Hi I am currently recovering with a punctured lung after coming off my bike whilst on a ride near Arthur’s creek. Has anyone got any tips on how to get my confidence back to ride after serious injury.
Wow. I hope you continue to recover and find your legs again soon. Here’s some thoughts I have:
Take it slow. Go out with little expectations. Ride for enjoyment rather than performance. Ride in familiar, safe places. Separated, multi-use trails or quiet neighborhoods might be a good place to get started, even if you have to drive to get there before starting a ride.
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Thanks for your tips
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I would add, start indoors if you can. The ability to control your environment and monitor your body without distractions is important when just starting out again. There is nothing more anxiety inducing than riding yourself far from home without knowing how the body will respond. Get your confidence back indoors then take it back outside. Unfortunately I am saying this from experience with crashing lol. Good luck
Thanks for the advice. I’m finding it hard to even think about riding my bike on open roads at the moment. Indoor riding is an excellent suggestion. I will give riding (indoor) a go as my Lung is getting pretty close to being fully repaired although my fitness level is pretty low after being forced to take things very slowly. Once again thanks for your advice it is much appreciated
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For riding indoors, a real-video rider-point-of-view app like FulGaz might help with the transition to outdoors.
FulGaz Indoor Cycling App | Less Virtual. More Reality.
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I want to come at this from a slightly different direction.
Don’t ignore the mental aspects of a crash like this. We’re not pros with an entire team of people around us whose job is to get us back on the bike. Crashes like this are really freaken scary.
You were seriously injured in what was probably a pretty traumatic event. I imagine with a punctured lung you were hospitalised and that in and of itself is a huge thing.
It’s perfectly fine to say that you’re not ready to get back on the bike. You don’t have to be. There’s no need to rush. It’s also perfectly fine if you decide in the long run that you don’t actually want to get back on the bike ever again.
My advice to you is to be kind to yourself.
If you are ready, riding indoors is a great place to start.
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Thanks for your wise kind advice Lauren. At times I have thoughts about giving cycling away. I can’t help but think of how vulnerable I am whilst cycling which previous to my accident I very rarely considered. Trauma certainly plays with your perspective and emotional vulnerability
Nick, I hope you are feeling well physically. Having only just gotten back on the bike after being taken out by another cyclist and completely breaking my left pelvis, I am in the same boat as you with being a bit skittish on the bike. I am OK on the road but a bit more tentative on bike paths.
I have been riding both on zwift and outdoors. Zwift to get some spinning in, and outdoors riding flats while my leg muscles are relearning on how to clip out on zwift. I waited until I was 3 months out from the accident and my pelvis had healed up well, before I got on the bike even inside. I had a quad bypass 4 years ago and was back on the trainer after 4 weeks, but the pelvis takes a bit more weight than the chest while cycling.
I do tense up a bit while riding on bike trails with oncoming cyclists and do have a habit of riding as far to the right as possible. I just work on staying aware of the other cyclist and not getting tense as they come close. I so far do not have any issues while riding in a group of cyclists, though I am riding with people that I have ridden with for over 10 years.
You got this and just ride relaxed.
And Good luck and enjoy the rides.
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Thanks for your kind words
Wishing you the best recovery.
I had a bad crash last year, with over 2 months in hospital and extra weeks with a neck brace, so i was off the bike for a while. Started with walks to re-start my fitness and to feel human again. I couldn’t ride with a neck brace anyway. When the brace came off, i eased my way back into cycling very gradually. Did a few rides around my local streets, like 10 minutes building up to 40. On the first couple, i was nervous every time i saw a pedestrian or other road user. I then added in some main roads, to purposely ride in London traffic. Not enjoyable, but helped me build confidence. I was then ready to do slow group rides, building up to faster group rides.
I actually hoped that as i had no memory of my accident (traumatic brain injury), i’d be fine. That wasn’t the case but a gradual return worked for me.
Good luck!
Simon
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Hi Simon thanks. I’m actually walking each day and doing some very basic strength work. I have been off the bike since mid July. I’m thinking when I feel like riding I will start off in a very controlled environment . Did you feel comfortable riding on your own? I have always ridden on my own on country roads but at the moment I am not so confident about that. Thankyou for your advice and once again thanks for everyone who has reached out. Simon I hope your recovery keeps on improving
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Thank you. I’m recovered (i think!) but not as fit as i was, which is ok. When first on the bike agian, i felt more comfortable riding on my own (or one of my kids at a safe distance) and did that many times before joining my club for short rides. I felt that i might not be safe enough in a group and that could cause a crash if i over-reacted to something. Theres a skill and a focus when riding in a group, that we probably take for granted. But it was mainly confidence i think - ie building up.
Hi Simon I reckon you are right. Riding as part of a group would force you to focus and concentrate. Therefore less likely your mind would wonder. I was very lucky that on my ride on a country road when I crashed there was a young man driving a ute not far behind who came to my assistance. He helped me into his car put my bike in the back and gave me a lift. Yes there some wonderful people in this world. I can’t help but think what would have happened if there had been no-one around. Hence my trepidation about riding alone on country roads which is ironic because I do enjoy the peace and quiet of country roads
Maybe suggest riding with one or two in the country lanes. I’m a city dweller so wanted to make sure i could ride confidently in traffic.