FROM PARALYSIS TO PEDALING

Most of us will be familiar with the extolled benefits of cycling for our physical and mental health But these messages are usually directed towards people for whom cycling is accessible You get a bike, you jump on it, ride for a bit, the ‘bit’ part usually determined by your current fitness, and over time, you go further and faster, as your fitness, skills and confidence improve

However not everyone can just ‘jump on a bike’ Living with certain disabilities or long-term health conditions can make cycling feel more out of reach A good dose of determination and optimism may be required to even contemplate the idea of cycling, when being mobile is an on-going challenge. We met one woman, whose experience getting back into cycling whilst recovering from a spinal injury we think epitomises the definition of determination

Fiona Fraser was told she would never walk again after an accident in 2016 left her paralysed from the chest down

She spent five months in a specialist spinal unit, and her rehabilitation remains on-going, although she went from being initially immobile and unable to brush her teeth, to walking out of the unit on two sticks By 2019 she had built up her physical strength and fitness through exercise and started to think about cycling

But her balance was unsteady, and she could not lift her leg high enough to get on a typical bike frame Thankfully, the solution for this was relatively straightforward, a stepthrough model proved workable, and Fiona could start cycling again At first Fiona cycled a very short distance, around one mile, ensuring she had enough energy for the return journey. With each bike ride she progressed a little more, utilising local cycle paths and accompanied by her husband

I just love the feeling of being out in the fresh air, it helps with pain, and I organise my life to keep my energy for cycling”.

-Fiona Fraser

It was the arrival of the COVID pandemic, with its lockdow and empty roads, that facilitated further opportunities to progress her cycling She began cycling with a friend, building up to 15-20 miles, encountering hillier terrain an expanding her adventures. The step-through frame was retired for a hybrid bike, better suited to the local hills and longer distances.

In 2021 Fiona began attending Breeze rides Led by volunteers trained as British Cycling level 1 Ride Leaders, known as Breeze Champions, participants are supported throughout each ride: from the friendly welcome and safe check at the start, to cycling together as a group under th helpful leadership of the volunteers, including the safe navigation through junctions, traffic lights and roundabou etc Breeze rides are categorised into ‘easy-going’, ‘steady and ‘challenging’, with the pace adapted to ensure no on left behind; accommodating any rider, whatever their situation

Balance and coordination difficulties mean starting and stopping is not easy for Fiona She also experiences on-going pain, greater muscle fatigue, and has a leg brace to keep her foot in a suitable position Despite these challenges, she remains committed to cycling without the assistance of a battery on her bike

Through the support and guidance of Breeze Champions and other participants, she feels included and welcomed on rides, highlighting many benefits: discovering new routes; meeting new people; tips on how to make the most of her bike’s gears; and support and encouragement to progress her cycling She now uses a road bike and last year completed a cycling challenge event, cycling from Skye Bridge to Inverness Bridge, a distance of 78 miles This year her plans include Ride the North, the Loch Ness Etape and Etape Caledonia and she is thinking about joining her local cycling club

From not knowing if she would ever walk again, to taking on challenges any cyclist might consider demanding, Fiona’s advice for anyone contemplating cycling is to “just do it” For anyone with additional health and/or physical challenges, she highlights the benefits of exercise and recommends following medical advice whilst trusting and listening to your body She told us the impact cycling has had on her:

“I have fallen in love with cycling, I now don’t mind going out when it is cold and raining I just love the feeling of being out in the fresh air, it helps with pain, and I organise my life to keep my energy for cycling”

Inspired by Fiona’s experience? Find a Breeze or Guided Ride near you: www letsride co uk/

This article was written by Melanie Toner from Scottish Cycling for britishcycling org uk

At the beginning of February our Peer Support CoOrdinator, Laura Torrance, hit the road to The University of Stirling to give several days of speeches to over 4400 young people from high schools from across Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannan in aid of Safe Drive, Stay Alive.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is a road safety show which delivers hard hitting, thought provoking messages to its audience The overall aim is to promote responsible driver and passenger behaviour in order to reduce deaths and injuries on the roads

The programme is an annual event which targets young people (16-25 years) from secondary schools and colleges It looks at and encourages good driving practices; covering issues such as speeding and seatbelt wearing and use of mobile phones whilst driving It also covers consequences of poor driving such as living with an injury following a crash and the impact this has on the individual and wider friends, family and community. Delivered by members of the emergency services, victims of accidents and their families, speaking about their experiences was an emotional day for all involved

Below is a chart which highlights the drop-in incidents of Deaths and Serious injuries between the period of 2004 - 2008 (table on the left) and 2016-2020 (table on the right.

As you can see, all four areas have had a notable decrease in road-related incidents This proves that Central Safe Drive along with other road safety initiatives have been successful in keeping the roads safe and ensuring everyone drive responsibly.

Come join the 7th year of our:

ANNUAL BBQ & ACTIVITIES DAY

WEDNESDAY 21ST June 2023

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochwinnoch 10am - 4:30pm

An inclusive day out for the whole family, and it's free! We have a range of fun activities planned, including:

-Sailing -Kayaking -Canoeing

-Hand Biking -A delicious BBQ on the shores of Lochwinnoch

Changing places with fully accessible toilet and changing room with ceiling hoist

Freestandingoutdoor hoist for cycling and other activities hTwopontoonswith oistingfacilitiesto aidpeoplegettingin andoutofboats

Level entryto café and centre.

Make sure to book your tickets on our website. If you would like to learn more, please email info@spinalinjuriesscotland.org.uk or call us on 0141 427 7686.