August 20 Ride Reports

Today I rode exactly 2 miles... that is on my mountain bike, to the pond in my neighborhood and back. Swam and read for a little over an hour and headed back. It felt weird to be riding in my Keens, even though I don't always clip in while riding the trails, I do have my bike shoes on. Coming back, I was a little nervous about climbing the 10-15% grade back to my house on that heavy bike, on the road, with a backpack on, not attached to pedals. But, it was fun. It sort of reminded me of riding when I was a kid.
The reason I rested today is that after my fastest ride ever on Friday and mountain biking on Thursday, I rode 56 miles yesterday and I was exhausted. My legs were tired last night so I forced myself to rest today.

As some of you are aware, I got hit by a truck back in May (see http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...bike+totalled).
8 weeks after the accident I ended up having an MRI and found out that I had a lateral tibial plateau fracture and some major cartilage damage in my right knee. I was immediately put in a knee brace and back on crutches. A few weeks ago, I graduated to a cane, but I've been completely unable to ride a bike since May 8th (and I got my replacement bike Memorial Day weekend).

10 days ago, I had new x-rays taken so that my doctor could assess how well my bone is healing. This week he told me that the bone had healed enough that I could not mess it up by walking or riding, so I got to lose that stupid brace. I have to keep the cane for a while though. He also told me that as a present (my birthday was this week) I could ride my new bike around the block. So today, I rode. He never specified how big the block could be, nor how many laps I could do, so I kind of took some liberties.

The ride: from my place around the back side of the yacht harbor to my friend's house to help him build his new bike. Then, since he needed a longer seat post, we rode to my favorite LBS. After, I rode right home. In all -- 1 lap around a pretty large block. Total distance: 3.6 miles. I'm so happy I actually cried!!!!!

Yes, I'm icing now,

Susie

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

That is wonderful that you got to get back on. I am very happy for you.

We rode this morning with Rich from Rivendell, the guru of wheels. He rode the first leg of the ride and took a picture of us with our Rivendells; he had to return to rehearse for a gig locally that he and his wife were doing (he plays sax too--is there no end to his talent?) He's the short one with the MUSA seersucker shirt...

I had a merino wool jersey underneath and my shorts, and was pretty cold the whole time; overcast and 50s a lot of the way...

I can't figure out how to get actual pictures on my Mac....

while I'm at it, since I had my camera, here is our local road after a long winter of rain (the mountain bike portion our ride):
.
.and finally, our glorious coffee and turn around point; I think Trinidad looks a lot like a Mediterranean port...

while wabisabi is fighting the cold we're still fighting the heat. rode 35 miles (to church and back, 17+ miles out at 7 am, then start back at noon), it's still over 100 degrees, hot, muggy, windy, wahwahwah. good rides, an hour out, an hour back, but you can just feel the weather is about to change to the gorgeous fall-in-phoenix weather.

susie, you are awesome.

Kitsune06, how are you going to keep the b'day surprise from DGF if you post here????!!!

Susie, welcome back to the ranks of the riders!

I rode 20 miles today. On my mountain bike. I think it's the longest I've ever ridden on the mountain bike.

Before riding, I cleaned & lubed the drivetrain. Wow, what an improvement in shifting! When I rode on Friday, I would shift, wait a second or two, and either the chain would jolt into the next gear, or nothing would happen. Yep, that chain lube is a magic potion!

This was the second ride on my Brooks saddle. I moved it back a little bit, and rode. I noticed some issues, and wondered if this saddle would improve with break in or if it's just not meant to be. When I finished the ride, I noticed that the nose was tilted up. Oh, that might be a problem! It's back on the level and waiting for tomorrow's ride.

-- Melissa

Yay Susie ! Glad you're back on hte bike. Small steps, grasshopper.

Very nice pixs, wabisabi. :)

Hey melissa, as you noted, work on the saddle tilt a little bit more. One thing I noticed about Brooks' is that the tilt of the saddle makes a big difference.

Lee & I only did our out & back to Mission Coffee for lunch, maybe 26 miles or so. Added a loop around what (back a few years when I was doing the Fremont Freewheelers Cinderella training rides) I thought was a really big hill. Notsomuch anymore.

M. Coffee makes a tasty turkey pannini with foccacia bread & pesto, yummers. Washed down with a mango freeze. Sitting out on the porch watching the world go by and listening to the birds chattering at the feeders. Nice.

I'm training for the Gateway MS150 in Columbia Missouri in a few weeks. Did a training ride with my team - all guys - we rode 70 miles in 5 hours, averaged 14 m.p.h. I think they expected me lag behind, but I was determine not to!

We did 50 on the Madison County IL country roads, then did the last 20 on the bike path. It was the first time I'd ever riden on hilly country roads....got chased by a mean dog and had a near miss with a deer on the path.

Six months ago I wouldn't have dreamed I would have been able to do this!

Patty
47 years young

Yesterday I went on a wonderful ride with someone from the TE forums: divingbiker! She, me, and a friend rode 40 miles out in the country on amazing country lanes with no traffic, had a dear cross right in front of us, made it up those hills, and generally had a great time (well, the gravelly pavement made it interesting).

Thanks, divingbiker!

GOOD FOR YOU SUSIE! That's all there is to say really! What a great recovery! Well done!

Susie, You're not looking forward to be able thier rides, too! I'm glad you're back