Delgado_073 Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 How cycling saved my life ....again .... Firstly ill start by saying if I've posted this incorrectly feel free to move it . My first memory was my father taking me to my LBS and buying me a " Vellomos" in 1976 , a single speed kiddies bike. Then in 1979 getting my first road bike a Raleigh 6 speed kiddies version with which I did my first 40km ride at 6 years old . You can clearly see that my dad ( now 81) was really a keen Ryder and loved it that I rode with him . This carried on till I was 25 and then work ,girls , beer and life got me out of cycling . Now you also have to know that I have ADD and that without knowing it , the old man said to my mom he will not medicate me as a kid , rather take me riding. I was not aware that this was the reason but loved every minute. Even the 80km rides before high school , leaving at 3:30 am and the riding in the dark . Thankfully because of my dad and cycling I was able to focus, release stress and pass high school in 1991. Save No1 As time passed in my 20s I always followed cycling but got "stuck in" on building a career and landed up as a resident in a foreign country working in my ultimate dream "Aviation " . Here I met my ex wife and got married in 2007. In 2008 I had a lower back issue ( being 1,9m tall ) doctors say it normal . But I'm skeptical , as the " practice medicine " . As life is, I had the operation , it went really badly and left me with little feeling and sensation in my left leg . To top it all , within a 6 month period I lost my job ( due to being not able to work for 6 months recovering from surgery ) and got divorced. So long story short, back in SA from June 2009 with R500 in my pocket and seriously depressed and gaining weight. I was at home watching Tour de France and the thought came to me " You only felt content cycling " so lets try.. I had to work a while on my balance and recovering some movement in my leg before I could start riding . But in 2011 I bought a second hand Raleigh RC 3000 and started riding again. 2013 was my first 100km fun ride and I'm still going strong. As before cycling came to my rescue , my leg is so much better . No more back pain . I've lost 12kg so far and can do a 3hour training ride once a week while trying to juggle a semi employed situation. Mostly it cleared my head of the job loss , divorce and operation . Save No 2 It's not easy when u really want a carbon road bike and you have to save towards it and it disappears cause of some type of emergency you have but I've realized like the "back and leg" thing , it will take time. But mostly ,I'm grateful to cycling for saving my life again , life is a long road but its a much better from a bicycle seat. If you know someone who is battling , get them on a bike ! Delgado SilverRider, memakda, Stefmyster and 24 others 27
GrantK24 Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 good for you... being new to the cycling world, I am amazed what being on a bike can do for you (well active in any way really)... Health, motivation, mood, making friends, outdoors, the list is really endless
Delgado_073 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Posted July 25, 2013 good for you... being new to the cycling world, I am amazed what being on a bike can do for you (well active in any way really)... Health, motivation, mood, making friends, outdoors, the list is really endless True ! and if its got into your "blood" its there for good !
SurferChild Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Really an amazing story!! Thank you for sharing I wish you all the best with your cycling and your life situations. Somebody with your determination and will is bound to succeed in anything that you do.
V12man Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Good story - have you been tested for adult ADD - I only ask because I am curious - feel free to not answer?
SwissVan Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Hey Delgado nice story and howzit from another Aviation and cycling nut
Milkworx Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Hey Delgado nice story and howzit from another Aviation and cycling nut +1
Uni Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 life is a long road but its a much better from a bicycle seat. Even in the short time I've been on my bike - I have to agree. I haven't been riding for over a week and I'm itchin' and missing it like crazy.Glad you're on the mend - it takes a brave person to acknowledge their problems and do something to change it.
Delgado_073 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Posted July 25, 2013 Even in the short time I've been on my bike - I have to agree. I haven't been riding for over a week and I'm itchin' and missing it like crazy.Glad you're on the mend - it takes a brave person to acknowledge their problems and do something to change it. Thanks , life waits not for people that are stuck ! So u have to keep moving forward .
Delgado_073 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Posted July 25, 2013 Good story - have you been tested for adult ADD - I only ask because I am curious - feel free to not answer? Yes , I've still got it . But I've adapted coping skills to manage it. Listening to music while I work ( earphone ) it keeps me focused ....
Delgado_073 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Posted July 25, 2013 (edited) Thesedays, I'm a part time instructor for aviation ... Edited July 25, 2013 by Delgado_073
LeTurbo Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Oh, that's a good story to read! (I hope your Dad still gets about on a bike too?)
MarkDG Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 Amazing Story! I suffer from clinical deprerssion and the best help is out on the bike or running. All the very best Delgado
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