I had training in ADHD for my job today, we touched on dyspraxia and I am CONVINCED I have it. I have never been able to ride a bike, no matter how many times people have tried to teach me. I cannot fathom peddling while steering, I forget to steer and instead lean my body to the opposite side I should be steering to, I will fall off EVERY time. I no longer want to learn, I would love to experience the freedom of riding a bike but it just isn't meant to be! I also realised that it isn't "normal" to have to constantly look at your feet while you are walking, some people can just walk without knowing where their feet are going, this BAFFLES me. I was also informed that a good pointer is to close your eyes and hold your hands in front of you, open and clenched- everyone else knew where their hands were and could put them on their head- i hit myself in the forehead (painful and embarrassing!) Bit of a rant there but I'm so relieved to find out that there are other adults who can't ride a bike !!
I have also recently read that people also have issues with fatigue (I have never slept well, 4-5 hours a night- unless I can lie in and I will sleep FOREVER!) I get tired very easily but find this is worse when I have had to interact/socialise a lot. I have also read about people having trouble with their ankles - mine are fuc*ked from the amount of times I have sprained/broken them because I will trip over anything! I am feeling very very relieved to have found this forum and to know I am not alone ! Maybe I'm not dyspraxic as I'm not diagnosed but the amount of things I have learned about myself and "norms" today is unreal!
cantrideabike wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 10:15 pm
...some people can just walk without knowing where their feet are going, this BAFFLES me.
100% This. So much This. Like, it took me until I was 17 to not climb stairs one at a time because You Have To Watch Your Feet. Or at least... I do.
I had no idea about ankles, but can confirm that mine are about as structurally sound as a toothpick. I've got legs like ships masts - probably from all the accidental step-exercises I did before I could climb stairs - but any strength just evaporates at my ankles.
I only got a diagnosis about 2 weeks ago now (at age 36!), so I'm still learning a lot too. I got it via my university's student support scheme, so maybe work has something like Ed-Psych-but-for-jobs you could go to?
Anyways! Nice to meet you - you're definitely not alone!
cantrideabike wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 10:15 pm
I had training in ADHD for my job today, we touched on dyspraxia and I am CONVINCED I have it. I have never been able to ride a bike, no matter how many times people have tried to teach me. I cannot fathom peddling while steering, I forget to steer and instead lean my body to the opposite side I should be steering to, I will fall off EVERY time. I no longer want to learn, I would love to experience the freedom of riding a bike but it just isn't meant to be! I also realised that it isn't "normal" to have to constantly look at your feet while you are walking, some people can just walk without knowing where their feet are going, this BAFFLES me. I was also informed that a good pointer is to close your eyes and hold your hands in front of you, open and clenched- everyone else knew where their hands were and could put them on their head- i hit myself in the forehead (painful and embarrassing!) Bit of a rant there but I'm so relieved to find out that there are other adults who can't ride a bike !!
I have also recently read that people also have issues with fatigue (I have never slept well, 4-5 hours a night- unless I can lie in and I will sleep FOREVER!) I get tired very easily but find this is worse when I have had to interact/socialise a lot. I have also read about people having trouble with their ankles - mine are fuc*ked from the amount of times I have sprained/broken them because I will trip over anything! I am feeling very very relieved to have found this forum and to know I am not alone ! Maybe I'm not dyspraxic as I'm not diagnosed but the amount of things I have learned about myself and "norms" today is unreal!
Welcome to the tribe!
There are a lot of people who are self discovered/declaring and getting confirmation through an assessment can be difficult/time consuming and expensive. Some people have that lightbulb moment when one of their children is diagnosed, others manage to access assessment through college or university or through an employer/occupational health.
Some dyspraxics also have the additional diagnosis or Ehlers Danloss Syndrome (EDS) which is where joints and connective tissues are overly loose. Another closely related condition where there is also some crossover of traits is ADD/ADHD. Because we have to concentrate harder to get things right and or may have a degree of anxiety, switching our minds off so that we get the rest we need can be difficult.
Tom
Moderator/Administrator
With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
It is common for people with ADHD to over-focus on things they are interested on. Therefore, ADHD could make you more focused on your training, as long as it continues to be naturally engaging to you. Otherwise, you would be more likely to drop biking/training altogether.
There are many other factors related to ADHD and performance. In general, proper management of your ADHD should be beneficial to your performance on bike, as well as off the bike.
Last edited by Tom fod on Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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I couldn't ride a bike until I was ten. I could pick it up and throw it. I could stomp on it. I could curse it out. And I tried to learn to ride from age 5 onward. I was excited to ride a bike since all my younger cousins & friends were riding bikes. Everyone tried to help and that made it worse. Finally one summer, I spent a week in the backyard with the bike and myself. The neighbor women would come out and stare at me as I was screaming my head off at the bike.
Finally I was able to ride that thing for about 10 feet and 10 yards.
That said, I was a menace on the bike. How I didnt break my neck is a miracle. A few weeks later I rode the bike between two lilac bushes & got clotheslined by a mean nasty tree branch. Then at 17 I was riding a 3 speed (Pee Wee Herman bike). Got my Kmart shopping bag tangled and went head first into a rock. (Luckily my RATT LP survived the crash) Got stitches for that stunt.
I have not been on a bike in decades. Self-preservation is very important as I get older. (and riding a horse was even worse)
- but any strength just evaporates at my ankles.