A good and a bad ride.
 

I've had over four frustrating months of not being able to ride due to a fall and subsequent quad tendon repair op and my rehab has involved riding a stationary bike at low resistance for the last couple of weeks. I've also been working on two new road bikes for when I can ride again.

It was a nice day today and I just couldn't resist taking the Raleigh tourer out for a quick test ride. It started off just as a ride around the block, but somehow turned into a six mile ride, involving a couple of slight inclines, that had its good and bad sides.

The good bit was just being on a bike again, plus the new bike rides like a dream as my latest attempt at getting back into riding drops.

The bad bit is that I am now suffering for my efforts, with stiffness in my legs plus pain and a some swelling around my knee.

I learned a few things:

1. Older bodies take a longer time to recover, and my body is older than my mind imagines.
2. The physiotherapist knew what she was talking about when she said I wasn't ready to ride yet!
3. I will be riding again soon.

Glad to read a progress report, Gerry, I have you installed on my prayer list, for a complete recovery from the tear. Best wishes on your come back.

Bill

I have done the same with sports injuries and while I got away with it in my 20's and 30's I can't get away with it now in my late 50's. I know the feeling all too well of wanting to be active in a sport/hobby that you love and instead having to "rest and heal" I have a doctors appointment coming up for some unexplained (no trauma) knee pain that coincides with my new love of riding bicycles. The bike is setup right to the best of my knowledge and I'm trying for more RPM instead of torque but the pain is a concern. Some mornings the day after a 20mi. ride I can barely put weight on my right knee but it is not swollen. I have also found healing after surgery to very slow now at my age. Just wanted to sympathize.

Hang in there, Gerry, and keep us posted. We are rooting for you!

Yeah Gerry I got that T-shirt..

My thing is Single track, I don't race, I only seek the flow.

If I get up on ride day and have any out of the ordinary aches n pains I stay home, work on bikes, read, watch a little TV fire up the grill and do a steak ~n~ a bake and a couple of brewskies. Then I go toes up on the couch and saw wood all afternoon....

Then I get up before sunrise the next day and ride as hard as I can to where I am tank empty. I go for a total workout, been laughed at more than a few times when people see me running up the side of the levee with my bike over my head and I'm about to pass out or puke..

I love it so..

When your all healed up, burn it down and repeat, the High Is fantastic..

But you were on a bike. A fresh build. That's a good ride.