Rwc5830

Hello everyone, I did my fifth century or greater group/event ride this year on Saturday.

The temps started in the mid 70s and it was 85 at the end. Humidity went from high nineties to mid seventies at the end. Pretty flat where the ride was but there are no trees and the winds were gusting up to 35+.

I was supposed to make it a just a finish ride with my three other buddies ....but as they say 'when you have a number on your back it's a race'!

Anyway we really pushed the ride and the last 40 miles were very tough against the wind....oh the cramps!

When I finished and checked my time I realized that I had bested my personal best for a century (actually 102 miles) by almost 45 minutes Not bad for someone who's been riding only 1.5 years and had hernia surgery 11 weeks (correction) ago! Time was 5:45 for 102 miles.

My riding buddy, who is 74 beat me by eight minutes.....remember it was not a race

One more goal for the year and that is 7,000 miles. Should have it by next week.

Just goes to show you old guys can still do it

Richard

climberguy

Congratulations on your ride. Nice going.

I'm guessing your hernia surgery was laproscopic. I had bilateal hernia surgery 7 weeks ago, not laproscopic, and I'm barely managing 12 mile rides now. No way I could do a century in 4 weeks

qcpmsame 

Good for you Richard, that is great so soon after the surgery, hope the fitness keeps on improving so well.

Bill

Rwc5830

Yes laparoscopic, I was on the bike doing 40 mile rides 2.5 weeks after the surgery. It still gets a little sore when I really ride hard. Good luck on your recovery. Mine was an inguinal hernia, doctors always told me when they did the cough test that one day I would have a problem.

Rwc5830

Thanks Bill, did not really want to push it that much but when I get in those rides you just don't want to get left behind.

jppe

Great going Richard. I'd rather climb a hill than battle the wind any day.

climberguy

Laproscopic or not, doing a century at this point is still impressive. Sounds like your recovery is almost complete.

My surgery was bilateral, as I said, and open incisions--and also inguinal, as yours. Mine was diagnosed (by two docs) through the cough test, though a third doc, sports medicine, continued to think it was a muscle tear from running. I haven't gone back to that one.

Rwc5830

Thanks. One of my 2013 goals is to go do at least one ride with a mile or more climbing in one day. I did a couple long rides this year with about half a mile and did OK. I'll have to go far to do a ride with that much climbing, but it's going to be on that list for next year

Barrettscv 

Outstanding pace, Congrads.

George

Good going Richard. I wish you guys were a little closer to me, so we could get together. Anyhow, great ride and have a nice Christmas.