ridem80

Found bikeforums.net again ... great people, rides, and stuff!

I'm a crazy rider! Last summer I commute to/from work 3 days a week, hitting the roads and trails at 4am and 4pm - 38 miles round trip. On non-commute days, I run, row, etc. On the weekends, I mix up my ride with a 40-50 mile stroll though the surrounding areas.

I don't like snow! Anytime above 35 F and I'm riding. I'll take rain, wind, heat ... even a bit of hail!

In August I fell ... ouch! ... I caught the shoulder of a 90 degree turn on a newly paved trail in the dark. My front when down and right, I countered by shifting hard to the left, pulled back on the trail, went off the left side of the trail where I then *HAD TO* counter hard to the left again to avoid a street sign ... and down I went on my left side. This was my second time on the new trail surface but had not noticed the trail to grass/dirt height difference. I was moving very slow by this time, but the impact with the ground was bad. I broke my right hand index finger's knuckle, jammed 3 ribs on my left side, and bruised my left knee. The finger was discover the next day when I visited my doctor, my knee checked out ok. Later ... 5 weeks later! ... after lingering knee and heal pain, a MRI scan found my femur broke in 2 places, tibia split/broke, bruised knee cap, and I tore the cartilage disc in the joint. I was told the damage to my femur was serious ... the impact fracture compress the end of the femur about 2 mm.

I've been on crutches for 4 months healing. I'm now a slower person. I've set aside my hard-headed, adrenaline-junky, heart-pounding, muscle-burning, let's-go, suck-it-up ways! I'm slowing transitioning off the crutches and getting the knee to work again. Oddly, I depend on the crutches ... as they are critical to my recovery.

One last word about the injuries: God is good and gracious ... I'll be riding when it warms up!

Enough of that!

I ride a Raleigh M80 outfitted with commuter tires and other various commuter stuff (lights, bags). After many bearing problems last season, I've replaced my wheels with a Mavic Crossride set and added Specialized Armadillo tires. I've replace the chain, rear cassette, and updated the front center chainring from 32T to 36T . I have a new pair of front lights on the way. I ordered two high output flashlights with handlebar mounts. I'm excited to try these out. I have a self-made frame bag that will holds breakfast, lunch, clothing, tub, pump, tools, wallet, and keys. It's large and takes up almost the entire inner frame area, leaving room only for the water bottle.

Why the heavy bike for my commute? My route from home to work and back is not all paved and I'm not willing to ride the single lane narrow/no shoulder roads ... walking is too slow and even slower totting a bike.

I'll be watching the training area soon,
-Dave

StephenH

Howdy and welcome to the forums. Hang in there!

East Hill

Hi Dave! I thought I had it bad when I hit some gravel and wound up with really nice road rash on my elbow and a big big bruise on my hip, but at least I didn't break anything. And, now I have a really nice scar (hey, it looks like a leaping salmon!).

Welcome to BikeForums, and keep the faith!

East Hill
Forum Moderator