Cycling with cleats

Six and a half years after my Ischemic Stroke I am cycling using cleats. This means I have a mechanism on my bike shoes that slide into a hook on my pedals so my feet are attached to the pedals and thus generating more power.

I started using cleats about 2 years ago when I went for a bike ride with my cycling club but some of them would stop suddenly in front of me and I nearly fell because I could not get my feet out fast enough.

I have moved up a level and they ride much faster. There are about 10 riders in this group and I need to have my cleats attached so I can generate more power to keep up.

I realise I have been very fortunate as my cerebellum stroke only affected my balance as well as about a 10 percent decline in cognitive function.

After my stroke I was confined to a wheel chair for 3 weeks and used a walking stick for about 6 months. I then did balance exercises for an hour a day for a year and I regained my balance as the repetitive exercises formed new neurones and new neural connections in my brain.

Again I realise I was lucky to be able to do these balance exercises.

All the best,

Ian