LowCel 

One year ago today I decided to attempt to get back on the bike after a rough couple of years. My first surgeon told me I would never be able to ride again. My second surgeon (who is a lifesaver) told me I may be able to eventually do some short and flat rides.

Anywho, pretty sure I have proven them both wrong. Here are some of my stats.

Miles - 6,191.4
Hours - 392.6
Elevation - 269,093 feet
Weight loss - 51 pounds
Kilojoules - 250,000ish

Not a bad first year in my opinion. I still have a long way to go to get as strong and as fast as I was but I'm working on getting there.

Velo Gator

Bikes flipped -
Wheelsets purchased -

doctor j

Not to shabby for a sickly soul like you

Well done!

surgeonstone

Outstanding. Frikin Doctors don't know what they're talking about.

LowCel 

I started with my old Redline Cyclocross bike. Once I decided I could ride I picked up a Kestrel RT800 SL. That bike went through some upgrades followed by some downgrades. I then purchased my Colnago CX-1. I traded the Kestrel frameset for an IF Crown Jewel which I gave to my brother but come to find out isn't going to fit him so I am getting it back. I purchased my old Fuji SL1 frameset back from a friend of mine after I gave away the IF. Once I found out that I was getting the IF back I really wanted to back out of purchasing the SL1 but I just couldn't do that to my buddy so I now have it as well. I haven't decided if I am going to build up the Fuji or the IF but once I do I will place the other one up for sale.

As far as wheelsets go I bought a PowerTap Pro+ rear wheel after I bought the Kestrel. Once I decided to get a Quarq crankset I sold the PT and bought a SRAM S27 rear wheel. The only reason I bought it was because the wheel that came with the Kestrel was complete crap. When I decided to buy the Colnago CX1 frameset I purchased a set of Psimet wheels (White Ind hubs, 50 mm carbon rims). A few months ago I decided to go ahead and order another PowerTap Pro+ wheel for my backup bike. A month or so I ordered a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels to use as an every day wheel for the Colnago instead of using the carbon wheels every day. After riding the Ksyriums I decided that they were junk (just that set, not all Ksyriums) and returned them for a refund.

That's about it as far as frames and wheels go.

Banded Krait

Congratulations on a helluva first year! We can no longer call you "rookie."

LowCel 

My second surgeon was / is absolutely awesome. The first surgeon will NEVER lay another scalpel on me.

surgeonstone

There are those it's best to avoid.

I6pwr

Congrats to you.....keep your head up and your dreams in focus.

Willpower is an awesome force.

bostongarden

Awesome!!!!!

patentcad

Tour de France? Local amateur racing heroics? Race Across America? The Ironman Triathlon bike leg?

Those aren't the cycling exploits that are at the core of what really makes cycling so great for 99.99% of the world. Stories like LowCel's are.

Keep hammering. Nicely done. Keep us updated on your progress.

patentcad

Oh there's a shock.

If they're good doctors, nobody will be more pleased about this than they are.

LowCel 

Thank you very much good sir, I really appreciate that. My second surgeon is thrilled about how much I have progressed. I saw him a few months ago when I went in for injections. I'm pretty sure he has given up on giving me limitations on what I "should" do.

The first surgeon, well, he can kiss my.......

rangerdavid

Way to go LowCel!! I think that's just friggin' awesome!!




Just stay out of Kanawah State Forest, a ditch in there tried to kill my wife on a mountain bike trail............ but I do want to hook up for a ride sometime!

LowCel 

Thanks. I bought a new mountain bike last year, took it up to KSF for one ride, sold it earlier this year. I do have limits and I can admit and live with them. Mountain biking is one of them, my knees just can't take it and I'm afraid that if I would crash it would all be over for me.

As for getting together for a ride, just give me a yell.

Gluteus

Congrats.
That's quite a comeback.

rangerdavid

after my wife's accident, we met one of the nicest, prettiest, and most caring doctor's at an emergency clinic in Charleston. We were both happy she got her chin stitched up and it didn't leave a scar..... Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw.

ericm979

Totally unimportant.


Congratulations LowCel! May you have many more years of riding.

LowCel 

Thank ya sir.

Nachoman

Great news! It sounds like you even exceeded your own goals too.

kenji666

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to find out the hard way.

Velo Vol 

Correct.

Nice work, LowCel. I'm basically just a year older than I was a year ago.

BryGuy

What was your health problem?

I had an L5-S1 disc hernia that the doctor was shocked I could even walk with. 2 years after surgery, I did 104 miles today, but it took me 6:53:10. I'll get faster, I'm just happy I can walk most days.

Medicine is as much art as science. The fact you can do more than expected is a testament to your surgeon's skill and your determination.

LowCel 

Just arthroscopic knee surgeries that went wrong.

BryGuy

"Just" huh? You ever see retired football players barely able to hobble around on bad knees? Don't sell your effort short! You worked hard to get where you are.