Wednesday, July 20, 2011

testing bicycle riding as stroke rehabilitation

When I came back from Winnipeg I stopped at a friends cabin. There was a bicycle leaning against a car in the paved parking lot. I stared at it and decided it was time to see if I could still ride. I pried my left hand onto the handlebar. I tried about 6 times standing on my left leg to swing my right leg over the seat. Finally just put my right hand against the car. Luckily the left pedal was at the bottom of the arc., so I didn't have to counteract the spasticity to get it situated. I successfully did three loops around the parking lot. So now I have to get my bike out of the basement, pump up the two flat tires, lower the bike seat and add toe clips. Maybe I can finally have a sport that I can have the wind blowing through my sparse hairs again. Don't worry I'll be wearing a helmet.


Read my post on my epic failure before you even think about doing this.
http://oc1dean.blogspot.com/2011/08/epic-failure-at-bike-stroke-therapy.html

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6 comments:

  1. Grace CarpenterJuly 21, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Congratulations!

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  2. Marcelle GreeneJuly 21, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    OMG!! Thank you, Dean. I've been hoping I would be able to ride my bike again. I've been too afraid to try. Maybe I'll add knee and elbow pads to my outfit.

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  3. San42July 21, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Way to gooo! Well done Dean!
    Have tried tentatively using my bike...have to get the people at the bike workshop to change the breaks & gears to the other side before i can safely use it tho. The last time I tried I could only use it on the flat & slowly, else I coudn't control the breaks or change gears - still, it's a start!

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  4. DianeJuly 21, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    Dean, that is great news! Good for you!!!!

    From Diane at The Pink House On The Corner

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  5. LindaJuly 22, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    That is wonderful! Congratulations!

    Maybe you can find room for a brand new bike in your garage! lol

    Linda

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  6. Barb PolanJuly 25, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    Wow! Bike riding was one of the activities I had accepted I would never do again. Apparently, it can be done...and I'm impressed, but not surprised, that you were brave enough to try.

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