Every month for about a week or ten days I'm prevented from biking by my female biological... erhm, functions. I used to subscribe to the point of view that having your period shouldn't stop you from doing whatever it is you want but as I've added years to my as yet relatively short life, I've found that it gets harder and harder to push my physical limits when my body's already working overtime dealing with hormones and blood and guts and all that naturally inevitable stuff.
Given that pre-menstrual stress and post-menstrual stress are bad enough for us girls and the people around us, can you imagine what it's like for me and the people who must bear with me, not being able to bike only because I have my period? And to have the deprivation compounded by hormonal mood swings? It makes me grumpier than I already am. Oscar the effing Grouch has nothing on me when I'm ride-deprived.
It's like the third day after you've quit smoking, when the initial feeling of triumph has faded and all you want is your little nicotine fix.
It's like fasting sans spiritual enlightenment. Flying down a bumpy, muddy, rocky, mountain road and being one with your bicycle, the universe, and everything IS spiritual enlightenment, dammit.
It's dark and heavy, like doom and gloom.
It's worse, far worse, than a mosquito bite in that one spot on your back that you can't reach.
It feels oppressive and leads to paranoid imaginings that the whole world is conspiring to keep you off your bicycle with work, the weather, and genetics.
Not biking for days on end simply makes me miserable.
To all my sisters of the knobby wheel out there, if your body can hack riding (or running, or swimming, or rock climbing, or whatever sport gives you happiness) even when you've got your period, DO IT! Don't let a little blood (or a bunch of menstrual myths) stop you.
Given that pre-menstrual stress and post-menstrual stress are bad enough for us girls and the people around us, can you imagine what it's like for me and the people who must bear with me, not being able to bike only because I have my period? And to have the deprivation compounded by hormonal mood swings? It makes me grumpier than I already am. Oscar the effing Grouch has nothing on me when I'm ride-deprived.
It's like the third day after you've quit smoking, when the initial feeling of triumph has faded and all you want is your little nicotine fix.
It's like fasting sans spiritual enlightenment. Flying down a bumpy, muddy, rocky, mountain road and being one with your bicycle, the universe, and everything IS spiritual enlightenment, dammit.
It's dark and heavy, like doom and gloom.
It's worse, far worse, than a mosquito bite in that one spot on your back that you can't reach.
It feels oppressive and leads to paranoid imaginings that the whole world is conspiring to keep you off your bicycle with work, the weather, and genetics.
Not biking for days on end simply makes me miserable.
To all my sisters of the knobby wheel out there, if your body can hack riding (or running, or swimming, or rock climbing, or whatever sport gives you happiness) even when you've got your period, DO IT! Don't let a little blood (or a bunch of menstrual myths) stop you.
Comments
I wouldn't stay away from something I loved just for my period.....jesus, that would mean how many weeks a year being crippled?
Life is too short....