Triumphrat

Old Scratcher · 05-24-2008, 07:04 AM

I'm grudgingly coming to the realisation that my bikes are agravating my arthiritis, & I'm going to have to give them up, if I want to keep walking. I've always known this day would come, as I had arthiritis when I bought the Scram, & the reason I chose it was that i could still get a leg over it. But that's getting harder & harder; & the recovery time between rides is getting longer. I'm also having other joints flare up, as a direct consequence of bike riding (eg the toe knuckle I change gears with is huge!)
I'd like to hold on until Spring, to see if it's the chillier weather that's to blame. But it hasn't been that cold here yet, so I don't think that it's that. I'm also keen to see if putting new suspension in the Street helps. It certainly did with the Scram, as I was thinking I'd have to give up riding before I did it's suspension up.
I'm also thinking of getting back to one bike. As having two dream machines is just too d@mn tempting. But the trouble is, which one would I sell? It's like being asked to choose which testicle you'd like to loose

.
& as for selling both of them.....It's going to be very difficult. But I don't think I have a choice.
Do I?
I know there's a lot of other older guys on this forum. Does anybody else have a "line in the sand" beyond which they consider themselves no longer fit enought to ride? & if so, what is it? Am I being a wimp? & should I just suck it up, & ride through the pain? I know I don't want to give up riding, but I'm rather attatched to walking too.

Wombat · 05-24-2008, 07:26 AM

I think it is a wise man that knows his limitations.

My 'line in the sand' is when I cannot comfortably control the bike. I too think that time is getting closer.

Since my stack last year, I still have limited strength in my right knee and I an concerned about being able to hold the bike up at times, although I can ride further than I can walk.

My option will be to again go to 3 wheels.

As for the shifting issue, I too had toe trouble shifting with the heavy gearbox on the Ural, but the heel-toe shifter worked well for me.
You could also consider an electric shifter.

I am sure that whatever you decide will ultimately be what is right for you.

Gob-ny-geay · 05-24-2008, 07:29 AM

Old Scratch,

Obviously it would be a tremendous loss to us for you to depart biking, but that is selfish on our part. How about trying a few more different doctors? Second opinion? Third Opinion? In this day & age, I find it hard to believe that there isn't either some new medication, therapy or surgury available for your considerable troubles.

Sorry, but other than the usual "aches and pains" that come with aging (57), I am fortunately free from any arthritus, so not I'm much help. I DID have knee surgery though a few (3) years ago, and found that "Jogging" around the perimeter of the back yard pool daily helped with the recovery tremendously, was not harmful to joints, etc. and the Doctor agreed it was good therepy. It's been fine ever since.

Being the eternal die-hard, I'll say fight it, and try a program of focused physical therapy along with a specialist in Arthritis looking after you. There are ton's of Doctors out there, try a couple different ones.

We need you out there Scratch!

Regards,

erikmustride · 05-24-2008, 07:41 AM

I don't know about the line in the sand...my back will probably cause problems one day. But, you just kinda bummed me out Scratch. I like your stories and opinions and pictures. Man...I'm just bummed.

StreetT675 · 05-24-2008, 07:45 AM

OS,

Why not have a lay off over winter and then try and ride again in the spring. It may be that the riding is not actually making it any worse but the only way you find out is to stop for a bit.

This I accept is gonna be hard with that loverly pair of machines in the garage but it is winter.

Maybe if turns out that riding is making it worse you could try and limit your rides to say once a week after all total abstanance will be hard, try and think what will it be like in your head to say you will NEVER ride Gentle Annie ever again.

Some might take the view that life is for living and not for sitting watching the bikes go by.

Any way I know I am of no use but mate thats one hell of tough call

Old Scratcher · 05-24-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmustride

I don't know about the line in the sand...my back will probably cause problems one day. But, you just kinda bummed me out Scratch. I like your stories and opinions and pictures. Man...I'm just bummed.

Yeah sorry, it's bummin me out too. & I hate to be a downer. I'm not looking for sympathy either. I've had a lot of fun returning to riding, & I don't regret a moment of it. I'm also mindful that I'll be seriously depressed, for quite some time, if I have to sell my bikes. & I need to weigh up my mental health needs vs my physical. That's why I'm thinking of getting back to one bike, & reducing my riding time. At least I'll still have a bike.
As for the arthiritis, it's actually a complication of a more serious liver ailment I have, which is incurable. & I've got myself through the last 20 years by watching my diet & being kind to my liver. So there's little else I can do there. The joint that gives me most grief is the one that joins the spine to the pelvis, & it can't be replaced. So the best option I have is nursing it along, to get the best mileage I can out of it.
So I'm sorry for the bummer, but if anyone's got any ideas that can keep me in the saddle for another year or two. I'm willing to try most things.

Tbirdnz · 05-24-2008, 08:51 AM

I should hate to have to reach that decision. There must be something to ease the pain and swelling, I wish I'd taken more notice of something I've read only recently on this that have given people their lives back. I'll try to find it again, if it had something to do about short term memory loss I'd have remembered it !

Ride what you're most comfortable with Scratch, I've never known Cairns cold so you're in the right place but it can get wet so I don't know what that does to you.

Maybe keeping on moving is still fighting it, it might come on worse if you give riding up. Try to stick with it and get a big engine, I find with my CB that got bags of torque I'm not changing gears so much, unlike my AJS where I'm never off the gears.

--------------
Ride on !

TriumphTengu · 05-24-2008, 09:18 AM

That news is awful.
I have a friend name of Jeff Ross. Guitarist Extrordinaire . We grew up in Los Angles. Leo Fender used to come to the clubs that Jeff was playing in to have him test out new ASAT's. Jeff traveled alot. Buses. Jets. Sitting in small seats and having a guitar over his shoulder ever night took it's toll on his body.
One day (this is twenty years ago) I said that I was hurting and he said "Do you feed your body"? Jeff had been taking MSM, Glucosamine sulfate, and chondroitin for years and swears by it.
My wife who has had disc surgery and has laid her bike down a couple of times (dislocating shoulders) also takes them and it helps. When she doesn't take them she starts hurting pronto.
You might look into this.
Good luck.

saphena · 05-24-2008, 09:24 AM

It seems to me that you should decide to give up riding when and if the pleasure you gain from riding is exceeded by the pain or inconvenience caused by riding.

I'd echo other comments here though, keep fighting as long as you can, distrust people (especially doctors) who forecast dire consequences if you carry on riding.

When you're dead, be magnanimous, let the doctors bang on about how they were right all along.

In the meantime life is for the living, do your level best to prove them wrong.

geolpilot · 05-24-2008, 12:08 PM

Old Scratcher,

You ride a hell of a lot. How about riding less, and shorter rides or maybe even a step through scooter like one of those 600 CC hondas.