grolby

Just had an appointment with my orthopedist this morning. Everyone was very sorry to see me again! She told me that she thinks this break has nothing to do with my previous one, that I just got unlucky. As she put it, if I'd happened to land the same way on my right clavicle, I would have broken that one. It's a good to hear that, in a way. She doesn't think I did anything wrong or that it broke because the bone was weakened. Just landed wrong.

The prognosis she gave me was good, too. Should heal fine on its own, and it's stable enough that I don't even have to wear the sling except for comfort or to protect my collarbone when I'm out and about. She even seemed surprised at first that I didn't plan on immediately returning to racing once I'm healed in early November or so. Looks like I'm following up in four weeks and can maybe look at beginning to return to normal activities if things look good around then. I'm not sure that includes riding outdoors, but I don't see any reason why I can't hop on the trainer as soon as I feel like it.

carpediemracing 

I'm pretty sure he was doing his own thing. The two guys that wanted to work for me are now Cat 3s, they are involved with the club etc, and the one really worked hard for me, I think the other was mostly saving it for the A race.

Part of my confusion is that the one guy doesn't really participate in off-the-bike things, like I don't remember seeing him at a meeting (maybe one? but we normally have 40-50 people in the room and I've made most of the meetings for four years), he virtually never says hi before races, he disappears after. He also just joined this year. He's a good guy, based on things his former teammates have said. I believe he does the team group rides but I never do (two so far, in four years) so that's a strike on my part. Even when I do the team rides I'm so redlined I don't remember much except seeing cassettes and rear derailleurs as I grimly hang on the wheel of whoever is in front of me.

Stas87

Does Tuesdays race indicate that your team will also have a plan come next Friday at the Kermis?

mattm

Good to hear!

JohnKScott

Glad to hear it's relatively easier than the last one.

carpediemracing 

We'll try to have something, yes. Plans are always nice but racing is different. The reality is that the riders need to be strong and smart enough to execute it.

carpediemracing 

Does this mean you're thinking long term, like 2015?

I realized that this week would have been the week I crashed in 2009. 2010 was my best year in forever.

ShutUpLegs

Looking for opinions, good or bad...I'm in the market for a TT bike and planned to build up a Slice or P3. I just came across a NEW 2014 Slice RS Black Inc. w/ full Sram Red and Hollowgram cranks that the seller is willing to let go for $3k for full bike w/o wheels. Seems like a great deal and only a little more than I was planning to spend for the original build. Can't decide if I should just keep things simple with the P3/Slice or jump on this. It will definitely get used as I plan to make a run at the State TT and also multiple stage races for next season.

misterwaterfall

Spend the money once and don't second guess yourself. I bought an older aluminum p3 and wished I had something nicer...until 2 or the 3 area SR's went to Merckx style tt's. Now it just sits on my way in the garage.

globecanvas

One of my favorite quotes: "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." - Mike Tyson

I'm super-bummed to miss the kermis. I probably still have enough fitness to do OK but any sort of injury right now would seriously mess up the family situation. Next year...

In other news, I've had a lower back issue forever, like 10+ years. Mostly annoyance-level, weakness in the lower left back, hurts when twisting, occasionally hurts a lot. There's one particular verterba crack that seems to temporarily alleviate the pain, but I have to crack it quickly, a slow twist is excruciating. Anyway, finally went to a PT and got some x-rays. Herniated L1 disk, and noticeable scoliosis too which aggravates it. Not much I can do about that, so I guess I'll just have to hope it doesn't get significantly worse. Louis CK: "so is there any treatment for this?" Doc: "no, it's just ****ty now."

In other other news, I shaved for the first time in about 15 years and my kids are all scared of me now.

edbikebabe

My dad shaved his beard (big, bushy, "mountain man" beard) when we were little. My mom had to spend a couple of days convincing us that he was our dad & not some creepy stranger.

Creatre

Sucks about the back, at least it doesn't really affect your riding at the moment.

Lol about the beard. Funny how much a beard can change someones appearance.

grolby

Yep. The timeline for full bone healing means, in theory, I could race the second half of cyclocross season. But in practice, there are a couple of problems with that. One is that there is still an increased risk of re-fracture for the first year or so following the injury. That won't concern me six months out, but getting right back into a discipline where falling off is so easy only three months after the break seems imprudent. I really don't want to do this for a third time. The second problem is that I was already short on fitness, and cyclocross in particular requires a lot of top-end. I would be incredibly slow, unless I spend the next two months doing lots of high-intensity trainer workouts. I'd really rather not do that. On the other hand, I can get on the trainer basically whenever I want and do basic maintenance for a while and be out training seriously for 2015 in November. So that has a lot more appeal.

mattm

somehow missed this before:

mattm

Argh don't tell me that!!

grolby

Well don't fall off your bike again for a while and you'll be fine.

mattm

Ah well that sure is a relief.

JohnKScott

Hahaha...that was fun to watch!

carpediemracing 

That's a great quote by Tyson. Another one is similar, about politics going out the window when a bullet goes by your head. From Blackhawk Down.

I need to be good for the Kermis. Historically a break wins the 3-4 race, all two years of history. The 180 makes it easy to neutralize chases. If it comes down to a sprint though I think I'd have to be there for the team.

Back issues - right now I'm having consistent minor problems. I really can't carry Junior a lot (27-28 lbs) so the Missus tries to carry him for me when we're out together. He's starting to get the hang of "Daddy has to put you down right now" as I almost drop him to the ground due to my back almost going. When I did collapse a while back the doc told me "burst and bulging discs" after my MRI. Later he said "bulging discs".

I think if I grew a beard etc… well first of all it would take me 50 or 60 years, so it's a moot point. So never mind.

carpediemracing 

Take your time, get fully healed, and start your first race back at 100%.

carpediemracing 

It's great, right?

The thing that struck me was just how much of a party it is for the riders. Riding through a corridor of cheering and such, for 3 weeks? It's like being in some fantasy world. I mean, okay, you have to pedal, but this element of craziness of the Tour sort of comes out in that short clip.

shovelhd

Good luck.

Stas87

The Kermis is my last road race for the year, so as long as I don't feel awful I would like to do well. Then again after 20 some odd races since March, I'm pretty tired so sitting in and hanging out sound pretty tempting.

My roommate has the problem with facial hair, I've had to tone down the razor brand/shaving frequency conversations

shovelhd

I'm still waiting to hear if I'm working it or not.

carpediemracing 

For me "sitting in and hanging out" is challenging enough. Last year a teammate started the break but he didn't fare well at the end. A different team was much more active in blocking (they were actively blocking, rather than passively blocking) but their rider got 2nd. I hope to have a reasonable day, that would be enough for me. My three newly minted Cat 3 teammates should be okay, two of them in particular. The two other Cat 3s that I'd normally lean on both stopped racing this year so they won't be there. There's one or two more Cat 3s but not sure of their plans.

Well if you need anything more for your bike let me know. I hope you get assigned to the race, if you want to work it.