#FemaleHEALTHSport #CyclingMenopause Cycling Through The Menopause WITH: @adelemitchell VIA: @WeAreCyclingUK

Cycling Through The Menopause With @WeAreCyclingUK

Adele Mitchell, one of our 100 Women in Cycling from 2018 talks to experts about how to pedal through the menopause - a transformative life stage for women

From enduro mountain bikers to cycling commuters, competitive racers to those who pootle round the park: women cycle for fitness, fun, practicality and adventures. But what happens if menopausal symptoms start to disrupt your enjoyment of cycling or hinder your performance? Conversely, can cycling actually help combat those symptoms?

Menopause impacts each woman differently: some barely notice it, while others are floored by it. However around 70% of women will have symptoms that can last for several years, such as joint pain, hot flushes, low mood and anxiety and weight gain. Some find cycling to be a highly effective way of coping with these symptoms, others find themselves so overwhelmed that it impacts on their ability to ride. Caroline, aged 49, is a keen mountain biker whose symptoms means she has difficulty sleeping.

“I wake up in the early hours then lie awake for what seems like hours feeling anxious about things that I would have normally take in my stride. "The knock on effect is that the next morning I have no energy and feel tired all the time. This impacts my whole life, but I especially notice it when I go out on my bike: I just don’t have the energy or drive that I did before". Meanwhile road cyclist Abbie, aged 54, turns to cycling to help alleviate her symptoms. “I have hot flushes and moments of feeling a bit panicky which can occur at any time, but neither ever happen whilst I am riding my bike. I don’t know why this is, but cycling certainly gives me a little welcome respite!”

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Have you seen MoJoManuals? FOOTBALLMoJo, LACROSSEMoJo, ROWMoJo, NETBALLMoJo – www.WSNet.co.uk/MoJoManuals

MoJoManuals addressing the wide range of issues which teenage girls face as they engage in competitive sport. Predicated on 'Physical Literacy' but also cover a range of other emotive issues such as: body image, diet, fit or thin, social media, training with menstruation, coaching style etc. – which impact how girls engage/drop out of sport – and potentially go on to be elite athletes and confident, mature young women outside of sport.