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Should I sell my bikes?

28 posts & 23 voices | Started 2 years ago by grumm | Latest reply from squin

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grumm - Member

Doctors now seem to be pretty convinced I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aka ME.

The thought of being able to go biking again one day seems to just give me false hope which is constantly dashed whenever I try and do something (eg what I would have used to consider an easy walk) and feel ill for days afterwards.

Been doing quite a bit of reading and a lot of people seem to suggest that you have to learn to accept the illness. Try and be positive but not be constantly focusing on trying to get to where you were before. Seems like if I am going to get better it's going to be a long haul, and trying to do too much will just set me back.

I just feel like everytime I see my bike(s) it reminds me of what I used to be able to do. Spent quite a while and quite a bit of money getting them how I want it but it just seems like it's been a massive waste really. Sorry for the moaney self-pity but Im pretty low right now.

Anyone want a medium Pitch with nearly new Fox 36 Vans and Stan's Flow Hope Hoops? Or a medium Planet X Kaffenback?

Posted 2 years ago #
druidh - Member

I know / have known a few folk with ME. One of them occasionally does ski-touring. That must be one of the most physically demanding of all sports. While you can't rush it, be a little patient and let time do some healing.

The weather is pish just now anyway

Posted 2 years ago #
Tracker1972 - Member

Would love a Kaffenback for my re-hatched commuting plans but the only person I knew who had an ME diagnosis eventually came through it. I might be tempted to keep them closer to home, long term loans to friends or family. That's just me though, just do what feels right now and move on, besides I couldn't afford the Kaffenback anyway.

Approve of your thinking though druidh

Posted 2 years ago #
Hairychested - Member

A friend is suffering from CFS and... London Marathon last year, biking all the time, Skerries triathlon this year. Keep the bikes, don't give up.

Posted 2 years ago #
nbt - Member

Mrs NBT has it and rides regularly, now we've got it under control. She was respectably mid-pack on the STW Peaks pootlers ride. Keep them, give yoursefl seomthing to aim for

Posted 2 years ago #
Seymour_Butts - Member

Don't sell them.

Don't give up and stay positive.

Posted 2 years ago #
grumm - Member

Thanks folks, good to know there are people with it who have got back to doing serious activity. At the moment everything I do just seems to make it worse.

Posted 2 years ago #
gonetothehills - Member

grum - I'll drop you a line later, but don't do anything right now. Sit tight and keep your chin up.

Posted 2 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

I had something like that after a nasty bit of paralysis with Guillain-Barré syndrome about 15 years ago. Any exertion came with a huge price of total exhaustion and apathy.

Decided to pay the price and kept doing the things I loved, but obviously not as well or as often, and having really unpleasant days after. It was worth it.

You're not dead until you're dead, so don't give up.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mal-ec - Member

The key is pacing yourself, really careful build up, with good recovery nutrition, hydration, rest and strategies.

Posted 2 years ago #
jimbobrighton - Member

don't sell them. I know for a fact from my own experience that doctors are frequently wrong, as are experts that write books, blogs, articles.

keep em. pace yourself. don't give up.

don't sell them.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bregante - Member

I had something like that after a nasty bit of paralysis with Guillain-Barré syndrome about 15 years ago. Any exertion came with a huge price of total exhaustion and apathy

I also had G-B-S around 8 years ago. It affected the right side of my spine/right arm and right leg. I was only 32 and spent a few months in a wheelchair. In 5 months I went from being a 15.5 stone ex rugby player to a 13 stone weakling being wheeled around by the missus. I am now completely recovered. It was the scariest time of my life but You HAVE to stay positive.

Don't sell em!

Posted 2 years ago #
ratadog - Member

Agree with all of the above. Most people I see with chronic fatigue syndrome make a slow but steady recovery.

Posted 2 years ago #
smell_it - Member

If the bikes are getting you down then yes, sell them, and start to set other goals that may be more in fitting with your recovery plan (when you work this out). When the time comes, you will have no better reason to buy that shiney new bike Good Luck fella.

Posted 2 years ago #
mboy - Member

Doctors now seem to be pretty convinced I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aka ME.

Got diagnosed as probably having CFS/ME myself 15 months ago... They couldn't work out what the hell was wrong with me, was sleeping 18 hours or more a day, could barely get out of bed for a while etc... Did all sorts of tests of course, they kept coming back to CFS/ME...

Anyway, after a couple of months of moping and feeling a bit sorry for myself, was starting to feel a bit better, sleeping a "mere" 14 hours per day... Anyway, figured the ONLY way I was going to get any better at all was to drive through the illness, whatever it was.

Long story short, started off getting back on the bike, albeit very slowly/steadily at first. Within a couple of months I was riding on average 3 times a week, 2 or 3 hours each time. And hadn't been fitter/healthier in ages!

Did I have CFS/ME? To be honest, I still don't know... All the docs and speciailists said it was the most likely answer as they couldn't work out what the hell else it could be...

FWIW, LOADS of people either make a full recovery from CFS/ME, or at least manage to live active and healthy lifestyles involving many activities they did before they contracted it. Obviously those that don't get rid of it, have to learn to manage the side effects, but it is by no means a show stopper. A pain in the arse, most certainly, but Positive Mental Attitude is as per usual, the single best answer when it comes to combatting and even beating it. So the absolute last thing I'd do right now is sell your bikes... The best thing you could do would be to buy some nice shiny new bits for them, that make you want to get out and ride them even more than ever!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
lyons - Member

Stay strong! I cant imagine how you feel at the moment but try to keep positive. I know this is a longshot, but I kknow someone who fell ill a few ears ago with symptons of M.E, and someone recomended acupuncture. He went a few times, and the result was he was back to normal.

I dont know the full story, if the profesionals thought he had m.e or not but they didnt know what was wrong, and couldnt treat him.

Sorry I cant offer more details than that, but it may be worth a try.

Good luck, Andy

Posted 2 years ago #
Ed-O - Member

Good luck and keep your bikes. My wife has ME and we're keeping her bike in the shed, so that it's ready for her again, when she is ready for it.

Posted 2 years ago #
bullheart - Member

Grum,

Fancy coming out on a ride with me? Hell, I've got incurable cancer - I'm sure the pair of us could get free cake if we play on it!

Seriously, let me know if you fancy a ride. I'm happy to drive up there and go for a pootle with you.

And don't give up. Ever.

Posted 2 years ago #
Jenga - Member

Know how you feel mate. I've got a damaged disc on one side of my back, and osteo arthritis in the other side. NHS don't care diddly squat. Can't get any relief from it these days. Not much fun being on the bike, and I've hardly been out this year. Been using the weather as an excuse, but I'm not fooling myself.

Maybe we should have a crocks ride somewhere?

Posted 2 years ago #
earbyphil - Member

My Daughter has ME and it comes and goes. If your's is the same and you have "got rid" I guess you will regret that even more. Keep 'em and see how you feel in the spring time.

Posted 2 years ago #
Scienceofficer - Member

CFS and ME can and often do take years to recover from.

I say sell your bikes now whilst they have some value, keep the cash somewhere where it will earn you a bit of money, but be safe, and then when the time is right, get something new and shiny.

Keeping them will only tempt you to get on them too early.

Posted 2 years ago #
grumm - Member

Thanks again for all the comments.

Crocks ride sounds like an awesome idea but at the moment I have no way of really pacing myself or knowing how much things are likely to mess me up. The funny thing is I think could probably manage a shortish ride at a slow pace ok, but then I would feel ill for at least the next week or so, and it seems maybe set myself back longer term too.

Apparently I have to start filling in a detailed diary of activity/energy levels, to find a sort of 'base level' then try and devise a programme to build it up slowly. All sounds like something I don't have the energy to even think about at the moment though.

Posted 2 years ago #
grumm - Member

OK, anyone fancy this 'crocks ride' - I am thinking the weekend of the 6th/7th March - probably somewhere in the Lakes or maybe the Dales.

Basically something relatively gentle, at a very gentle pace, with lots options for stops or to bale out at any opportunity. I will try and think of a route - maybe something in Claife/Grizedale area.

Who's up for it?

Posted 1 year ago #
olie - Member

Grum,

My brother has ME, it finished his career as a footballpro. He was doing the sleep thing feeling a bit better and starting to train again. Everytime he was sick for a couple of weeks the repeated the process. In the end he just found a way to manage it. He plays soccer still just at a lower level and his job is pretty active as he's a fireman. I think its just a case of getting better and then building up again, which is what he did.

For another positive story an old customer of mine had/has ME. She was bad enough at one stage that she set off to the post office but couldn't get off the drive way, all of 20yds. She had to wait for her hubby to return to get back in the house. She since gone on to do a Bob Graham round!

Good luck.

Olie

Posted 1 year ago #
Jenga - Member

OK, anyone fancy this 'crocks ride' - I am thinking the weekend of the 6th/7th March - probably somewhere in the Lakes or maybe the Dales.

Basically something relatively gentle, at a very gentle pace, with lots options for stops or to bale out at any opportunity. I will try and think of a route - maybe something in Claife/Grizedale area.

Who's up for it?

I'll reply on here as your other thread is getting hi-jacked. I'm up for it, but can't make that w/e. Almost any other date. Can even make midweeks for the next few weeks if that's better.

Posted 1 year ago #
grumm - Member

Yeah good call, YGM

ollie - thanks, it's really good to hear stuff like that. I know I don't have it as bad as some people so my hopes for recovery are maybe better.

Posted 1 year ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

keep the cash somewhere where it will earn you a bit of money, but be safe

hollow laughter :o) Not on this planet mate!

Posted 1 year ago #
squin - Member

As much as I'm tempted by the Pitch, don't sell your bikes as when you do get back to the point where you can bike again, you'll be gutted that you got very little for them compared to what you'll have to spend on new - the new Pitch Pro is £1700 now!

I don't know much about ME, but keep fighting and keep the bikes as a target to wellness.

Stu.

Posted 1 year ago #