Getting back on the bike after an off

[JenaWren]

Feeling very proud of myself after getting back on my bike for the first time in 6 months.

I came off in the summer and broke my pelvis. All healed now but as a result found out I have osteoporosis (although mild).

I just did a pootle yesterday - flat pedals on my hybrid. But I'm keen to get back on my roadbike (especially as
tbs weather is picking up).

Does anyone have any advice for getting back on and/or cycling with osteoporosis? (I am doing other things to strengthen my bones.)

No advice, but very well done.
I'm just back from a lovely chatty pootle. Good for the soul.

Will you be ok with clips? My friend with hip problems really struggles with the twisting action so has put flats on her road bike.
Hope the roads round you way aren't too horrible. The potholes around here are terrifying.

well done, no advice, but I am thinking about getting back on my bike soon too, so am quite nervous. It has been years

It is good for the soul shiny - I've missed it so much. Fortunately pelvis has healed brilliantly so I think I'll be ok with cleats - it was ok on the indoor bike. I'm just nervous for those unexpected moments... (and the potholes here are monsters too!!)

Delighted to hear you're thinking of getting back out shark - we're coming into the best time for cycling. If it helps I just went out with my other half - started on quiet roads then went a bit further afield.

Even if you just go out for 5 mins you've made a start and can do more next time. You can do this!!!!

Definitely easier with company.
I joined a club a few years back and it's made a massive difference. So much easier to get regular mileage in with the structure of club rides.
I had a lovely summer last year riding with DS. But I suspect he'll be too speedy for me this year.

I came off at speed on a steepish descent some years ago- broke my neck, shoulder and had a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage though fortunately my helmet saved me from worse.
My advice would be twofold

1. Build up gradually. Start with some easy, short rides and don't expect too much of yourself. Keep well within your comfort zone initially then gradually begin to stretch yourself as you get more confident. 2)Pick your riding companions with care. I couldn't ride with my husband for ages. He just didn't get it at all, oscillating between hovering round me like I was a child on a bike for the first time and looking exasperated when I wanted to get off and walk down hills that he had decided were "fine". Riding with my friend who would neither pressure me to do anything I didn't want or wrap me in cotton wool was what I needed. She'd always make sure I was happy with our route, didn't mind walking with me if I wanted, riding slowly or waiting at the bottom of hills and was just a generally supportive ride companion. I went on a few Breeze rides too which helped get me back in the swing of things in a supportive atmosphere. I don't think I will ever be quite as confident as I was before and maybe that's no bad thing, but I did get back to something approaching normal. Good luck!

Oh my gosh MrsAvocet that's a properly serious off. Delighted to hear you're back on the bike. And thank you for the great advice.

My OH is pretty supportive but like yours can have a very different view of what's challenging / safe. We've had some quite strong debates on the definition of a hill for example. There was one memorable occasion going up a not hill in Mallorca when I had a bit of sense of humour failure!

I'm fortunate enough to belong to a fantastic cycle club who are not only good mates but very supportive. You're so right shiny - it makes all the difference.

Best of luck & I agree to pick your company carefully. I ride road & MTB and DH just doesn’t understand my level - so some of his “easy” MTB trails are not easy (or even rideable) for me!!
There’s also some women in my club who I just find off-putting, they haven’t done anything “wrong” we just have different personalities and they don’t get my anxieties.

Also stick to routes you are familiar with, don’t worry about your speed, and ditch Strava (if you are someone who feels under pressure to ride at a certain pace due to Strava)

Oh my gosh MrsAvocet that's a properly serious off. Delighted to hear you're back on the bike.
Thanks@JenaWren Sadly I'm not riding at present as I'm recovering from some unrelated surgery, but hopefully will be back in the saddle when the better weather comes. At least this time I will only have physical issues to overcome (I'm fat and unfit with one very weak leg currently!) I think after a fall the psychological impact is at least as much of an issue as any residual physical limitations and that is something I found people who have never been significantly injured themselves aren't great at understanding. Nobody had any problems grasping the concept that my neck got sore after riding for a certain length of time so I had to take it easy, but they didn't understand my fear and that that wasn't fixed by a couple of uneventful rides.
I can't actually remember what happened. I can remember up to a certain point in the ride and the next thing I knew I was on a trolley in A&E. And nobody saw what happened either. My then early teenage DS was ahead of me so didn't see anything and nobody else was around. I think that made it harder as since I didn't know what I'd done, I didn't know what I could do to prevent it happening again, and I would periodically be seized by panic. I still get that very occasionally even now but only very transiently. It took quite a long time to get my confidence back though and I have definitely become more risk averse - or wiser as I like to think!