Road Bike Racing - Back on the road again...

It's been nearly four weeks since I broke my collar bone and exactly one week since having a plate surgically implanted to reconnect the two ends of the bone but I finally got back out on the road this morning to test things out.

The ride was uneventful (which is VERY good). Way too many stop lights to get any sort of average watts to speak of and the effects of the 5000ft altitude in Utah were readily apparent but it was a good ride nonetheless. My weight is down to 71kg (from 77kg before the accident), so I'm hoping that with nearly 4 weeks left of high altitude training in Utah I can come back stronger than ever.

Fingers crossed...

--Steve

welcome back dude.

why'd they take so long to attach the bones? and how did you lose the weight by not riding? smoking? ;)

Welcome back. Good luck with getting back into the flow.

why'd they take so long to attach the bones? and how did you lose the weight by not riding? smoking? ;)

We were already scheduled to leave for Utah two weeks after the accident. The earliest my doctor in NC would be able to get me into surgery was the day we had planned to leave which would mean rearranging flights and not being able to followup with him until we got back five weeks later. So we decided to just do the surgery in Utah which worked out nicely.

As for the weight loss, without cycling my hunger levels went way down and it seemed like the weight just sorta fell off (plus dieting was the one thing I could do while laid up). Some of the weight was surely muscle that I'll gain back once I start putting on the miles but based on the "jean fit test" a lot of it was fat.

--Steve

dude,

you're not supposed to diet when injured, you're supposed to eat cheeseburgers and drink milkshakes, with lot's of beer and chips.

Wow, that was fast.

Is the plate permanent?

Welcome back, Steve.

wow i cant believe you are back on the road already with a broken collarbone and here i am 4 weeks since surgery on my wrist and im still relegated to the trainer.

Welcome back and good job losing weight while you were healing.

Is the plate permanent?

I'm not sure yet. My first followup visit with the doctor isn't until Monday. My recollection from the pre-op visit was that it depends upon whether or not the plate and/or screws cause irritation.

--Steve

wow i cant believe you are back on the road already with a broken collarbone and here i am 4 weeks since surgery on my wrist and im still relegated to the trainer.

Well, to be honest the doctor said it would likely be four weeks from surgery until I could "start lifting light weights or get back on the bike" but in my view those two things are completely different in terms of the load they place on the shoulder area. I took it really easy, it didn't hurt at all, we'll see how it goes.

Here's hoping you're back out on the road again asap, Steve.

--Steve

Nice....must be pretty psyched about the weight loss too. I'm sure once you get back in tip top shape, with the lost pounds, you'll be absolutely flying.

That x-ray pic is kinda freaking me out, and I'm not sure why.

Nice....must be pretty psyched about the weight loss too. I'm sure once you get back in tip top shape, with the lost pounds, you'll be absolutely flying.

That x-ray pic is kinda freaking me out, and I'm not sure why.

Human skeletal failure is just plain bad, especially when you're familiar with it. Ugh.


Speedy healing, Steve! And be real careful. One small mishap can set you back a long way.

wow i cant believe you are back on the road already with a broken collarbone and here i am 4 weeks since surgery on my wrist and im still relegated to the trainer.


If it makes you feel better, I had back surgery on June 20th and a 20 minute ride on a Townie produces real pain the next day.
P/T guy advised against riding a bike. Now I know why...

Well, to be honest the doctor said it would likely be four weeks from surgery until I could "start lifting light weights or get back on the bike" but in my view those two things are completely different in terms of the load they place on the shoulder area. I took it really easy, it didn't hurt at all, we'll see how it goes.

Here's hoping you're back out on the road again asap, Steve.

--Steve

I am just now getting to the point to where I can imagine trying to ride on the road but really, I cant really hold the bars with my right hand so I am better served on the trainer where I can at least ride hard. Still makes me feel like wussy though

Way to come back Steve.

Looking forward to seeing you at the races this fall. I think you need to get a 'cross bike to make up for lost racing time :D

Good stuff, Steve! I'll be in Utah for a few days weekend after this coming one. I won't be on the bike; we're going canyoneering and other such good stuff. Congrats on getting back on the bike.

I also look forward to seeing you out there, and I agree with Noah that you need to race 'cross. It's a blast, and if you fall, you're a lot less likely to get hurt!

I also look forward to seeing you out there, and I agree with Noah that you need to race 'cross. It's a blast, and if you fall, you're a lot less likely to get hurt!

I am giving some serious thought to the whole 'cross thing. If my Motobecane SL frame would work as a cross bike, I'm extremely likely to give it a try. I'm assuming I would need Mtn bike shoes and pedal, though, right?

BTW, Sunday's 45-mile ride started at 4500 feet and topped out at 7000 feet. We're not at sea level anymore, Toto!

--Steve

Yeah, MTB shoes and pedals are good. I use Time ATACs and cheap Performance shoes. If you're thinking about the Le Champ frame, you probably won't have enough clearance to run 'cross tires on it, and it doesn't have brake posts on the fork or seatstays for canti brakes. However, Nashbar always has a CX frame on sale, or you can pick up a fully-built Moto Fantom Cross for $795; that's what I race on and the bike definitely isn't the limiting factor.

Glad you are back on the bike Steve.

Richard