Replying through edit as can't post reply to all!
I love to meet others and hear other's personal experiences balancing health issues/disability. Only experiences i've found where queers for gears (great book btw!) who cycle tour in more gentle ways and adaptions due to disability/illness. I love to hear and share ideas and experiences of how other cope bike touring while managing health/different needs. I will start. Do you have fatigue issues? Need to a bed each night? Have allergies? ….
I have allergies so i take extra food (yes i mean kilo or two!) to keep me going, in return i use less clothes and minermise on other things
I am autistic, for way my body works i need to sleep in a lot later and take the morning slowly (often till lunch time!) The rules of leave early to avoid detention, pointless for me, genuinely just sleep wild in woods so im more hidden also avoids too early wake up call in a paid camping ground. I can also can much better downtime and adjust to exactly what/how my body needs. I also never tell others especially other autistics they can do the same, as it takes sooo much adapting to do it, despite having unique sensory needs that in some ways can make cycling touring possible despite my challenges my brain brings! I don't have many of the class/gender privileges to do cycle touring either, just have a unique autistic profile that makes it possible (not necessarily easy!)
Edit as i can't comment
Lets share and give a compassionate space for those who can't do the 70 miles a day, need a bed at night or other adaptions, no judgement here.
Wow this is super interesting! – the diversity in disability and how we adapt is amazing. I feel really heard and less alone!
I think its a shame often cycling and touring is seen as this competition – how many miles you did, how early you woke up, how many hill you climbed… Much prefer conversations on all the awesome landscapes, time you walked up that hill and enjoyed the view side quests you had, the pure joy of cycling at your pace and being in moment, and the lovely slow evenings/morning you had.
Just to add the closest i've found to being disabled is the book "Queer for gears" – lovely book, They are couple, also spoke on this cycle tour podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDnWn3JUMa8 if you prefer listening to reading!
by Loves_Eating_Lead
6 Comments
I have narcolepsy which often causes exercise-induced sleepiness and weird histamine reactions to things. i generally like doing longer trips with shorter mileage per day (when i did the c and o I did about 25-30 per day on average). The shorter mileage also allows me pack more – i generally need to “overpack” especially on clothes, bedding, and personally hygiene items to stay sane sensorily.
Such an interesting topic, thanks for sharing!
In the UK type one diabetes is legally defined as a disability, but if anything, it’s one of my biggest motivations to keep riding. Getting diagnosed at 14 was what led me into cycle touring; the desire to hold two fingers up to my condition and succeed in spite of it. Over the years I’ve come to achieve a better balance between diabetes and cycling mainly just through growing up: more balanced meals, using electrolytes to prevent hyperglycemia-induced dehydration and cramps, using an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring for better control, reusing some supplies so I don’t have to carry as much in the first place.
I absolutely recognise that I still benefit from many privileges which have the effect of practically offsetting my diabetes in some situations (e.g. being able to pay for accommodation when I really need it rather than have to camp everywhere)
Yet some days on the bike I really feel my diabetes, when I can’t tell if my tiredness is the weather, the diabetes, my own weakness, or just a hard day. Whether I feel it or not, it’s always there, a part of me, and I hope that when I get to the end of my life I’ll still be surprised by looking back and asking ‘how on earth did I manage that?’
Interesting conversation! I have persistent fatigue issues which is frustrating for someone who likes to cycle. My health has improved recently but I never have, and probably never will, be able to pop off 70 mile days like it’s nothing. I’ve been brainstorming lately how to bike tour in a lighter fashion, but coming up short on ideas!
I’m trying to get back into riding myself.
I am Type 1 diabetic with full kidney failure currently on home hemo dialysis 5 days a week.
I picked up a carbon ht(2022 Trek Procaliber 9.6) at the end of summer and put 100km or so on it around the multiuse paths here.
This year I’m going to try to do a few longer rides in the summer after hopefully building up more stamina and power over spring.
One of the big goals for me is to try to get in one overnight trip exploring the local rivers and other waterways here with my fishing gear.
I am hoping for a kidney transplant at some point so I will be able to do some real touring/bikepacking away from the house for more than a day or two.
I have celiac, and some undiagnosed neurological issues (seemingly related to celiac). I also carry soooo much extra food. I do still hit pretty high mileage, but just because I like it that way 🙂
Did a tour last fall across NY with my grandfather too! We slept all in hotels because he’s 87. He said he would sleep in a tent, but his back is not like it used to be. At one point, he caught a tree branch to the face and one of his hearing aids flew out. I found it about an hour later, ten feet off trail, under a pile of leaves. Quite the story! That tour was especially fun and we had lots of great conversations 🙂 We took it easy, prioritized the snacks and adventures, usually hitting 45-65 mile days.
I inherited shit knees. A combo of severe arthritis and subluxation. I *just* completed my therapy after having both knees replaced for the second time in my life. Before my very first replacement surgeries, I was an avid biker and the first round of surgeries kept me on a bike for a little while. But, over the years, I slowly lost the ability to perform the circular motion on a bike. But now, after my second round of replacement surgeries, I have that motion back and I CAN RIDE A BIKE AGAIN. Words literally cannot describe how happy I am about this. Right now, I’m training as hard as my recovery will allow and I’m off to New Zealand in about a week to tour the “baby” trails and take lots of breaks and camp in the dirt and ask all the sheep what’s the meaning of life. Super excited.