I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!

 - Steamboat Springs, Colorado -

I recently got on my non-stationary bike and rode!   It had been 461 days since my bike accident. This was mentally one of the hardest things I have done lately.  

Have you had (or are you having) a similar experience in your life? For some reason (accident, injury, insert reason here...) you have stopped moving.  How do you start back up again?

Based on my experience, as well as working with hundreds of people over the past 8 years, here are my top recommendations.

PREPARE YOUR BODY Prepare your body by beginning to move again, slowly and gently.  Check your competitive self at the door. Stop looking at what everyone else is doing.  Focus on you and your journey.

MAKE IT EASY  For me,  I eliminated the hardest parts of the ride on a very familiar route.  By eliminating steep hills at the start and finish, I knew physically the ride wouldn’t be too challenging.

ADJUST YOUR EQUIPMENT  Pretend you are just starting out.  What would your situation look like as a beginner? Start there.  I removed my clip pedals. No beginner I know is clipping in.  Not clipping in helped ease my mind and this is all about the mind.  So lift lighter, run on a track, do whatever you need to do to adjust.

CREATE THE CHANCE TO BEAT YOUR GOAL I created the chance to ride longer if I was feeling strong.  And I was feeling strong, so I kept on going!  That felt good.

None of this is rocket science, but it did take some thought and care and, of course, hubby elbow grease to remove my pedals, as well as put the bike rack onto the car.  He didn't complain and was a great cheer leader that day. Just what I needed.  Shout out to Joe, as well as those that support you as you get started!

mgk