When you consider recumbent bikes, your first thought, like mine, may be, “Those things are not for me. They’re slow and only for old people.” That is what I believed too.

Until about a year ago I was riding a regular two-wheel, upright bike and never thought I’d make the switch to a low recumbent trike. But here I am.

Life – and aging – is all about adapting.

I’ve always loved bike riding. I’ve loved the freedom, being outdoors, and exercising. In May 2017, I suffered a bike accident on my two-wheeler and broke my left arm and shattered my shoulder. (A small dog ran into my bike from behind, causing me to fall and land hard on my arm.)

When I was finally able to face riding again, I found that not only was I terrified of riding and falling, but also the pressure the handlebars exerted on my shoulder was unbearable.

I moved to Florida later that year and saw that recumbent bikes are more prevalent here on the trails. Since I didn’t want to give up bike riding, I decided to give recumbent bikes a try.

I’m so glad I did! I immediately fell in love with them. They are ridiculously comfortable – think arm chair recliners – and they’re much faster than I thought.

Here are several reasons why you should consider a recumbent trike:

Safety

Because you’re closer to the ground and obviously more stable, you don’t have the worry of falling off your bike and getting hurt. If I had been riding a recumbent trike when I had my accident, I don’t believe I would’ve been injured at all.

When I rode my two-wheeler, I was always very nervous of squirrels running in front of me – a common occurrence on bike trails. Now I don’t have that fear.

Comfort, Comfort, Comfort

Even before my injury, I would get neck and shoulder discomfort from leaning over on the handlebars. My rear would become quite sore as well. Because the recumbent position is so comfortable, I don’t have any of those issues. If I didn’t get tired, I could just keep on riding!

No Skills Required

Perhaps you never learned to ride a two-wheel bicycle – I know many people who haven’t. Good news – with a recumbent trike, you don’t need to learn – there’s no balancing involved! You can ride a recumbent trike at any age, even if you’ve never ridden a bike before.

No Special Clothing Required

I don’t need special, uncomfortable, padded bike shorts or spandex tops as I did on my upright. I can wear regular loose fitting shorts and tee-shirts or tops.

If you ride long distances, or intensely, you may want to wear shirts with wicking ability for sweat. Also, like any bike, you need a helmet, and I recommend clipless pedals – or any kind of foot restraint system that works for you.

Recumbent Bikes Are Fun to Ride

I was really surprised, but the fact is, riding a recumbent bike is fun! They can be fast if you choose (especially downhill), and they corner like crazy. Of course, you don’t need to do any of that, but the option is there if you choose.

I had only seen people going very slow on recumbent bikes, so thought they were built only for slow rides. Not true. In fact, I ride with a group that is always on the lookout for the fastest, sleekest models. Many of the 70- and 80-year-old riders can leave me in the dust!

Recumbent Bikes Are Great Exercise

It’s a fabulous, low-impact aerobic workout. You can burn lots of calories based on how long or intensely you ride, or you can go at a comfortable pace and just get a good workout.

Because you’re outside enjoying nature, you may not even realize you’re exercising. Because of the reclined position, I definitely feel I get a better leg workout.

Social Experience

If you find a group to ride with, recumbent bike riding can be a wonderful social experience. You get to ride with friends, and hopefully enjoy tea or lunch together afterwards.

If, by chance, there aren’t any recumbent bike groups in your area, I’m sure bike clubs would welcome you as a recumbent rider as well. Many people that haven’t ridden recumbent bikes will often stop to chat to learn about the trike.

Hopefully, you’ll consider giving recumbent trikes a try. Stop at a local bike shop to see if you can rent one, or check one out at your next vacation destination.

Have you tried riding a recumbent trike? What do you think of the experience? Would you recommend it to our fellow sisters in the community? Please share your thoughts and tips below!

I am a wife whose husband has cancer. I am a caregiver. I also work with people who have cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, and with their caregivers. I work with the grief that comes with caregiving and death that may follow.

Every day, do you look for changes in your loved one? Are they pale? Are they thinner? Are they anxious or depressed? I do. I look for a sparkle in my husband’s eyes. I wonder if he is okay. I wonder if the chemo is working.

Six years ago, my husband was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma, which had metastasized. He had a tumor underneath his shoulder that was large and too close to his spinal cord. It was inoperable.

He was given an immune boosting chemotherapy that had a 5% chance to cure. He has been in remission for 6 years. We are grateful.

You may have experienced this journey before, or are on this path right now. I am sure your stories are heartbreaking, painful and just as challenging as ours.

When Your Loved One Goes Inward

One of the biggest challenges that I see is when your loved one goes ‘inward’. For men, especially, they feel a fear that paralyzes. They were raised not to feel, and their fear shuts the world out.

Many caregivers find this attitude challenging and painful when their spouse withdraws. Let’s face it: cancer and other life-limiting illnesses are scary for you and your loved one. Fear about what is happening and what is to come becomes the elephant in the room.

You feel helpless. Both of you retreat to your separate space in silence pretending the elephant is not in the room, fearing the future.

Here’s are a few suggestions from lessons I have learned along this journey.

Use Tenderness and Kindness

Gently open a conversation when you notice fear or any other feeling of desperation creep up. Ask your spouse about it: “I noticed when you said you might be feeling scared. I know this is not easy for you, but I am here and we can share the fear.”

Don’t push it. Tenderness and kindness can go a long way. If you don’t get any response, let it go and try again at another time.

Be Patient

Our tendency is to push, to try to force. This is a fierce journey, which is why patience is important in times of hardship.

Stay in the Present Moment

Don’t consider the future, as this can easily become a dreary topic. Instead, focus on the present. This will help you feel centered and grounded.

Show Compassion and Love

We care for our loved ones, and in time of sickness is when we really need to show it. Face this moment with compassion and love.

Breathe

Breathing has been known to reduce fear. When fear sets in, our breath becomes labored, shallow, and our body becomes tense and constricted.

There are so many ways to breathe. Yogic breath is optimal, but just being aware of slowing your inhale to the count of 4 and exhaling slowly to the count of 5 works wonders.

It takes courage for both of you to take this journey. It can be one of the most profound experiences for you and your loved one. It teaches you many life lessons about what it means to live life fully.

How do you stay connected with a loved one who has cancer? How do you share feelings with one another? How do you tend to your own feelings? Have you found any methods that have helped you on this journey? Please share your insights and tips below.

Do you remember a time when you were
waiting by the phone for a special someone to call? It was excruciating and
endless, bringing with it a roller coaster of feelings.

Now in our 60s, we find ourselves
waiting again, for the doctor to call. It is no less terrifying.

I am waiting as I write this, so I am
momentarily quite an expert on the topic. As expert as anyone can be when our
very lives hang in the balance. I came up with a few thoughts, not really tips,
but just ideas of how to make it less agonizing.

Unlike waiting for that “someone” to
call, waiting for your health report is a multi-leveled experience. First comes
the blood test or the pains that tell you something is not quite right. You
wait for the appointment – which results in some kind of test like a CT scan.

Then you wait for the results and it
happens to be a holiday weekend. More waiting. And then the results indicate
that you need a biopsy.

You wait for the biopsy and then wait
again for the biopsy results. By now, you might be pretty upset. This process
could take well over a month.

So, it is worth thinking about what
can be done to make the waiting palatable. It is also important to figure out
how to keep living while you are waiting. What – Me, Worry? Really?

Alfred E. Newman, the mischievous kid
of Mad Magazine fame maybe could do it, but not me. However, a wise
counsel I received as a teen in distress was “try not to worry unless you are
sure you have something to worry about.”

That means, speculating and worrying
about an auspicious outcome is a waste if it turns out the biopsy shows
nothing. And what have you gained, but misery? If your worst fear comes true,
you have lost nothing by staying neutral and making the effort not to worry too
much.

Feeling It

That said, while not worrying may be
your intention, you will most likely feel a roller coaster of emotions. I like
to write in my journal to get those feelings out. And uncovering my worst fears
to a dear friend helps a lot.

There are plenty of teary songs to
listen to as you let yourself cry into your beer (or tea). I usually feel
better after a good cry. Letting the emotions out helps just as a rainstorm
that clears the air. Knowing it is a roller coaster, you will be able to start
the journey back up again, even while you are waiting.

Whistle While You Wait: Keep Busy

There are always things that can be
done to keep your mind occupied. I took up a small project – planting flowers
in pots on my deck.

It was something I could do when I was
not up to digging in the garden. I planted seeds, bought a few zinnia plants,
and one beautiful hanging pot with fuchsia “million bells” (calibrachoa).

Choose Who to Tell and When

I am not a super-private person;
however, I only opt to reveal the situation to a couple of selected people
while I am waiting. Otherwise, the flurry of daily texts and emails of concern
can be overwhelming and might even launch new roller coaster rides.

Just enough support during the waiting
period is all I want or need. Later, I have no problem informing others,
including you, dear readers.

Hope

Hope is a healing state of mind. It is
a refreshing spring that reminds us to stay open to life and that anything
might happen. I am not speaking of false hopes.

Also, becoming too optimistic could
mean a longer way to fall if the outcome is not what you are hoping for.
However, remaining hopeful and positive can be healing.

And healing is not always a physical
state. Even when the news is not so great, you can seek to transcend the moment
to something greater, allowing you to handle even the tough stuff with grace.

What
are you waiting for right now? How are you waiting for it? Do you have any tips
that can make the waiting easier to bear? Please share them below!