ne have any tips for riding comfortably as a pilly. I have arthritis in my hips n knees and I'm finding I can only manage 30mins ride before my joints are stiff and painful and need to stop for a break. I was hoping to do some longer runs this year, like the egg run and pilly day but cant see how I can do these without regular stops which would really cause unwanted delays.
First and foremost you must have a comfortable seat or some sort of padding either on the seat or in your clothing to help cushion any jarring, even your footwear, no really hard soles again to cushion any vibration through the footrests. In the case of arthritis sufferers keeping the joints warm with good clothing is imperative too. Get out as much as you can with the same rider to get used to them, have confidence in their ability to ride with you on the back, having this confidence will create less tension through your muscles and joints through gripping on too tight, its all about being able to relax as much as you can and enjoy the ride.
I recommend m/c socks for that extra cushioning in your footwear. I have a condition called plantar fasciitis and they really help. My bike boots are heavy and not very comfortable, until I started wearing m/c socks and it was like I was wearing a different pair of boots.
I think the ride position will make a difference for you too maybe? Are you legs bent up or a bit more relaxed and have you tried straightening yoyr leg and having a little wiggle while going along and maybe with a signal to rider so he knows you're gonna do it.... Also it's usually better for rider if you readjust your position at higher than slow manoeuvres speed.... Maybe lean forward fir a bit..... Then lean a but back.... Just keep moving a little as often as possible and some bikes are far more comfy than others.....
Thanks guys for being so helpful. There’s some good suggestions there for me to try. I’ve got some new textile pants to try instead of my leathers they should be a little more flexible for me
I'm sure you will get it sorted out very soon She11. Hope the suggestions made help.
If I'm going distance 200+ and I'm not feeling brilliant, I take meds about 45mins before setting off. Makes everything feel much easier. (Take some other meds with you for return journey!)
Break down distance runs with short regular stops if necessary. Nothing worse than sitting there in pain n silence. Signal you want to stop n get off n stretch as much as possible. Don't get on again until you feel ready to do so.
Mates will wait for ya or at least give you a waypoint to meet up again. 👍
She11, have you tried VOLTAROL GEL? it's available over the counter at any pharmacy and is really, really effective when applied to the problem areas. It can affect those with Asthma, so worth reading the small print first, but it's excellent for stopping pain altogether for a few hours at least. Keep a tube in your pocket too, so you can use it for the home ride too.
Also, there is a gel called 'DEEP FREEZE' - it's a painkiller and a coolant, so tends to cool down and reduce pain. Also over the counter from pharmacies and good to keep in your pocket.
Purplebetty I’ve not tried those, I always thought if they were really any good then my rheumatologist would of prescribed it. I guess it’s worth a try tho. N ceetee haha very funny don’t tell anyone it was me 🙈
She11 some good tips already 👍 for rider and pillion, I have two gel pad inserts in my VFR seat, recommended. Try getting the loan of the external type that are strapped on over the seat. A pound shop cheap alternative worth a try is a neck cushion, either a polystyrene beads one or an inflatable type 👍 good luck 😊
She11 - it's usually personal choice as to what a doctor prescribes, or sometimes an over counter prep is much cheaper than a prescribed one, so it may be recommended but not given to you by them.
Voltarol i've found works better for me than a prescribed one (Piroxicam) I had. They all have different active ingredients -eg Piroxicam has....piroxicam as it's main ingredient, wheras Voltarol has Diclofenac has as its top one, so I guess it's a matter of finding what works best for you.
Its worth it to me to pay for one that I know works for me in order to be able to ride more comfortably..... I really hope you find what will work for you too.
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