I\’m bicycling with arthritis.

I\’ve had osteoarthritis in both knees for many years; and in fact I developed it at a rather young age. Why, I don\’t know. I had done jogging in previous years; but much of it was on non-paved surfaces. I always did stretching exercises both before and after. Then, when I suddenly got so chronically, horribly tired, I didn\’t have the energy for jogging; or for much else.

Subsequently I was quite inactive for eight to ten years; and then I began to walk to work. Between then and the time I got the adult trike is when the arthritis set in.

Luckily my knees don\’t hurt or feel stiff, although they can sound like Rice Krispies® when I do any kind of knee-bend exercise; especially the one-legged kind.  Single-leg squat exercises also tend to make the areas around my knees feel more strained than I like. I wonder whether that means I should avoid such exercises; or whether it means that I need them.

Cycling is supposed to be a good activity for people who have arthritic knees, because it\’s non-impact. How ironic, then, that cycling can also lead to the development of osteoarthritis! Either way, I\’m bicycling with arthritis.

I don\’t see that as a reason to stay off the bike. We all need exercise, myself not excepted; and cycling doesn\’t have to mean putting in grueling training sessions. On the other hand, always riding at a leisurely pace doesn\’t help me to improve my strength/speed/power. I need to push things sometimes, but not overdo it.

It\’s the old \”moderation in all things\”; especially since I\’m bicycling with arthritis.