Periods and cycling.

I'm going to talk about periods for a minute so guys if that makes ye queasy, don't read it!

I do not recommend riding a bike during the first day or two of having a period. I was on day three which is usually a light day for me and definitely started that way, but by the time I got to work, every time I pushed down on the pedal, blood squirted, yes squirted, like Tarantino was directing the whole thing down there. It was a little very frightening. So I got Mr JDF to bring me a change of jeans and got to work. By the end of the day, things had calmed down again and  I'd forgotten all about that so I rode home. The same thing happened but it started earlier on in the ride.

I arrived home in semi darkness just as Mr JDF and my son got home. My daughter came out to say Hi to us all and I couldn't move! I just stood there, and could feel blood running down my legs at a rapid rate as Mr JDF gave me a present... a new chain for my bike (yay!) and the kids were telling me about their day and I was worried I was hemorrhaging. I couldn't say anything in front of the kids because I didn't want to freak them out so I waited for the opportune moment and dashed inside where I went and stood in the shower and just watched my very own episode of Dexter happen. It was scary stuff.

Searching online helped me see that some women just can't ride on certain days and others can. I lost a lot of blood, so much that I was dizzy, but I'm ok now. I might have also been dizzy because:

a. I'd exercised and my brain was unused to the oxygen
b. Fear.
c. Psychosomatic stuff
d. Past life issues

I was not very wise. In fact, could be called stupid inexperienced for riding home after that happened to me in the morning, but I just didn't think in the night. I was so worried that I'd be arriving home in full dark, on a black bike with dark pants and not enough reflective material that my body just didn't enter my thoughts.

I've done a search online and found that this can be an issue for many women.

Women also have reported chafing from pads and even tampon strings. Many recommended menstrual cups like The Keeper, and other brands as well.

If you're new to cycling, then perhaps have a back up plan if you need to ride on the heavy days. You might be one of the lucky ones who are not affected. If so... go for it! If not, work around. it.