sarals 

I've really taken quite a chunk, haven't I??

I looked at a PT on eBay that was going for $400, but it was just too much of a stretch for me right now. I thought, too, that (as you said) I can sell this one down the road if/when I upgrade (and that upgrade might include a bike - just wishing!).

Question - I have heartrate and cadence with my Garmin 305 - and I WANT to keep using that. Is it feasible to use the Powertap just for power and use the Garmin for the other data? Of course, that means having two devices in front of me, but no big whoop.

And, Shovel? THANK YOU!!!

sarals 

I guess the Giant CFR Team is going to end up with Easton wheels on it! Well, the CXP 33 really isn't much heavier than the Easton...and I have to have a "wheelset" on my road bike, now don't I?

shovelhd

I don't see why you couldn't use both head units. Pick one for cadence.

sarals 

I will! I'll use the Garmin for cadence and heart rate.

sarals 

OR (I thinking out loud, here)...I could move the Garmin cadence counter to the Giant use the PT cadence counter on the Look (that's a better choice, I think).

Red Rider

Exactly!

sarals 

sarals 

In 2008, not long after all this started. I'd lost 53 pounds (yes I did) due to that Cannondale. You can tell I had the "aptitude" to become a serious cyclist!

sarals 

I just discovered (through RR) that the Petaluma Crit this coming Saturday has been CANCELLED. S**t. It's too late to find something else. I guess I'll put the PT on the bike and start taking some numbers.

lhbernhardt

And crumple up the number before you lay it flat for pinning. This keeps it from flapping in the wind.

Luis

sarals 

I've told a few folks here about my wonderful weekend. I felt I should make it public. I was admitted to the hospital Saturday morning not because I crashed my bike doing a Crit or an FTP test but because I had an acute gallbladder attack. It was discovered that I had a 4cm stone in the duct, and there was also a stone in my pancreas. I had pancreatitis as well as the gallbladder attack. The pain was unimaginable, I just wanted to die - literally. Well, that's all under control and it looks like I'll have laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder tomorrow.

So what am I thinking about? Once I confirmed my insurance coverage my worry turned to the bike and fitness. I've been being fed intravienously and have been totally inactive (other than roaming the halls, towing my IV pump behind me). This can't be doing me any good. Well, I've been down before, and I'll be back. This throws a kink into the training plan and schedule, but I'll get that back on track.

Life. Wow!!!

valygrl

Oh sara, bummer! hope you heal up fast.

I have your crit crash here, though. Separated shoulder. My season is over too. I have a lot of fitness and thin-ness going to waste here, if anyone can figure out how to borrow it from me. :-p

Racer Ex 

I raced motorcycles with a separated shoulder. Rub some dirt in it and get back out there....

Seriously, let it heal up and sorry to hear that. I ended up with a series of cortisone injections in mine from too much HTFU.

chasm54

Sara, you're going to be fine. Take care of yourself.

And Valygirl, I know exactly how you feel. My own separated shoulder is just about unseparated, after a month. Seems longer.

Hermes

Valygrl. That is when this sport sucks. It may be part of the deal but it still sucks big time. Heal up fast and you will be back in no time. The trainer is your friend.

valygrl

THanks guys. This shoulder was already repaired ten years ago, so I think I know what I'm in for with the PT drill. Next time I better crash on the other side or I won't have any ligaments left!

chasm54- a month, that sounds like not too long and an eternity at the same time.

chasm54

That is exactly right. It'll take a bit longer to be back to normal, but it could have been worse. Good luck with yours.

dadof7

IV feeding: that's gotta be good for weight loss.....Heal up and rest up!

valygrl

How long before you can ride after the gallbladder surgery? And what's life like without a gallbladder? Normal, I hope!!!

George

Heal fast sarals and get out there and kick butt.

Racer Ex 

If she starts bragging in the weight loss thread I'm banning her

sarals 

Hey!

I'm back on line, and back home! Finally!!!!! It was maddening trying to even read BF on my iPhone with a 4G connection, much less try to post here. So, I decided to keep in touch with some of you via email and Facebook (some would say "enough of the FB already, Sara" - I know, I know...).

Here's the story.

Last Friday night I started having very strong upper abdominal pain about an hour after a steak dinner. It was a lot like gas cramps, only worse. It wasn't the first time for that kind of pain, either. This particular bout started the previous Wednesday night, and it never really went away, it just dulled a bit. Well, Friday night, it increased. The first time the pain happened, or lets say, the first time it made an impression, was eight or so months ago (I had been doing the "River in Egypt" approach since then). Friday night the pain continued all night. It never let up. Saturday morning it was much, much worse. By 10AM it was unbearable. My boyfriend took me to the ER, luckily only 10 minutes away. I had to be carried into the ER, I could not walk. I was given pain meds, an ultrasound was done (revealing a 4CM gallstone - "That's one BIG gallstone", said the ER doc), and I was admitted and told I'd need emergent gallbladder surgery. Not right away, my gallbladder and pancreas (which was VERY mad at me - hence all the pain) had to settle down first. The earliest estimate for surgery was Tuesday. And, I would not be allowed to eat anything. That meant Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday laying in the hospital with NO food! Just IV drips. I couldn't think of a better way to be incarcerated. Except for maybe French Gianna.

I had lap chole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) Tuesday afternoon. It went well, I had no issues. I had two cups of juice that night, then Wednesday morning I had a (glorious!) cup of coffee!! I also was able to eat food that morning. I was discharged that afternoon. The doctors instructions were: Off of work until 31 August. The bike? He didn't care, but TAKE IT EASY! No running, no lifting, eat slowly and carefully - and take all of the prescribed antibiotics and pain meds (when needed)!

I was admitted to the hospital Saturday weighing 136 pounds. I was discharged weighing almost 145 pounds (no one can call THAT bragging!). I had gained almost 8 pounds of fluid, and most of it was around my waist. My BP went from 100/60 to 123/82. Now, what does that tell you???

I rode the bike for the first time Saturday, 32 miles (and it took the better part of the day to do it). Right away I noticed that my legs felt fine, but my cardio fitness had really taken a hit. My HR was high, but my respiration was shallow and I could not sustain anything like power (not that I tried all that hard). I rode again Sunday, pushed it a few times and ran out of heart and lungs very, very quickly.

So. I'm not quite at zero, I still have the legs, but I have to rebuild my cardio and I have to shed the water. The water is coming off. The cardio is going to be hard until the water is gone!

Oh, I used the PT for the first time yesterday. It worked just fine (except for all the freakin' wires all over my bike!). My average power was (a huge, Hoover Dam like) 97 watts (yuk), but I did have a max (when I tried a sprint) of almost 500 watts. Now I have to figure out how to use that PT and the software!

I feel a bit down about all of this. My body really knocked me down, but it wasn't like it didn't warn me. I just didn't listen. I knew something would come of the abdominal pains one day. It really was one of those "pay me now or pay me later" episodes!

I am also really sorry I didn't do a better job of keeping you all informed. I have a FB page, and some here are friends there, so I was hoping the word would get around about me, and that no one would worry. I am back. I'm a bloated water filled sack, but I'm back!

Hermes

OMG, Glad you are okay and your fitness will come back. Take it easy and heal up fast!

shovelhd

No rush to get back, sarals. Heal up first. The fact that you were able to ride at all after surgery is a good sign.

Racer Ex 

Wires are good.