Small Steps

Sometimes you do not appreciate how much you enjoy doing something until you can no longer do it. Since the onset of my back problem, just over two weeks ago, I have not been able to even consider getting back on my bike. In many ways that is the cruelest impact that the injury has had.

I have already had to cancel two small group rides that I had been greatly looking forward to taking part in. Every time I look out the window and see a beautiful blue sky beckoning to me, I think how much I would have enjoyed getting out on the bike. It might be a simple pleasure, but I have learned afresh just how much it means to me. Over the past eighteen years cycling has become a major theme in my life, and one that I am not ready to let go of without a struggle.

The good news is that, since my first visit to the osteopath two days ago, I feel that I have started to regain some more mobility in my back. It might be a case of two steps forward and one step backwards, but for the first time I have started to feel empowered enough to risk getting back on two wheels. So that's what I did !

This morning I donned my helmet and gloves and got back on the bike. I had no idea of how comfortable or painful it might have been, but I knew that there was only one way to find out. To my intense relief it was not as bad as I feared. Nowhere near as bad in fact.

My first intention had been to just ride around the block to see if I could achieve it without falling off. When I managed to reach that milestone, I did not want to get off. I decided to go a little further.

Five and a half kilometres later, I rode back into my driveway. You have no idea of how good it felt. I had experienced no stabbing lower back pain and no pain rotating the legs either. It was a great start, but I did not want to push things too far. If I experience no unpleasant after effects, I will try a longer ride next time. After all the bad news in the media over the last few days, it was just the thing I needed to lighten my mood.Read more