Break Affords A Break From Brakes

20 June 2025

Arthritis has crept through my hands over the past few years, crippling my fingers and robbing me of any power. This has made braking difficult while cycling, effectively ruling out hitting mountains and group rides because I can’t be sure of being able to brake in time. But a break in a finger has provided a break from braking.

All my cycling plans for the year have been put on a backburner for the time being.

I had intended to get back to daily riding and going for longer rides on weekends to try and get back to the riding I was doing a few years ago.

But arthritis, especially in my hands, and an infection that arose because of the disease, have severely curtailed my ablity to get on the bike.

Warmer weather and a looser than normal schedule have allowed me to ride longer than usual in the early hours of the morning on the past couple of days.

Part of that reason is because I have needed to seek treatment. I may have to sacrifice part of a finger to alleviate some of the difficulties with my hands.