Wogster

I like the trainer for that time between December and March when you need a pair of tires that look like this:



Don't use it much this time of year, but on really windy and rainy days, I should...

Mr Danw

There's always the Red Flannel 100!

Peter_C

Cold and HILLS - I've bookmarked the website, but am not too sure about doing it, will you be?

Peter_C

time for an update...

Still am not allowed to ride at ALL

Am in the "passive-assist" section of my PT - not yet allowed to do much more than stretch it on my own yet. Am off the Percecet, and down to Vicidon - baby steps, not yet sleeping through the night, but sometimes up to six hours at a time. Really didn't know that shoulder surgery is tougher to recover from than knee - go figure...

Last Tuesday got a call from my brother, long haul truck driver, engine blew out in New Mexico, his company is retiring that truck, so he and his stuff needed to get home to Ohio (dog, and when you live in a truck, lots of clothes, and whatnot)

So, I skipped PT on Wednesday as I left Tuesday bout 2:45PM for Tucumcari, NM Some 1430 odd miles away. Got there Wednesday bout noon, got a shower, some food, and slept till bout 4AM Thursday, left to bring him and his dog and stuff back at 5AM Thursday, dropped him and gear off in Massillon bout 4AM Friday, and got home at 5AM, went to bed and slept til 3PM - and am still kind of fuzzy...

Think I am getting too old for 1000+ mile days anymore. I can still do it, but it's not fun, and my body does not like it at all anymore~! 2852 miles, from 2:45PM Tuesday, til 5AM Friday, a speed run at about 4-5MPH over the limits all the way. Ended up at 24.1 MPG for all miles, stops, etc... not too bad considering all the stuff I was hauling coming back. His company gave me $1,000 for the job, and so after costs, a bit went to the bank for bills - worked out good for all of us - cheaper than a car rental, and got my brother home faster than other methods.

Can not wait to get back to riding~! It really sux losing so much good weather, and all the plans I had made... I *was* to do my first century - HHH on 09-14 - but at this point I doubt I will even drive out there - what's the point if I can't even ride...

Arvadaman

Peter,

Rather than dwelling on the fact that you cannot ride, look at this another way. You should be doing things preparing to ride. Do you need to research new rides? Does you bike need maintenance?

Do the things you can do now in your down time to make it easier you to ride when the doctor says it is ok to go.

jbman100

Go get that trainer dude. Keep the legs/lungs in whatever shape they were in and make them better while the shoulder heals. Everything that you are allowed do NOW will make getting back on the bike THEN that much easier.

Peter_C

Doing things to prepare for riding...

THe honey-do list is completely current, and my bike is waiting for me~!

I am also spinning 3 times weekly (not great, but something)...

cappuccino911

how many pepsi's did you drink on that drive to pickup your brother?

Peter_C

I plead the fifth??

What happens out of state, stays out of state???

Neil_B

Gee, I get called a profanity for less.....

While we are on the subject, I wonder how many packs he smoked?

Peter_C

Missed Ride - HHH

Well, today was the day I was to do my first Century. It's amazing to me how the future can look one way, and turn out so differently.

I have missed out on so many rides, and so many great riding days in the last few months. Yes, it was needed, and it was the correct choice - to have the shoulder surgery, and there will be other rides, and other great days...

I so cannot believe how rotator cuff surgery compares with a total knee replacement~! Perhaps it was my ego, but when I heard of others getting shoulder surgery, I simply assumed that everyone has different pain levels, and everyone recovers differently, and assumed that the shoulder surgery would be a piece of cake compared to the TKR.

Well, I was wrong. Perhaps with the TKR my expectations were well inline since it was such a long time coming, as well as having so many other knee surgeries - I had known what was coming. But with the shoulder, I *thought* it would be simply a few weeks of taking it easy, then a few weeks of stiffness and soreness, and by working through it, I would be better than before within a month or so - man was I wrong! Here it is two months after the surgery, and I am still dreading going to sleep at night - never know if I will sleep, or be up reading til 4AM, or waking every 2-3hrs in pain. The pain level is different from the knee, not as deep, not as constant, but much, much sharper and quicker to complain if I move the wrong way. I can go from a zero to a seven on my pain scale in a heartbeat. Whereas, with the knee, the pain was rather a constantly swelling wave, or a tide that would rise and fall.

I am expecting to be told this week that I can get back on my bike...finally. I am to go from the 'passive-assistive' phase, into the 'active-assistive' phase (in other words, from helping my arm to move, to moving it by itself) - while this sounds like progress, so far, it does not feel like progress. I have a great 'assisted' ROM, and an OK 'unassisted' ROM - so the whole 'frozen shoulder' concern is a nonissue at least.

I wonder how far/long I will be able to ride after so much time off the bike? How much have I lost?

Neil_B

OK Peter, you are coming back out to my place the weekend of October 17. You can tackle this charity ride:

https://www.camphillspecialschool.org...lChallenge.php

Peter_C

/snicker

Let's first make sure they will actually let me ride? And then let's see if I remember how

The problem with rides in your neck of the woods are all the hills that kill me~! Will you be going on this ride as well?

Mr Danw

1. It is like riding a bike...
2. Don't think of them as hills. Think of them as tall spots in the road.

Peter_C

Cute, tall spots on the road...

/boggle

Neil_B

Probably. Or I might just volunteer. It IS in my backyard, after all.

I seem to recall you getting better at climbing. And there's only one way to get better at climbing..... and that's to climb.

Neil_B

Peter, the trick to getting over the mental challenge of climbing is to not think of it as one big hill, but only a series of smaller rises. True, they come one after another, but don't think about the upcoming ones, only the one you are currently climbing.

Neil_B

I expect the first ride or two will be tiring, but after that you'll be back to whatever is normal for you.

I spent 8 weeks off the bike before my vacation. I was a little wobbly the first couple of rides, but I logged a 41 mile day shortly afterward.

Peter_C

Well, let's get me OKed to ride, and then let's plan~!!!

Wanna ride the Glide as well...

Peter_C

In the Hospital...again

I am currently at the 'Western Reserve Hospital' with Multiple PEs (pulmonary embolisms - or blood clots in the lungs). This is the second time I have had this happen, the last time was back in 03/09. My blood OX is hovering around 91-93% down from my usual of 97-98%.

At this point I have no clue how long I will need to stay, but I do know that once again I will need to be on blood thinners for at least 6-12 months.

It goes without saying, I will be unable to do *any* riding until such a time that the clots lessen enough for my blood OX to go back to normal levels. So, once again (unless something changes very quickly) I will miss out of stuff that I so wish to do.

The only bright point is I caught this prior to it killing me - and so was able to get the X-Ray, CAT scan, and blood work before coming to the hospital.

Oh well, perhaps Some day my health issues will calm down for a while...

finelargeaxe

For every setback, there can always be going forward from it. Check with the docs and see what you are able to do...though I would be very careful with those blood thinners. My father has to take those, and even a mosquito bite can turn into a gusher on him at a moments notice.

Would you be able/allowed to go on walks along your riding routes, at least? It might take some of the edge off of not being able to ride.

Neil_B

I am sorry to read of this, Peter.

What changes are you going to make in your lifestyle to overcome these problems, and avoid their recurring in the future?

Neil_B

finelargeaxe, thanks for the chorus from the Breaking Benjamin song. I think the writers were paying attention in Lit class when Henley came up. I never expected such a literary echo from a bunch of guys from Wilkes-Barre. Compare with the text of Invictus:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

LarDasse74

Damn! Sorry to hear it man! Glad it was caught in time!!!!!1111!

Missbumble 

wow hope you get well soon!