Other than the post about my hair and the 100 foodstuffs meme, I haven’t really been writing a lot here. Sure, I’ve been updating my Twitter feed regularly, but not this blog.
So…. where to begin?
I’ve been riding since the epic Mt. Shasta adventure, though not in the same quantity. Where I used to ride 250-plus miles per week, I’m now riding 150 or so – a bit of dialing back that is necessary to keep healthy, both mentally and physically.
Not that the rides I’ve done haven’t been great. I’ve been out on the C&O Canal Towpath with sprite, where we saw lots of fish and birds. I went on a 67 mile ride in the Virginia hills that was a fast and fun ride with plenty if challenge (including a lovely stretch of dirt/gravel road). I did a solo, 102 mile ride on Sunday, which was a fun challenge.
I went swimming after work on Monday, taking advantage of the last couple of weeks of operation for the local outdoor pool (I’m not a fan of working out indoors, even in mid-winter). The typical PPTC Tuesday ride went off without problems, too, and I found that my riding is still strong, even with the scaling back of my training regimen. Tonight I rode 22.5 miles of laps at Hains Point and saw a most beautiful sunset.
I still need to make a permanent repair on my rear dérailleur on the Pedal Force. That will happen sometime soon, I’m sure. The main issue is that Campagnolo components, while completely rebuild-ready with spare parts, aren’t cheap – and the dollar-to-euro exchange rate isn’t helping matters. Furthermore, their 2009 gear is now in the stores, the 2008 supply having been out-of-production for a while with the resulting retail channel shortages in full force (Campy is saying “you really want the new bling!”). So I’m trying my luck at Mr. Edward Bay’s Auction House to try and save a few shekels.
So… there you go!
Activity: road cycling
Location: Markham, VA > Mt. Weather > Bluemont > Marshall > Markham
Distance: 54.8 miles (moderately hilly)
Duration: 3:38
Weather: cold, damp and rainy, then clearing and dry, 52 to 64 degrees
Avg HR: 142 (max 176)
Type: aerobic
PPTC “Nick’s Pick aka The Blue Ridger from Naked Mountain Vineyards.”
This was almost “the ride that wasn’t.” After all, the weather didn’t cooperate with the fact that Nick – the club member who used to lead the “Real Rides” from Dupont Circle – was in the area and picked this route. And over thirty club members showed up for this ride.
When Joyce and I arrived at Naked Mountain Winery, we found the crowd huddled under a pavillion, chatting and lamenting the rain, drizzle, fog and cold. It was almost like winter in England: a clinging damp, chilling to the bone yet with an eerie beauty. A couple club members rode their bikes in from Marshall, but didn’t feel like riding the hills of Mount Weather in a rainy fog. Most people decided to pack it in and go home.
Except for me, and another club member, Mark, who rented a car for the day solely to participate in this ride.
Read more »
It’s been more than a year – that, plus nine days – since my shoulder dislocation.
Wow. All that time, and here I am.
And what has happened?
- I’m riding strong and faster than I was prior to the injury – I’ve reached the next level.
- I’ve lost a lot of weight – fat replaced by lean muscle.
- I’ve completed two centuries, with at least another two or three to go before the end of autumn.
- I’m happy, healthy and looking up to the next thing.
So here’s to another year under the belt, with lessons learned, strength gained, and miles to go before I sleep.
Activity: road cycling
Location: Washington, DC > Kensington, MD
Distance: 24.8 miles
Duration: 1:36
Weather: clear and sunny, 48 degrees
Avg HR: 150 (max: 170)
Type: aerobic
Definitely not the springlike temperatures of last week, but a good riding day. The wind was somewhat gusty, which made for some handling challenges (I’m 6′ 4″, so I’m high-profile, no matter what). But I got some more good base miles under my belt, and the sun felt really, really nice. The hills are getting easier again, which is a sure sign that the winter cobwebs are being shed. And seeing the daffodils in bloom is always a nice scenic distraction.
The shoulder feels downright normal again on the bike, which is such a relief. This is the first post-injury ride where it’s felt normal, and where my back feels balanced after the ride (due to favoring the right arm). Another hurdle cleared – yay!
My next ride will be sometime after the 26th, as I’m heading to New England on Tuesday night. I’ll get some skiing in, though, so that will be a good workout. And I’ll certainly walk around a lot – Boston is a great walking city.
Activity: alpine skiing
Location: Bromley, VT
Start time: 1000 hrs.
End time: 1400 hrs.
Weather: overcast and windy, 37 degrees
Max HR (bursts): 165 (beats in 10 seconds x 6)
Type: anaerobic
A nice day of skiing on a warm December day. The place was really empty, owing to the pre-Christmas travel day. A $25 ticket was a big draw, keeping me away from Stratton and Mt. Snow, which were closer to $60 for an all-day pass.
It was great to be back on skis after the long off-season. And my shoulder held up very, very well.
Had my last physical therapy session on my shoulder today. The therapist was really pleased with the outcome – and so am I. I have close to 100 percent of my range-of-motion back, and the shoulder is stronger (muscular) than it was before the accident.
With that, a huge “thank you” to the crew at Georgetown University Hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation department: Michael, Glen, Chris and Francis really went the extra mile to kick my butt and get me back into shape. Thanks, guys!
Activity: road cycling
Location: Washington, DC > Potomac, MD
Distance: 33.6 miles
Duration: 1:58
Weather: sunny, 54 degrees
Avg HR: 147 (est.)
Type: aerobic
Did this ride solo becuase the PPTC ride from Glen Echo was too damn early. Another factor taken into consideration: it was in the upper 50s by mid-afternoon, rather than the upper 30s, as it was at 9:00 am. Yet another factor: I didn’t want to miss the Dupont Freshfarm Market.
But the ride was good. I essentially traced the PPTC ride route from the Tuesday nigth rides that take place in the summer months. My energy level was better than last week: the hills were easier, my cadence was a little faster, there were fewer aches from over-compensating for my shoulder. All told, it was the best ride in terms of overall quality since the accident. The roads were full of cyclists, taking advantage of a nice day.
Activity: road cycling
Location: Glen Echo, MD > Seneca, MD
Distance: 46.5 miles
Duration: 2:45
Weather: sunny, 54 degrees
Avg HR: 142 (est.)
Type: aerobic
My first Potomac Pedalers ride since the accident. Felt good, but I didn’t go the whole way to Poolesville because I didn’t want to go too far over 44 miles. I can tell that I’ve lost a little on the hills, and I cramped hard at mile 33 (some water and a quick massage fixed things). But it was a good ride, all told. The shoulder held up fine – it was the least of my worries, amazingly enough. The only thing is that I had to watch that my technique didn’t get too funky. I think I’m involuntarily compensating for the shoulder, even though the shoulder is fine. When I felt my back get out-of-whack, I’d slow down, concentrate on a good, even pedal stroke and handlebar pull. So my average speed for the ride was 16.6 mph, which isn’t too bad – though it’s well behind what I was doing back in August.
I had some gripes about rider behavior on this ride. Basically, some of the faster, hotshot riders kept ignoring the “car back” calls that signal “ride single file, a car wants to pass.” It didn’t matter how loudly you yelled “car back,” these riders just wouldn’t listen. So those of use who are good do-bees get pissed, the drivers of the cars got pissed, and the folks who just had to carry on their lief-altering conversation or their out-of-the-saddle climbing record gave cyclists a very bad name. If only these folks would keep in mind that folks in MoCo vote, and their votes carry a lot of weight when it comes to funding for road improvements and mass-transit projects.
Activity: road cycling (on mountain bike)
Location: Washington, DC > Bethesda, MD (Capital Crescent Trail)
Distance: 15.9 miles
Duration: 0:52
Weather: sunny, 63 degrees
Avg HR: 151 (est.)
Type: aerobic
Been a while, hasn’t it?
Well, this is my first official ride since the accident, and it couldn’t have come soon enough! The weather was perfect – it rained yesterday and will rain tomorrow, so timing is everything.
It felt awesome to be back on the bike! Granted, it was my mountain bike – partly on advice of my therapist, partly because the front wheel on my road bike is still in need of repair. So I mounted my commuter slicks on the Marin’s wheels, and voila!
Right now I’m icing the shoulder, as my trapezius is sore. There is still some weakness there, though it’s getting better every day with the litany of exercises I’m doing. Ice and ibuprofen are proven fixes for the pain, though.
But it’s official: I’m back on the bike! Yeah!
It’s gonna be a busy week:
finish paper for U.S. Diplomatic History class (Monday)see North Country with sprite (Monday)- DCDSC Issues Committee meeting (Tuesday)
- PT for the shoulder (Wednesday and Friday)
- U2 concert (Wednesday)
- DC for Democracy Oktoberfest (Friday)
- see Blazing Saddles with Kathy (Friday)
- cook dishes with eggplant, leek, brocolli, purple bell peppers and sweet potatoes (not all at once)
- more cleaning in The Burrow (ongoing)
- assess and (hopefully) repair the floor leak problems in The Burrow
So…. where to grow the time?
21/08/2008 | 
WP Themes