Cycling is Freedom
I have always loved cycling ever since my dad bought me my bike when I was a child. My dad and I used to ride our bikes around Boston on Sunday afternoons and it gave me so much joy.
I continued cycling into adulthood but took more of an interest in running. I used to run about 30 miles a week up until a couple of years ago when I started to develop arthritis in my right hip. My doctor strongly recommended that I stop running unless I wanted to get a total hip replacement sooner rather than later.
The doctor told me that I should cycle more not only to compensate for the number of calories I would lose through running, but it is also a low-impact exercise that could help my hip. Since this pandemic started, I have relied on cycling to get around to do my shopping and other stuff as I am not too comfortable yet using public transportation. I don’t really consider myself “disabled,” even though I have to use a walking cane to get around sometimes and my arthritis will continue to be a problem for the rest of my life. Maybe my opinion on this will change as I get older. But I do appreciate this video that discusses the need for better mobility access and acceptance.