Ankle pain (OMG not again)

[emily_in_nc]

Yes NY, I hope the pedals will enable you to ride. Sorry the ankle braces didn't work out, but sounds like wrapping in an Ace bandage is the best solution -- and nice when it is also the least expensive, no?

[ny biker]

It's 71 and sunny right now but I can't go outside to ride or even take a walk. GRRRRRRRRRRR.

It's been two weeks. The ankle is much improved but not totally healed. It is so hard to resist thinking that I can take a chance and go out and do something. But I so do not want to make things worse.

I rode my bike on the trainer for 25 minutes last night. The ankle felt fine. I could clip in and out without pain. But then I realized -- I always clip out first with the right foot and put that foot down when I stop. If I'm on a downhill or have to stop suddenly, the foot hits the ground with a fair amount of force. It could injure the tendon more. So I think I need to stay off the road bike for another week or two. This is so hard! We will have great weather for an evening ride later this week, too.

I think there is less risk riding the mountain bike if I take it out on flat trails. Not today, because it still needs some repairs to the left shifter. And with this weather the trails will be mobbed anyway. So I will put the flat pedals on it and take it to the shop for repairs. Maybe next weekend (after another week of rest) the weather will be decent and I can go for an easy trail ride. My thinking is that I go slower on the mountain bike and with the wider tires, I am better able to balance so it would be less urgent to put a foot down if I have to stop suddenly.

Ok, typing all this out and just having a plan makes me feel better.

[emily_in_nc]

So sorry, NY. I can only imagine how frustrating that would be with the early nice weather.

I hope your ankle will be 100% soon. And just remember, spring is coming. It's only February, despite all appearances to the contrary in so many parts of the country!

[north woods gal]

I'm one to talk with all the crazy riding I do in extreme weather, but, really, I'm with Emily. Take your time. Maybe a short ride to see how things pan out. Best of luck.

[ny biker]

Thanks ladies. I got lucky with the mtb when I took it to the LBS to get the shifter repaired -- it just needed a few drops of lubricant, no need to replace any parts. Also I was not able to get the old pedals off that bike, couldn't loosen the bolts at all, so I had them put the flat pedals on for me. As an added bonus they put on new grips and moved the shifters in a bit so my wrists don't hurt anymore.

Since I was able to get everything done while I waited, I had a chance to go for a short test ride on Monday. Overall it went well and the ankle felt good. The only problem was that I have forgotten how to ride with flat pedals!! I just couldn't get started, especially on an incline. This caused some problems at intersections with stop signs where drivers were waiting for me to get going and clear the intersection. We've had plenty of people over the years who posted a thread looking for advice on how to clip in, but I may be the first who had trouble transitioning from clipless to flat pedals.

[Crankin]

Ha, ha, I had the same issue a few years ago when I was commuting to the train station in street clothes, to go to class. And, it wasn't even an uphill start (which cause me issues even with my Speedplays). My foot just flew off of the pedals when taking off at a crowded intersection, on my old Jamis with campus pedals. There were cars everywhere around me and I got really freaked, in a way I never do with my road bike. However, there have been a few times since then we have rented bikes for city tours while on vacation, and I just have to make myself think and focus while riding with flat pedals and it's fine.
I empathize with you. I had to force myself to cool it while my probable stress fracture healed last fall. Riding did not bother it, while riding, but afterwards, it ached. Since I had to stop hiking and walking and modify my tabata class, I did not want to give up riding. I should have.

[emily_in_nc]

You are not alone, NY! I had to relearn how to ride with flat pedals when we were riding cruiser bikes in Belize and again in Mexico. It is a transition like any other change. And hills definitely make it harder. We were lucky to be riding in flat places; I'm not really sure how to manage an uphill start without clipless. I am sure my 10-year old self knew how!

Anyway, glad you were able to get the changes made and get out for a short ride. I know it must have been good to be on a bike again, even if the situation was not ideal. I am sure the pedals will become easier in time, just like all other things bike-related seem to be.