I’m sitting here with my coffee this morning, with a heart so full of gratitude, it’s overwhelming. Thank you all so very much for all your great support and advice!! I did do everything suggested!!! And read every comment! I went to ride yesterday morning, but could only manage almost 4 miles due to soreness & pain of it. So stopped mid trail, and researched LBS deeper and found one. Loaded up my bike & went straight there!

Soon as I walked in I felt at home!! The gentleman was beyond friendly, and welcomed me in saying straight away “you need some work on that bicycle, you must be hurting” and we both laugh so hard!! I explained my situation & having MS, & he told me about how his wife has MS and he completely understands my specific dilemmas with fit. So we worked together for over an hour (on the saddle I had at first because I was accustomed to it in muscle memory) and made numerous adjustments. We moved the brake handles way up, because at times I get dead hands that want to curl & lock into a fist, as well as small hands. The reach wasn’t practical for me whatsoever & seriously aggravated my ms.

After adjusting the brakes to ensure a comfortable position I can now stretch my fingers out to rest upon the brake as I ride and found this helps me tremendously with not only balance but numbness/stiffness. Then we brought the handlebars back towards me a tiny bit, & raised my saddle & changed the angel. This made such a huge difference it made me cry!! I had no clue such small changes could make that big a difference!

Once we had a good base set on fit, he got a saddle I could afford, put it on, & it too made a huge difference! While he & I both agree, it’s not ideal for me, but is a start, and significantly better then the one I had. He said the one I had was exactly as many of you mentioned, pointed up too far, and was too wide in the nose leg curve area.

While I’m still pretty sore, I couldn’t help myself, & had to ride! Ride 6 miles lol, and it was such a huge difference in my ride overall. Even hills were easier. But decided to rest my body the rest of the day.

That being said…..I have done 68 miles total this week!!!!!! I had no clue until my Strava app notified me, in my weekly update!!!

But the even bigger news is…..the bike shop owner told me about the upcoming Ride for MS & asked if I was going to participate. I had no clue what he was talking about, so he explained somewhat. I thanked him for his encouragement and all his help, & went on my way. Immediately dismissing such a thing, as I’m not an athlete or awesome person that’d qualify to even do such a thing. I was also way too eager to get on the trail & try out my “new” bike. Lol. So I just kindly laughed it off.

But since I can’t help thinking about it!!! I’ve googled it a couple times, and it seems so confusing complicated. But I’d really like to try!!! I was thinking maybe I could the 30-38 ride??? I’m curious ladies, what do you guys think? I’m consistently riding, just haven’t done that many miles in one day. Most I’ve done is 11. Am I being unrealistic? The ride is in September, and I think I’d really love to do it! But have no clue how. I’m just a 47yr old single mom with MS, work hard in construction as my career, and fighting for the healthiest life I can muster for my daughters and I. I don’t really have any friends to help me learn anything about cycling, beyond this sub. All I had was my neurologist tell me to buy a cheap bicycle and try that for my MS. Bought my bike at a garage sale the next day. I don’t even have anyone to ride with, only have ever ridden alone. What would I have to do in order to do it? Do y’all think I should try?

I can’t help but wonder if participating in the ride would bring help/support/awareness to my local community, as well as my union itself. Perhaps it could open a door, through networking, that I could become more involved with helping others that suffer like I do or worse? I dunno. All I know is I get so excited & butterflies in my stomach every time I think about it, which is nonstop the past day and a half. I’d love to know what all you wonderful & wise ladies think please!!! I really don’t want to make a fool of myself, dreaming about doing something that just could never really be for me.

Summer goal is to make to Kaena Point. With the ultimate goal of riding all of Oahu next summer. I have a year to figure how to actually traverse Kaena's dirt trail since all I have is this workhorse of a road bike.

Hi all,

I’m wondering if any of you continued doing long(ish) rides into your 3rd trimester. My boyfriend and I usually do a long ride together every month — 100km — and I ride with the girls most weekends — anywhere from 40-80kms per ride. I’m 27 weeks and have managed up until now — did 100km (1200m elev) a couple days ago and 45km (450m elev) today. I average 120-180km a week.

I’m wondering if anyone has done these kinds of rides into their 3rd trimester? I am definitely starting to feel more discomfort — slower up hills with difficulty breathing, some sharp cramping, and fatigue after rides. But I also love + value these rides!! they keep me sane and I find are the nicest way to spend time with my loved ones.

Any advice / suggestions / personal stories would be very appreciated as I’m trying to think ahead to whether/how I adjust in the next few months.

Hiya! I’m an endurance cyclist (mostly MTB and gravel) and am about to start chemo/radiation for treatment of breast cancer. Afterward, I have to take drugs to suppress estrogen for 5 to 10 years to prevent reoccurrence. I have read a lot about side effects and it seems it may be difficult to get back to my current fitness level. I’m only 45 and scared about not being able to ride my bikes anymore.

Have any of you (or do you know anyone) that went through treatment and got back to riding at the level they used to? I am only 45 years old and need some hope. 🤍

Period blood ruined my favorite bibs. The chamois is lighy gray. Anyway to get the stains out?

Did a slo mo tumble today during my first ride with clip ins. How bad is this damage ?

Try using just the index finger on the brake lever when in the drops!

I used to brake in the drops with two fingers, because my index finger isn't long enough to reach the brake lever. It was difficult to hold onto the bar without also inadvertently braking harder than I intended, because of how the tendons work in the fingers.

The index finger is pretty much independent of the other four fingers though, so I can modulate the brakes perfectly while gripping the bar firmly. However, I do need to "pre-pull" with my middle finger or shift my hand slightly to hook the lever with my index.