt, either.
Learn how to tuck and roll, should the need arise. ;)
Seriously, you rode for a long time with no problem. Ease back into it.
Andy
Back in the saddle again... You and me both, buddy. I didn't have an accident, but got out of the habit when I wasn't feeling well. I'm basically starting over with a lot of things. It's hard, but you can do it.
It is easy for others to say, just pick it up and go. I have the same problem with jogging. I tripped, put my teeth through my face and tore up both hands and it scares me 5 years later. I can walk fast, but not jog.
Try it for short rides first. Maybe, borrow a bike for a weekend?
DotnFL
Riding any 2-wheel contraption intrinsically involves falling off the damned thing; just as riding anything with four legs will involve falling off.
Your great grandfather used to say that, where horses were concerned, the first thing you do when you fall off is get back on again. Life & shit happen. You could get hurt on MARTA too, you realize. Squeezed in a malfunctioning door? Tripping on a platform and getting splat. Life is dangerous. dad
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