Lazy, A bit Scared or Just useless.

[slowmotion]

Averaging 14 mph is blooming good. Don't beat yourself up about it. Just have fun.

 

[Doc333]

Thanks everyone, it makes it a little easier. Paul I had mine in April 13 and waited for the all clear before buying the bike. That wait was more traumatic due to a screwed up NHS. Bare with me here as it was strange. Playing golf in Malton when it happened (Yorkshire) Luckily was next to the club house when I buckled. Brother took me to the local hospital who turned me away because it was a weekend!!! They told me to drive to Scarboro or Leeds, so I told my brother to take me back to where we were staying locally. As it turned out a doctor passed me by as we were leaving and told me to sit down. He ordered a nurse to get me some aspirin and phoned an ambulance. The paramedeics were brilliant and soon decided I was having one and lights and bells all the way to Leeds. Lucky that doctor turned up. Leeds were brilliant and had a crash team ready and did the stent, then moved me up to the ward where I had a burger!!!!! (Brilliant couldn't stop laughing) As my wife was staying in East Yorkshire I was moved to York that night and stayed there until Monday when I was released. The NHS problems started when I got home to Crewe, as the hospital couldn't access my records in either Leeds or York, so wanted to repeat everything which is ridiculous and expensive and time consuming and then they wanted me to go to Stoke (North Staffs) to have a stress test. I had finished the full course of cardiac rehab and now they wanted to pump a cocktail of drugs into me whilst in an MRI machine. WOW, they tried to make my heart think it was having a heart attack so they could see if there were any other weaknesses in veins etc. That was the worst experience I've ever had as I was in that machine for an hour, and couldn't move, scratch my nose or arse, and haven't been back to Stoke since A few weeks later my results were given to me and I was signed off and able to get a bike. Told a bike was good as long as I didn't try and beat Jason Kenney, so here we are almost a year later. Give me a shout when you get back on your bike because 12-months is almost up for you. I may be able to keep up with you for a couple of rides. I did Mount Pleasant near Mow Cop and that was tough and couldn't bare the thought of attempting Mow Cop that day after that, but I suppose that's your local run. I've done Alsagers bank a couple of times. You look after yourself mate and listen to the wife

Youngoldbloke that's really good advice and I'm going to take it and make contact tonight.

 

[Paul Bromley]

Luckily my experience at the UHNS or Royal Stoke (phay!) as it now was better. I had an MI and cardiac arrest at home. Don't remember a thing about anything. Just remember waking up 4 days later. They had stented, ventilated and chilled me for 4 days

My first recollection was seeing my wife walk past the bed.

Question 1 What's happened I said. She said you've been poorly !!!!

Question 2 I suppose my cycling career is over?

That's how important cycling was to me ! I wanted my life back to normal. Normal for me was cycling

The medics made it very clear to me that if I hadn't of been fit and healthy I wouldn't of survived. I am so lucky not to have a brain injury. I like you am 58, well for another 2 days anyway

I was given the all clear from the cardiologist way back in Feb with no restrictions on doing anything

So far this year I have 4.3miles recorded on my cycling log, but logged endless hours on the turbo and in the gym

Mow Cop is for mountain goats not old goats !

I agree with Glasgow. Cycling alone allows you to go at your pace.

 

[Doc333]

Not even 5 miles in a year ...... I've done nearly 800

 

[Paul Bromley]

Doc,

I know

Excuses to follow

Although I do like the one I use for poor times to work - the air was thick this morning !

 

[Andy Jeffery]

Hello fella, I am similar to you. Although not my heart I had a similar experience to you. Back in Feb my appendix burst and gave me septicaemia. Long story short nearly died and really glad to be here now. Bought a bike and decided to get fit as my thoughts were I'm fat and unfit and it really hampered my recovery (only got back to work in late May). Anyway any speed is good hills will make you fitter just look up and enjoy the view and take ur time! If you ever fancy a ride with somebody give me a shout on here. I live just down the road in Market Drayton and often cycle through Nantwich and sourounding lanes. Cheers Andy

 

[chewa]

Any time on the bike is worthwhile. I read somewhere that the overall average distance cycled in the UK per person is 25 miles. Look at it that way you are doing the work for 32 people!

Don't beat yourself up

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

@Doc333 when I am back on my feet, literally you are more than welcome to come and cycle with me. I'm not sure I'm a fast as you, touch younger but I am often over your way and can show you some of the easier and nicer roads if you would like. I grew up in stinky stoke, holey Hanley, Endon, Newcastle, Hartshill, Weston Coyney etc, and don't have fond memories of the city general as it was then! It has improved over the years that is all I can see about it, but then Leighton is not that much better either.

That is aiming you want to cycle with a severe asthmatic who at present is totally bed bound with a bad back and can't feel here right leg! So currently I am not much use to anyone!

But seriously taking on mow cop? What are you thinking... Even I don't consider that one and I'm not usually considered to be that same by many on here! Have you looked out westwards towards Tattenhall? There are some nice climbs out that way as well which are not as severe and you will have had a longer flatter ride to get there first... Alsager bank is no mean feat either depending on the route you take up it. Try practising on Keele bank first

 

[Doc333]

SatNav thanks for that and I would love to take you up on your kind offer. Give me a shout when you're mobile again and we'll sort something out. Climbing isn't a big love and I do try to avoid as much lumps as I can, I think it's just the terrain of the locality, but if you know some nice roads spot on. Hope you're health issues are resolved soon

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Iif you can hear or towards Nantwich or crewe or even Sandbach you will soon get out of the hills around stoke and Newcastle and get to the flatter lands! Will give you a shout when I am up and about again, but it could take me a while yet... Possibly the new year but we will see what the Dr saws tomorrow

 

[Doc333]

Took your advice SatNav and went out towards Nantwich and headed on towards Whitchurch and looped back to nanny, covering 23 miles. Felt pretty good but still worried about some of the tools driving cars. After taking a lot of stick from my nephew, i've decided to take the plunge and buy some SPD pedals and shoes. He reckons I'll find life easier because of being able to use the full rotational cycle of the pedals, ie pulling up as well as pushing down. I hope it works and is worth falling off a few times. I've not fallen off yet since i took it up but I can see a lot of serious embarrassment about to befall me soon. He told me to order these as I'll be able to wear touring shoes and not sound like I'm doing Riverdance off the bike. Hope these are OK Shimano A600.

 

[xzenonuk]

wish you lived closer to me as i would love be your riding buddy, i think your very brave from what you have said and your covering max distances similar to my own and im 31

10 mph is actually a good average imo i only get about 10 to 15 with wee stints downhill that are faster

just keep at it mate your confidence will grow as you do many rides with out any incidences

im also total total knackered after 40 miles earlier