# 1st real bicycle ride since my wife’s stroke and death
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951
**Category:** Sports & Exercise
**Tags:** stress
**Created:** [March 24, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951 "2026-03-24T15:43:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/1 "2026-03-24T15:43:51Z")
Exercise, especially bicycling has been number one in managing BG in the 36 years since being diagnosed as T2DM. There are a lot of stress relieving activities, for me, being out on my bike is the best.
I have been cycling but it has been indoors. That is helpful but not as good.
Saturday, I got my road bike out of the shed and gave it a wash, Birds had been using my saddle as a toilet 😒 Both my bikes have electronic shifting and power and speed sensors. I charged both bikes’ shifting batteries.
This morning I made sure all gizmos were operative and I donned helmet, shoes and took off.
It felt so good to be out. Sadly this spring is not giving us a blanket of wildflowers, some Indian Paintbrush and primrose, not a bluebonnet in sight.
As to metrics, my BG dropped from 144 to 120, my aveage speed was slower than a Kenyan marathoner (12.4mph) I did go faster than a Roger Banister at 15.5mph. Roger broke the 4 minute mile. My average power was not enough to light a 100w lightbulb at 92w, but I did hit 240w for a brief spurt.
Ah the days of 16mph averages and hittiing max power of 450w are probably over, but the upside is I am out there again.
Oh and I don’t think I’ll be doing the customary birthday ride next Monday of 76 miles. 🥹 🤣
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### Author:  [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/2 "2026-03-24T15:54:18Z")
It’s great that you are back in the saddle! Congrats CL!
🤩
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/3 "2026-03-24T16:35:42Z")
I can’t stand it, Eric. I want to know what’s in the basket and why is he peddling so furiously.
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### Author:  [@TomH](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TomH)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/4 "2026-03-24T16:59:55Z")
Showing my ignorance, I didn’t know they made electronic shifters for bicycles! Makes imminent sense, just didn’t know!
Glad you had a good trip!
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/5 "2026-03-24T17:11:20Z")
> [@TomH](#):
>
> I didn’t know they made electronic shifters for bicycles!
There’s 3 that I know of:
1. SRAM eTap.
2. Shimano Di2
3. Campagnolo Super Record Wireless
My bikes have Shimano Di2. The biggest advantage my opinion is they are very stable, seldom if ever needing adjustment. The disadvantage is having to keep the battery charged. That’s not awful.
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### Author:  [@mike\_g](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mike_g)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/6 "2026-03-24T17:39:45Z")
Interesting, I had no idea. However, I’m still stuck on 1990s Trek 820s and similar bikes. Someday I’ll get with the times
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/7 "2026-03-24T18:07:24Z")
Mike, just keep enjoying yourself. After I retired I upgraded an 8 speed Cannondale Synapse to 11 speed Ultegra mechanical. Why, because I wanted to do some hands on bike related wrenching. Oh, boredom was a factor. The original setup on the bike was adequate. I was a bit faster on the new group set.
I still ride that bike in the bedroom.
My road bike is a Linskey titanium R240. The 1st TI bike I ever saw was a Fuji in 1993. I drooled over that bike as the owner and I rode 60 miles together.
I found the frame and fork on Craig’s List and after a year I bought it.
I was planning to build it with Ultegra 11 speed mechanical, but I couldn’t get the gearing I wanted. I ended up buying the Di2 part by part from Amazon which was cheaper than the mechanical group sets.
The other bike is a gravel bike that I bought used from The Pros Closet 2 years ago. It has Di2 and hydraulic disc brakes. I’m not a big fan of disc brakes from a maintenance point of view. If the brakes need service, it won’t be by me.
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### Author:  [@mike\_g](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mike_g)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/8 "2026-03-24T18:39:34Z")
Ahh, interesting stuff. I’ve lived on gravel for the past 25 years, so the trek mtb types have worked well, but I just haven’t spent much time on that particular hobby (along with several others …) due to general busyness of life. But boy it feels good to ride when I have the chance, takes me back to age 5 and coaster brakes and riding riding riding every chance I got.
Sorry to hear about your wife! I’m scarce on this site so missed hearing that.
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### Author:  [@mike\_g](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mike_g)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/9 "2026-03-24T18:43:09Z")
Also interesting about disc brakes. I’ve assumed they’re the real deal, but admittedly have no idea given my current center pull calipers, etc
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/10 "2026-03-24T19:25:36Z")
> [@mike\_g](#):
>
> Sorry to hear about your wife! I’m scarce on this site so missed hearing that.
2025 was unkind, thank you for your kind words.
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/11 "2026-03-24T19:30:57Z")
> [@mike\_g](#):
>
> interesting about disc brakes.
They have more stopping power especially in the wet. They are a lot more complicated to maintain. Bleeding them is quite a process. I’ll gladly pay someone to do it.
That makes 2 bike things I won’t do, trueing wheels and disc brakes. I did clean the rotors today with 90% isopropyl alcohol.
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### Author:  [@Rphil2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Rphil2)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/12 "2026-03-25T01:10:22Z")
Congratulations. I got on my recumbent this past weekend and it was glorious. Wow I love the open road. Tunes cranking and showing off for the neighbors. I am one cool dude on my 2025 Catrike - 559
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/13 "2026-03-25T01:57:49Z")
Kwel @Rphil2
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### Author:  [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/14 "2026-03-25T03:50:52Z")
“I’m tired of being half motorcycle and half bicycle”, he moped.
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### Author:  [@CharlotteEngland](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CharlotteEngland)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2026, 8:22am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/15 "2026-03-26T08:22:25Z")
I’m really sorry to hear about your wife @CarlosLuis
Im really glad to hear you have got back in the saddle. I got a bike through the Cycle to Work scheme here and Im lucky enough to live on a cycle path so can pretty much do the entire journey to work off road so it’s been brilliant. I love my bike! Closest we get to flying.
Why the absence of wildflowers, do you think? We are in peak daffodil season here, lots of yellow around with the forsythia too.
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/16 "2026-03-26T11:38:37Z")
Thank you @CharlotteEngland for your kind words.
I’m glad you have a safe route to commute. Some states are bicycle friendly so but Texas- not so much.
Our roadways normally have wonderful wildflowers thanks to Lady Bird Johnson (LBJ’s wife) and her cohort of women. They would distribute special packets of seeds to toss them out of car windows.
In my area it has been droughty for several years. That may be why the blooms have been declining.
I saw a little cluster of Blue Eyed Grass. Those little blossoms peaking out of the grass Along with wine cups are a real treat.
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/17 "2026-03-26T19:58:41Z")
Thank you @CharlotteEngland for your kind words.
I’m glad you have a safe route to commute. Some states are bicycle friendly so but Texas- not so much.
Our roadways normally have wonderful wildflowers thanks to Lady Bird Johnson (LBJ’s wife) and her cohort of women. They would distribute special packets of seeds to toss themout of car windows.
In my area it has been droughty for several years. That may be why the blooms have been declining.
Indian paint brush on this morning’s ride.
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### Author:  [@bob.carlson](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bob.carlson)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/18 "2026-03-29T15:02:25Z")
I’m sad also to read about the loss of your partner. Good to fill your time with other things that you love to ease the grieving.
Too chilly here in the Berkshires for _pleasant_ riding yet (19 degrees F last night). What you know as Indian Painbrush in Texas is different from the orange hawkweed that I gre up with in MA, but AKA Indian Paintbrush by some.
Happy flower cruising!
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### Author:  [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/19 "2026-03-29T17:34:47Z")
> [@bob.carlson](#):
>
> orange hawkweed
That’s in the daisy family like Indian blanket which is a favorite of mine. Not my picture.
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### Author:  [@Sally](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sally)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1st-real-bicycle-ride-since-my-wife-s-stroke-and-death/15951/20 "2026-03-31T14:23:11Z")
Carlos, I am so sorry to learn of your wife’s sudden death. Sounds like you’re doing what you can to navigate the world and move forward after your tragic loss. I’m a hugger. So sending virtual hugs to you.
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