New Bike!

Today I purchased freedom. At least that's how it feels. I bought an electric-assisted bike from Len's Electric Bikes, took it home and rode just under 2 miles. Not a record-setting distance by anyone's standards, but soooo exciting for me.

I'm Anna and I'm 58 years old, going on 90. At least some days. I have joint pain, I have hot flashes, I have problems with my heart. I'm suffering also from a long, gray winter. I need to get outside, feel the sun, and do something fun and active - and for the first time in my life that has become hard to do.

Please forgive me if I give a few details. They're relevant to why this bike is important to me - but I promise in future this will not be a medical blog! 

The joint pain came from - of all things - a sledding accident. It happened three years ago, and I am just starting to face the realization that this may never go away. My lower spine is chronically uncomfortable, from above my waist down to my tailbone. The sacro-iliac joints, which are where the hip bones connect to the sacrum, are painful. And I have bursitis in my hip joints. 

It's amazing how many activities cause pain in at least one of those areas!

I used to kayak, but that's a bit harder to enjoy when the tailbone is sore. I love to walk and hike, and cross-country ski - but any rotating of the pelvis makes the s-i joints really complain. I need a cane to do steps, primarily because of the bursitis. I can't sit comfortably for very long; even lying down gets uncomfortable after a while. The phrase "limited mobility," which used to mean only other people, now describes me. 

But I can sit on a bike. I can't sit comfortably on a chair, but a bike seat is small enough that - well, to be direct - my butt sticks out past the back just enough that my tailbone misses the seat. Woohoo! I can be outside and I can be mobile!

Unfortunately, I have been unable to exercise for too long. I have a desk job and I'm out of shape. And I live near Hilldale, where there's a hill in every possible direction from my house, and they all go up!

Then I read in the paper that "TV Lennie" had come out of retirement to open a shop selling electric bikes, bikes that had a power-assist when you needed it - and I thought I might have my answer. I read about all their bikes at lenselectricbikes.com, I checked out other options on Amazon, and on the weekend I drove out to look - just to look! I test-rode two bikes, and fell head over heals for the Prodeco Genesis 500. An hour later I rolled back into my driveway after my first ride on my brand-new bike around my neighborhood. Ah, wheeled mobility!

I volunteered to write this blog about my experiences this season. I hope this becomes a record of success, because I will truly enjoy reporting that I am getting stronger and better. My plan is to include all the information I would want to know myself - good and bad. I hope other people will find it fun and I hope helpful. Please come along for the ride!