It’s 5 am. I can’t sleep, for a variety of complex reasons. Last year I was diagnosed with a FAI of the right hip. I had pinned all my hopes on an operation that might have cured the pain and loss of mobility, but apparently I’m too far gone to benefit from the operation, and too young to have a new hip. I’ve used all the excuses of the weather, the sloppy trails, the fear of hurting afterwards and I’ve spent more time building bikes than I have riding them. At the beginning of January I was fatter than I have been in fifteen years, and over the last couple of weeks the old black dog has been scratching at the door. Enough. I need to ride. The hip isn’t going to get any better, and if I wait any longer I will never get back to where I was, mentally or physically.

There was a recent thread asking for novice, unfit riders daahn saarf to meet up and ride, so here’s my offer for the grim north.

Do you want to meet up and ride at a level where you don’t need to worry about your fitness, your appearance, or your skill levels? If you do, email me. I know a good number of bridleways in Kirklees and Calderdale, (Hudersfield and Halifax to the not so local) but I have GPS, guidebooks and a desire to explore. I want to get back out for easy days and half-days out on real riding, where I don’t have to compete or kill myself to keep up, where we can wait at the top for anyone who has to push up, or at the bottom for anyone who feels the need to push down. We can hoon around to our hearts’ content or simply enjoy the view and the company. No competitiveness or criticism (although all of that is only ever internal;)

I have a car that can carry up to four/five bikes and passengers, so we can have excursions to the Peaks, Dales,Moors, Lakes, even trail centres.

Anyone up for that? Fat, unfit, unsure, depressive? Old, young, silent, gobshite? Novices, folk returning to biking, old lags ready to share experience? All more than welcome. The idea is to ride, to simply ride without the pressures of feeling others are watching and scoring your performance? To find a bridleway where we can spin along and chat, with a pub or a cafe as a reward. To find a proper challenge, but take whatever time we need to get everyone up, down or through it (it won’t all be easy riding!) I get so much out of biking want to help others while I’m mending myself.

Email me, wholestonedaveATaolDOTcom

but apparently I’m too far gone to benefit from the operation, and too young to have a new hip

First out never believe the 1st opinion, secondly get a private consult and see whats what without funding guidelines. Most of all don’t give up hope. Have a look at some bio mechanics people too for movement advice etc.

After that hope you can get out and ride, been missing it for a while and its messing with my head.

I’ve been down various funding routes. This was a pioneering specialist who has done a lot of work on “young hips” and funding was found via a PCT exemptions committee. He was very honest, saying to operate would net him a nice fee, but wouldn’t do me any longterm benefit. The impingement is less than 2mm now, so it’s too late to benefit from arthroscopy. I’ve now been told by three different consultants that I need a new hip, but would wear one out in less than five years,( I’m 49)and each replacement means my leg would be more damaged by the revision. I can manage the pain and put off a replacement for another five or six years, I just have to accept that I’m going to hurt a bit after a ride.

Hi Dave?

I had my hip replaced last July, couldn’t walk properly, stairs, driving all very uncomfortable and riding was a no-no, but after deciding to have the op, I was in and sorted in 10 days.
I’m 53 and I’m really surprised that they don’t want to operate on you at 49.
My life has turned around since the op and the pain has gone completely, obviously your circumstances are different to mine but as said above, don’t give up seek more advice.
I had my op at The Royal Orthopedic near Birmingham, my consultant was Mr Pearson.
If you want to email me my address is in my profile.

Oh and btw I’m at my heaviest I’ve ever been!

Matt.

I can manage most things pretty well. I’ve been told that I compensate for the lack of mobility (which isn’t yet severe) pretty well. The arthroscopy would have removed bone mass to prevent the impingement getting worse, but can’t replace the cartilage I’ve ground away over the years. It’s taken several months to get to a point where the pain can be managed, so a regular dose of NSAID and codeine means I don’t have to be in constant pain. The upheaval of a hip replacement would be out of proportion to the current perceived or projected benefit, so it’s time to stop feeling sorry for myself, MTFU and ride. As I’ve lost a bit of weight the pain has improved, so being leaner and fitter will be of even more benefit. When I can no longer run and climb stairs I’ll be more than ready for a new hip, but I’m not there yet. I know it ain’t gonna get any better, but I want to enjoy my bikes in the interim. If I can get in another five years’s riding before I need a replacement I’ll have done pretty well.

I’m stuck betwixt the Naarf & Saarf, but if you fancy an amble round Connock Chase in the Middlelands any time do drop me a telegram. Be happy to string an amble together.

Cheers

Cannock is on my list of must do’s for this year, and my Mum lives just south of Second City Metropolis, so stand by for a call.

I’d gladly come out with you but live miles away, isn’t there any local mtb groups?, search Facebook for your county & mountain biking

I’d be up for some of that. Combination of some health issues and crap weather means I don’t get out nearly as often as I’d like – which makes me wary of regular group rides even with nice understanding folk – I don’t want to feel like I’m holding people up or end up beasting myself to ‘save face’. Sounds like you should get in touch with ton as well.

Sorry to hear about your health problems btw.

jekkyl
Thanks. I have moved away from certain old group rides because of the politics. Last time we rode in our local “social group” one of the regulars’ husbands came a long. He spent the entire ride mocking my (then) 14 year old son because he a) knew the route we were on, b) was riding his mmmmbop, and “anything other than a pure XC bike is nonsense”, c) vocally poured scorn on my lad and I for wanting to stop at the top of a tricky descent to drop our seatposts, and d) referred to my son as a “little ****” before I pointed out he was my son.

I have never been “free with my fists” but that was an occasion where I considered dropping my “let it all wash over me” standards.

I suppose I want to progress at my own pace, and help bring along some other folk who would find regular club-based riding intimidating or over complicated. I’m not a novice, so I don’t necessarily want it to be all canal towpaths. I want to ride the red and black stuff where appropriate but at a sedate pace, with people in the same boat.

grum – Member
I’d be up for some of that. Combination of some health issues and crap weather means I don’t get out nearly as often as I’d like – which makes me wary of regular group rides even with nice understanding folk – I don’t want to feel like I’m holding people up or end up beasting myself to ‘save face’. Sounds like you should get in touch with ton as well.

Sorry to hear about your health problems btw.

That’s what I’m on about. Where are you based?

Scapegoat – there was a thread on an Invalids Ride that ton was going to organise in the better weather. A ride without pressure, lots of laughs and cake stops!

There’s many of us with an assortment of health problems on here so would be good if you could join us. Sounds as though you’ll fit right in! 🙂

cinnamon_girl – Member
Scapegoat – there was a thread on an Invalids Ride that ton was going to organise in the better weather. A ride without pressure, lots of laughs and cake stops!

There’s many of us with an assortment of health problems on here so would be good if you could join us. Sounds as though you’ll fit right in!
Awesome. Where do I sign?

That’s what I’m on about. Where are you based?

I’m in Lancaster but I have mates in Calderdale so I’m over there quite a bit. I know my way round quite a bit of good stuff in the S Lakes.

Awesome. Where do I sign?

Just keep checking back on here!

Put my name down, invalids ride or any unfit riders ride.

new job (working for me) has left me with less time to ride and to make it worse I work away a lot so find it harder to justify leaving the family to go for a bike ride at weekends.

Injured ribs, crap weather, no time at weekends, are all taking their toll on my bike fitness and weight.

Where and when and how far too as I don’t think I could do more than about 8 miles off road!

My in-laws live near Hudds and I often take my MTB up there for rides. I’ll happily meet up with you for a spin any time I’m up. I’ll let you know.

Wherabouts are you luke? I quite often have free time during the week.

I’m 48 and officially obese in Otley. Work and family means I never get out as often as I’d like.

Happy to meet up if you head over this way and I’m free (see above).

Chris 🙂

Any sickly Southerners?

“Fat, unfit, unsure, depressive? Old, young, silent, gobshite? Novices, folk returning to biking, old lags ready to share experience” – quality thats everyone on here covered then!!!
Given that broad spectrum should be able to get out most of the week
Jokin aside theres often steady rides posted up on here, pooks pootles are designed to accomadate all comers (I took my mates 13 year old son on one – nobody batted an eyelid)
Theres alsoa group on fb and bike radar called slow rides for unfit people that are a really good group that arn’t interested in flying about also if you shout a ride up on here and say its a steady ride people will turn up and just get on with it – most of the people on here are far more resonable in life than their online personas may suggest
G

After a couple of stutters I’ve sorted out a route. Anyone fancy a 14 miler from Bakewell on Saturday morning? Meet in the Monsal trail car park at 1030 if you do. I’ll be there, with, potentially a couple of people off Cyclechat. Easy going route, no nasty surprises. Here’s a GPX

http://connect.garmin.com/course/2868753

Any takers? Pace will be easy to invalid.

Gah! Would have been up for that but other half doesn’t get many weekends off from work & typically this is one of them…

Would definitely be up for some group riding though at some point…so keep putting up ride ideas on here.

C_G aren’t you East Angular way? I’m not sickly, but I am bloody unfit!

Ooooo. that is really close to me as well… Only note about the route, rode most of the first 4 miles a couple of weeks ago and be ready for mud, not very deep, but pretty slick in places, and they have felled the woods on to the south of the 3 mile marker so that short section was pretty well cut up. Passable, but “interesting”.

Am quite tempted, apart from trying to climb the bottom of Rowsley Bar on a single speed 🙂

Bit short notice for me I’m afraid.

Let me know when you fancy an amble round the Chase D’ Cannock & I’ll string a nice off piste amble together. It’s a bit wet at the moment though. This is from tonight’s ride… 🙂
After 8 miles on the bike rack that lump of mud is a frozen mass…

IMAG0200 by pten2106, on Flickr

Anyone else? I’ll organise another gentle pootle for a couple of weeks time, but this is still on for anyone who fancies making one in.