Chitown_Mike

I am sure I am not the only one, but when saddle sores get out of hand, it sucks not being able to do ANY riding and especially when it was as spectacular of a 4th of July 4 day weekend for Chicago as it was. The bike just sat.

And then to go and hyperextend your shoulder playing Powerball (like from the American Gladiator show) when you're almost ready to ride again sucks even more. I can literally only type and do sit-ups. Any weight and it starts tweaking and twitching again. It is better than it was on Saturday but I don't think it would support me riding a bike and leaning on it. So that would be another week off the bike.

Sorry, just wanted to vent as I know there are several others that have been broken in one way or any other. But my wife laughs when I stare longingly at other men clad in lycra, sweating while out riding.

Street Pedaler

I can relate 110%. I was sidelined for almost 10 months by a wrist injury suffered in a very minor bike crash in September which eventually indirectly led to Osteomyelitis in a toe on my right foot (long story, lol). I FINALLY got back on the saddle about three weeks ago and was just getting back into "Saddle Shape" when my bike suffered a massive break-down while on a ride Saturday morning. Now I'm stuck sitting and waiting to hear if Trek is going to Warranty my bike or if I'm just screwed. I understand your frustration. Hang in there, though. This, too, shall pass.

cyccommute 

I just gotta say gentlemen, "Quicher whinin'!".

Over the last 30 years, I have been hit by a car which resulted in emergency surgery to repair a severely lacerated knee...I was back on a bike at the end of 6 weeks. I've had a broken ankle from a prior break that resulted in surgery to remove the hardware...back on the bike in 6 weeks. I've suffered a concussion during a mountain bike crash that left me seeing double for a few days...I was back on the bike in a few days. I've crashed and taken a handlebar hit to the chest which resulted in a bruise running from my shoulder to my hip...back on the bike as soon as I picked it up. I crashed on ice which resulted in a bruise that traced my arm from the shoulder to the wrist and a giant hematoma on my hip...back on the bike to ride home. I injured my achilles tendon on the first day of a 1000 mile, 3 week self contained tour but finished it anyway.

Sure there are times when you need to take a little time to heal...but 10 months? 10 months away from a bicycle and I'd be in worse shape than if I just rode through the pain.

Saddle sores? Don't get them. Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene!

Sorry, gents, but you aren't gonna get any "poor babies" from me. If you need a little inspiration, I have a story to tell you. About 30 years ago, I went on a mountain bike ride here in Colorado. That was in the days before suspension. The route goes up behind Georgetown and comes down a steep little jeep road called Saxon Mountain. It drops 2500 feet in 5 miles on a road that has 23 switch backs. About the only way to do it is to let the bike fly fast, brake hard for the switch back and then let the bike fly again. Dragging your brakes all the way down the road is a guaranteed to melt your brake pads. I got down to the bottom of it and my arms, shoulders and chest ached from the constant pounding and constant braking. One of the guys on the ride was in his mid60s and was a little slower than normal so we waited at the bottom. Gordon reached the bottom and, in his quiet way, said "That kinda hurt," as he rolled his shoulders.

"My doctor told me that I should stay off the bike but I really wanted to do the ride," he said.

"Why'd he tell you to stay off the bike, Gordon," I asked.

"Oh, I broke my collar bone a couple of days ago but I really wanted to do this ride," he quietly said as my jaw hit the ground.

I went on a ride with him a few weeks ago...he's 88 now...and he's still the toughest, nicest guy I know. And every time I think about something that hurts, I think of that quiet little shoulder roll and the "Yea, that hurt" statement. Nothing I've ever done could hurt that much.

Get moving and quicher whinin!

Street Pedaler

LOL. believe, me, I don;t ask for a "poor baby". Just stating how it is. You're right, 10 months out of the saddle is a long time but, when compared to the possibility of having my foot amputated, it was a no brainer. I started riding again three weeks ago against medical advice. Still dealing with the Osteomyelitis issue and will probably be having a surgery on the wrist by summer's end. Not to mention two back, three knee, and an elbow surgery (to name a few) collected over the past 20 or so years. Now I'm off the saddle again due to a parts failure on my ride that I'm waiting, and hoping, for Trek stand behind. Assuming they do, I'll be back on the saddle just as soon as I have a saddle to mount.

But none of this precludes frustration. When you're unable to do the things you love, for whatever reason, it's frustrating. If not, it's probably not something that was too important to you in the first place.

cyccommute 

If I remember correctly, the old song doesn't go "the wrist bone is connect to the foot bone..."

Street Pedaler

I've heard that song too and, at least in my case, it's correct. And neither is my titanium enhanced spine. Sometimes those songs are purty smart.

Chitown_Mike

That was my problem, one ride for about 20 miles and I didn't take the time to clean. Plus 1/2 way through I played ultimate frisbee for about an hour on the beach. So an improper seat (which has since been replaced), the wrong shorts (wasn't wearing my cycling shorts) and sand in the nether regions lead to skin splitting after a short while.

The blood running down my leg after 1/4 of a mile is what stopped me from riding last week (didn't let it heal), and the fact I can't support my weight on my shoulder doesn't help when I want to ride. But either way I am back on a bike Thursday. I am actually more angry at myself for being absent minded when I rode and caused the sores than I am about anything else. The shoulder is what it is, I have nerve damage there from an old injury and have hyperextended it before, just this time I can't render the arm useless because I don't have the vacation time to take off work to let it heal if I forced it.

I gave up on being a tough guy years ago, I have crooked healed bones and the nerve damage in said shoulder because of it. I want to be able to ride in 30 years when I am 60 and not be riding in a wheelchair because I put myself there.

Thanks for the tough love tho, especially the story of the older guy. I want to be him, nothing like being a BA grandfather out on the trails!