I am such a jock!

[pooks]

Okay, here's a place to share your "I Am Such a Jock!" tales.

I'll go first.

Today I rode on the bike trail -- gorgeous, perfect. Temps in the low 60s, shady, just wonderful. I rode and rode and rode.

When I'd come up behind somebody I'd call out to let them know I was coming. A couple of old guys looked like they were doing well to stay on two legs and when I'd say, "Good morning!" they'd be startled and try to move farther to the right when they were already fine -- so I'd add, "You're okay, I just wanted to warn you!" and they'd nod and smile.

Sweet old geezers.

So then I started thinking how I'm not all that comfortable when somebody on a bike comes toward me, because even though the trail is wide, I'm used to riding on a street so I figure, I should try riding more to the right and get used to riding closer to the edge of the (paved) path so that when somebody is coming toward me, instead of feeling like I need to adjust, I'll know that I've already given them plenty of room!

So I'm cruising along, staying to the right when OUT OF NOWHERE a voice SAYS SOMETHING and startles me, and then the guy says, "You're okay, I'm just passing!"

And like a goony bird, I was so startled I fell off the edge of the bike path.

So as the front tire goes off the edge (which drops off a few inches) and there are trees and I don't want to hit one I (with masterful jock-like instincts) manage to leap free from the bike and land on my left thigh on the hard bike path.

The guy stops but I holler (from a graceful sprawl on the concrete) "I'm okay, I've fallen before!" and laugh. Ha-ha-ha!

And he says, "Are you sure?"

"Oh yeah, go on!"

And when he's gone, I hobble to my feet, wonder why, if I fell on my left side, my right wrist hurts and I've got a scrape on my right leg. Climb gingerly on the bike and decide (curses!!!) my ride is over before I wanted it to be because, hurt wrist, etc. Only as I ride a little I decide to see if it really hurts, and even though it does, it's not so bad I can't ride --

And I ride another ten miles.

I felt like such a jock!

Except. A jock doesn't fall off her bike like a goony bird just because somebody is passing her. (In fact, I could hear the guy thinking, "Sweet old geezer," as he rode off. Humph.)

[KSH]

Way to go girl! You didn't a little fall keep you from riding. Good job!


I felt like a jock last weekend when I was flying by these strong looking guys up hills. "On your left!" I knew they were cringing because a girl passed them. They caught me on the flats, but I owned them on the hills.

[Kitsune06]

*SNIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF*
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
What a commute! Smell that morning air!
I'd just locked my bike up after riding in. I feel like a stud. Blue mirror wrap-around shades, beautifully cut jersey and my new Pi Sugar shorts (short little 5" inseam shows 'more of the sugar' don't ya know) I pop off my helmet and don't walk, but strut toward the office, holding my helmet with fingers through the vents, casually admiring the muscular look of my forearms, the subtle lines of veins between fingers, the curve of my quads, my well-defined calves, still warm with the hard ride...
I take a deep breath again, puffing out my chest. I felt good. I felt *hot*.

...A co-worker smiles and says "nice hair!"
...
...
Helmet hair.
D'oh!
Such a jock.

[pooks]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I fell off my bike. The pad beneath the thumb of my right hand is kind of bruised and my wrist is sore but it wasn't enough to stop me from riding farther, and it is much better now. It hasn't bothered me much all day since. I've tried rotating my wrist, etc. and decided it was just a strain, and that maybe I somehow twisted my wrist when I was trying to sling free of the bike. (I didn't fall on that side -- I don't think my wrist hit the ground at all.)

But now occasionally when I twist my arm a certain way I feel a sharp twinge of pain. This is just slightly below the wrist on the inside of my arm.

On the one hand, it's not swollen and the bruising isn't even that obvious so I tell myself it will get better on its own.

On the other hand, when that twinge bites me it's freaky and a little scary, because I don't want to be stupid and ignore something that should be looked at.

Any opinions?

[pooks]

Not only am I "a jock" but I'm a "dumb jock" because I meant to put that in a new thread!!!

Kit, helmet hair is sexy.

KSH -- where were you riding?

[Kitsune06]

I'd watch it and see how it does bruising/swelling-wise. Ice it and keep it fairly still. Ladies will probably disagree with my 'wait and see' attitude, but I'm *very* conservative when it comes to going to the doctor.

[mimitabby]

you mean, like me?
do you have an urgent care center? xrays are cheap and reassuring.
But next time, don't ride so close to the edge of the path. That would make ME so nervous.

I'm such a jock, i put my bike on the top of the car all by myself and am going to take it off all by myself and ride to Gasworks from somewhere near downtown allbymyself to meet dh at the ride of silence.

and I hope i don't fall.

Pooks, jocks fall. On our last TE ride, Eden, the most experienced, fastest best rider in our group FELL DOWN.

[pooks]

But. Did she fall down like a goony bird?

That is the question.

[Zen]

Dumb jock my arse, Pooks. I've been to your website.

When I was 9 or 10, my sister and I were riding our bikes to my aunts house. The bike I was on had a bit of a jerk in the pedal stroke but I wanted to ride it. It reminded me of what we called at the time an "English 3-speed". Even though it was just one speed it was much sleeker than my Huffy.

So, we're riding along, my sister in front. The pedal skipped, my foot slipped and down I went. I told my sister I was OK, go ahead and I'll catch up. When I didn't catch up, sis called Mom who came on foot looking for me. She met me limping back home, leaning on the bike with a severely sprained ankle and black eye. I sat on the seat, she stood and pedaled us home. When we went to the ER, I looked so bad they thought she had beaten me To add injury to injury, the fall must have inflamed my appendix, I had an appendectomy not long after.
Old school dumb jock.

[Kitsune06]

*whispers* it was a 0mph tipover...
She took it with such grace, though. It looked like it hurt, but she laughed and assured all us n00bs that anyone can do it- there's no shame.

[Darby361]

Pooks - good luck with the wrist - If you are able to rotate it that is a good sign - sounds like inflammation.

I am such a jock because this AM, when the alarm went off at 4:45 I turned it off and said "I am going to skip the gym today" 5 minutes later I was up and dressed and on my way knowing that a good workout would make me feel better than another hour of sleep. I had a great workout that had my t-shirt totally soaked with sweat! My gym-friends asked what was up? Why was I working it so hard? Cuz I can and I wanted to! I ROCK!!!

I wanna look like the chick at the top of the TE website!!

Trish

[Jenn]

Well, I must fall into that category since last Tuesday with my bike, meets van event. The woman who stopped out of 10 cars passing kept saying, "Let me drive you home." No, I said I'm ok, even though my WHOLE right side of my body and my face was pounding. Once I got home, I saw why she said it. We clocked what I rode, because my computer stopped working, it was only
5 miles, but the scary thing, I don't remember riding home. The whole concussion thing I'm sure had alot to do with it but..I couldn't wait to get back on my bike. Mother's Day was special for me because I finally did after a LONG 4 days off!!! Even though I got on my LeMond spin bike, it wasn't the same.
So I say YOU GO!!! I hope you feel better, ice that wrist!!!

[KSH]

Not only am I "a jock" but I'm a "dumb jock" because I meant to put that in a new thread!!!

Kit, helmet hair is sexy.

KSH -- where were you riding?

We went out to Cedar Hills for the Ride for the Hills Bike Rally.

There are a lot of bike rallies coming up, where you can do a 20-30 mile route, on your hybrid. Might want to check it out.

About your wrist... you are a jock... and athlete. Better safe than sorry. ANYTIME I have hurt myself, I have rushed to the Dr. the next day.

My body is my machine, my tool... and I should respect it and take care of it. If it's running funny, I let a Dr. look at it.

Go to a Dr. It should be fine, but you need peace of mind that it is.

[LBTC]

Pooks, the massive bruise from my no speed tip over onto the rocks has nearly healed. Yup, I'm a jock too! haha

As for your wrist, when recovering from my broken humerus, I learned that shooting pain, even if it's not super intense, if it is sharp and shooting, it is a sign of something quite wrong; maybe an inflammation of a tendon or ligament; but maybe worse, of a fracture.

Once a broken bone is ruled out by x-ray, I always think that a physiotherapist knows better what to do with malfunctioning and injured joints than a doctor does.

Ice and anti-inflammatories can help, but you'd really be mad at yourself if it was something serious that ends up plaguing you later.

A real jock would get it checked out.

Hugs and healing butterflies,
~T~

[pooks]

Okay. I hope waiting 24 hours isn't too long. (wry grin)