MTB + T1D
MTB + T1D
Mountain biking feels like flying. Complete freedom with a little edge of potential falls. Today felt like soaring through pots of gold.
When I first started mountain biking, my blood sugars would rise quickly with the adrenaline that came along with the ride. It took time to not only learn to mountain bike but to also become confident in my T1D management that came along for the ride.
There have been many trials on the trail when starting off mountain biking (MTB).
First, I didn’t know how to mountain bike. No clue. Truly had the gears opposite of what they should be, making my climbs much harder with resistance and blood glucose crashing – fortunately not the bike- as a result. Next, I started focusing on how to mountain bike. The techniques and skills to climb up and soar down. Taking time to fine-tune these aspects of something new I loved so much allowed me to focus more on how to correctly manage my T1D. If I never figured out the gears, I may still be going low from all the resistance climbing!
Many times, when I got miles and miles into the ride just to trick myself into thinking I did not have enough supplies though I spent so much time preparing.
When something is new it is hard to feel it is in our control. We feel unsure of what we are doing and it takes different approaches and help from outside sources.
Mountain biking can be anywhere from around your sidewalks to going up and over a mountain pass. Each requires its own unique preparation. It will always be better to be overprepared for a ride and enjoy it or take in the extra lap if you wish.
Lessons learned:
- Always bring a backcountry communication device! We often focus solely on T1D when there are other aspects we may forget. If there is no way to communicate the need for help, then there could be even higher hardships managing T1D with an extended unplanned time out on the trail. In this same thought, bring a patch kit. You prepared for a mountain bike ride, not a huck the bike on your shoulders and hike out. If this becomes the scenario, you may have some increased worry about your supplies.
- Calculate the time in your head of how long it takes to get to your destination. Once you’re there, especially if you have an incline, then you should have approximately the same time down if not much shorter. This has helped in many mental scenarios if I start questioning the supplies I brought and knowing how quickly I could get back down if need be. Chances are you should give yourself a lot more credit for your preparation.
- Adrenaline spikes are real when on a spicy new trail. Sometimes when dosing insulin for the adrenaline spike there will be a crash to a lower blood glucose level after the adrenaline wears off. Start with smaller doses if you are unsure how your body reacts to adrenaline, and we can work together from there.
Physically- clumsy to confident.
- Cardio with repeated riding / strength training catered to mountain biking *additional post* to feel strong and prepared. As my body got stronger, my blood glucose levels seemed to even out as well. Repetition, the body starts to become used to the motions.
Emotionally- scared to secure.
- Nervous about falling, going over the bars (OTB), and the speed gained going downhill. Now- excited to ride, take in the views, and know that your preparation has withstood previous possibilities.
Now I feel comfortable and confident in my abilities to ride.
