Sloooowly faceing reality
 

I loaded up my Klein road bike to drop off at my son's house tomorrow when we go to play with the tripletts. He uses platform pedals on his freeride bike so I included a pair or shoes with the proper cleats to match the pedals that are on the bike. I hope it fits him - I suspect it's about 1 size too big, but it weighs a little less than 1/2 of his freeride bike. He's interested in it because he can just ride from home insted of driving to a mountain bike trail. He feels he needs his exercise, but he doesn't want to be away from his family too much.

Next I disassembled my Porsche mountain bike so I can use the components on my recumbent frameset when it comes. I'm thinking that will be March 15 or 16. That's a good time because I'll be on spring break all that week. I think that the Porsche's destiny might be to become wall-art.

I don't have an update on when to expect our new tandem. Last word was it's on schedule for delivery by April 1.

Gradually I'm seeing my stock of diamond framed bikes diminishing but I don't yet have any recumbent replacements.

My left elbow hurts just enough to remind me that I'm doing the right thing. It's going to be nice today in st Louis. I wish I could ride. I may try rideing this afternoon anyway. I'll soften the tires on my beater to cushion my arms a little.

I'm in mourning this morning.

Personally, I hate change despite all the sermons I get about it being healthy, good for growth, and that old clincher...change is inevitable anyway. But I still hate it. However, that said, once I've accepted (of necessity) changes in my life habits, I find life still livable and even rewarding. Sounds like circumstances are bringing you to the edge of Change. At the risk of being a hypocritical, sanctimonious twerp........embrace the change, as you seem to be doing, and find your options.

But, like me, you can still continue to hate change.

^^^^^^^
Exactly!

Just keep it goin', RG! I hate 'change' in this sense -- accepting my physical limitations -- but I am (slowly, reluctantly) reconciling myself to them and finding ways to work around 'em. In my case, in the context of my beloved cycling, it simply means that I will never be able to sensibly ride a true 'road bike' (and I dearly wish I could -- I've tried 'em all!). I do need fattish tires and/or some form of active suspension in order to cope with my degenerative spinal (and other) osteoarthritis -- but hey ho! I can still ride, as far and as long as I like, so ... so far, so good!

I've been experimenting with my changing body, seeing how much and how far I can ride, and if the exercises and PT I am doing daily will allow me to ride without extreme referred leg pain from my back and SI joint problems.

Hopefully, time will be your friend, and you will find your elbow continuously getting better. I wouldn't dump all the diamonds right now.

I did 12 slow high cadence miles the other day, and 10 today - on the mtn bike. I have a bit of post-ride pain (I have no pain while riding, just afterwards), but not the extreme post-ride pain I had a few months ago.

I wish you the very best, be it diamond or recumbent or whatever.

It will get better when you finally get bent. :)

What is the problem with your elbow? Is it something long term? If it's short term or something that can be repaired, then getting rid of all your diamond frames, may not be a good idea. I shattered the elbow end of my left Humerus just over 2 years ago ( there is nothing humorous about a broken humerus ) the only remaining effect is that I can't lock the elbow, actually an advantage when riding. This is something to think about, are you locking the joint when riding, something easy to do when riding a straight bar, if you are, try bending it slightly so that it moves rather then jars. If you have a bike with a suspension fork, that may also help.

I broke the heads off of both radius bones on August 9. The right one still bothers me a little every day but the left one bothers me a lot. I can't put weight on the left hand without pain and I can't carry very much weight in my left hand without pain. In addition to not being able to bicycle without discomfort I'm thinking that I should avoid bar fights too. If I punched somebody with my left hand it would definitely hurt me more than him.

I appreciate your comments but I think that I'm just beginning to come to grips with the reality of my situation.

Was it surgically repaired? Sounds like you may have damaged the ulnar nerve that runs across the back of the elbow, during my surgery they bruised that nerve, and man I spent 2 weeks wanting to gnaw my arm off, and that was with the really good drugs and a very high pain threshold. I was lucky though, the orthopaedic surgeon that did the follow-up told me when they took the cast off, to make sure I saw a physiotherapist the next day to start working on getting movement back. I saw that sadist every day for 3 months, until it was working well enough and the workplace insurance wasn't willing to pay for it anymore.

I guess the real issue is that Stuff happens, and when it does, you just have to thank whatever deity you believe in, that it wasn't worse. IMNSHO as long as your not a paraplegic vegetable, it could be worse. If it's still painful, you might want to get a Neurologist to check it, to see what is going on. Unfortunately as we get older things take longer to heal, it can take years to get back to normal.

The only thing constant is change.
I too have a hard time with it at times.

Hey! There is a a plethora of information on bentrideronline.com about recumbents.
There is a wide variety of recumbents available. They are a blast to ride.
I have two that have two wheels and another on order.
My trike is a hoot. It is a Challenge Concept with USS. I ride it on the bike paths during the week. Like snowshoeing, trikes are a lot more fun than one would think.
You might prefer Under Seat Steering USS if it works better with your elbows. ASS (Above Seat Steering) has a funnier acronym.
Got my third Synvisc shot recently and hope I am ready to go. Can not ride like I used to, but it beats daytime TV.

Holy cr@p, Batman! I broke the head off the right (non-dominant) radius almost 15 years ago and made a really good nonsurgical recovery with the help of a skilled board certified hand specialist who did an almost perfect job on the closed reduction. (He missed the ulnar nerve diagnosis when I complained of pain at the ulnar side of the wrist.) However, the six-week recovery process was painful, particularly with nocturnal swelling inside the cast, and I was unable to use the hand at all during the first week. Breaking both radii at once would be absolute hell.

This is an all-too-common injury with a wide range of prognoses, and I think I am one of the luckier victims of it.

No medical advice - I haven't been there

Lots of commiseration about facing a new reality - yup, currently there

So - what?

I dunno, but my instincts are - give your beauties to people who'll appreciate them. Mount your unsaleable souvenirs in your study. Treat the new recumbent like your first ever good bike, compare it to nothing before and delight in it like a new romance.

And when, as it will, your strength comes back, enjoy speculation about all the non-wrist demanding thingies. LHT? My dearly loves her 7.5 FX 'cos it puts nothing on her arms or wrists

Best, pal

Get that bent up and rolling! I enjoy riding my bents more than I ever did my uprights.

Older son tried out the Klein today and liked it. I talked to my younger son's bride yesterday. She's interested in trying out the stoker seat on our Santana tandem. Already took the Porsche mountain bike apart so it looks like I'm n-3.

My recumbent frame set could possibly arrive this week but I rather think it'll be next week. It can't come too soon to suit me. The weather was awfully nice this weekend for me to have not done any bicycling.

My last "face reality" situation was in '03, when I had to accept the truth of no more rigid/hardtail riding. I have my old HT frame waiting for another rebuild, with a suss post though.... Suspension has become a necessity of life for me to ride. I have three herniated lumbar discs, with spinal stenosis, and the forward-leaning position is actually the best therapy for the back; so a 'bent isn't needed, for me. RG, best to you with yours, at least you'll still be pedaling....

I've had to come to grips with the fact that I have limits beyond which I DARE not push, although I try to keep those limits as far from 'comfort' as possible. I'm two days away from my 51st, and my goal is to see my 90th in the saddle, 90 minutes worth. The balance of pushing myself and not overdoing will be a fluid situation for these next 39 years. WANT is the biggest factor in my favor.

Now there's a new way of riding your age, ride your age in minutes of riding. I think it will be very popular around here.