Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Getting Ready to Play Catch-Up

Last year at this time I was coming off of a busted tailbone, or to make it sound more dramatic a broken back. I had pretty much taken six weeks off and had dealt with the pain by helping out Sam Adams sales. With that in the back of my head I felt pretty good coming into spring and feeling like I was going to be able to crush this season and be super fit.

LOL. Not sure what I was thinking. I'm close to 10 hours of saddle time behind where I was at this point last year. Add to that my weight isn't far off from it astronomical highs of my beer induced month of couch surfing. How did this happen? A couple of things- I rode my bike a lot in the early months of 2009. Then I rode my bike a lot after my back had healed up. Compare that to this year where I rode a bit and figured I was just going to be fine. Oops.

Other factors- JJ is down with his wing being all rebuilt 6million Dollar Man style. But looks like he'll be at least on the road bike in a couple of weeks. A1 "never rides" but then avg'd 21mph to the base of the pitch during Krank the Kanc (and that first 18 miles is uphill as well). So the only one that I think I am riding better than is NK, who is a brand new dad so he's out. Even the reclusive PowderJew has been getting after it on the bike- despite bulging discs and a host of other issues. Leaving me feeling like a slug.

Ahhh but there is a silver lining. Five days- five days out on the bike with 6.5 hours total and a renewed desire to drop some lbs and get in some miles. I need to plan to put in a century here in the next couple weeks- big words.....

Until then keep the rubber side down and enjoy this great weather.

DEA

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Progress

On April 16 I had my left shoulder reconstructed after years of abuse. The Dr. reattached the torn labrum with a couple of anchors and some bailing twine. My rotator cuff was also a mess and that has now been tightened up too. Saw the Dr. yesterday for a follow-up and he checked me out and said I didn't need to be in a sling anymore. That was great news. I start PT next week and can actually start to rehab it. Only bummer is I'm still a couple weeks away from getting back on a bike, but its getting closer. I'm afraid to actually find out how out of shape I've gotten the past couple of months.

JJ

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

You know you're a.....

You know you're addicted to biking when.....

Your surgeon tells you need a heart valve replacement and you ask if you have a choice between presta and schrader.

A Power Bar starts tasting better than a Snickers.

You wear your heart monitor to bed to make sure you stay within your target zone during any extracurricular activities.

The funeral director tells you "NO!" you can't ride your Cannondale in the funeral procession, even if you keep your headlight on.

You experience an unreasonable envy over someone who has bar end extenders longer than yours.

You're too tired for hanky-panky on a Friday night but pump out a five-hour century on Saturday.

Your wife tells you the only way she'll let you ride across the country is over her dead body and you tell her, "If that's the case, you'll be my first speed bump!"

You no longer require a hankie to blow your nose.

You have stopped even trying to explain to your spouse why you need two bikes...you just go buy another one and figure it will all work out in the divorce settlement.

You buy your crutches instead of renting.

You convert your car's brake and gas pedals to clipless.

You see nothing wrong with discussing the connection between hydration and urine color.

You find your Shimano touring shoes to be more comfortable and stylish than your gunboat sneakers.

You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wallspace is taken up by the bike.

You have more money invested in your bike clothes than in the rest of your combined wardrobe.

Biker chick means black spandex, not leather, and a Marinoni, not a Harley.

"Four cheeseburgers and four large French Fries" is for you.

You see a fit, tanned, Lycra-clad young woman ride by, and the first thing you check out is her bicycle.

You empathize with the roadkill.

Despite all that winter fat you put on, you'll skim weight by buying titanium components.

You use wax on your chain, but not on your car.

Your mud guards are made out of milk jugs.

Your first course when you eat out is a large banana split.

When driving, you yell "On Your Left!" on passing another car.

You yell "Hole!" when you see a pothole while driving your car.

Your bike has more miles on its computer then your car's odometer.

You wear your riding gloves when driving your car.

You wear your bike shorts swimming.

Your bikes are worth more than your car.

You buy a mini-van and immediately remove the rear seats to allow your bike(s) to fit.

When you move to a new area the first thing you look for is a bike shop.

You have more bike jerseys than dress shirts.

You take your bike along when you shop for a car - just to make sure the bike will fit inside.

You use the Yakima or Thule 'Fit Catalog' to pick your next new car instead of Consumer Reports.

You start yelling at cars to "hold your line."

You're comfortable bumping elbows with step vans.

You view crashes as an opportunity to upgrade components.

You clean your bike(s) more often then your car.

You're on the Board of Directors for a Bike Club.

You spend weeks during the summer spraying arrows on the sides of roads.

You and your significant other have and wear identical riding clothes.

You mount a $600 cap, on a $1,000 pickup truck, so your $3,000 bike doesn't get wet.

You can't seem to get to work by 8:30 AM, even for important meetings, but you don't have any problems at all meeting your buddies at 5:30 AM for a hammerfest.

You can tell your spouse, with a straight face, that it's too hot to mow the lawn and then bike off for a century.

You regard inter-gender discussion of genital pain as normal.

You know your cadence, but you have no idea what your speed is.

When driving your car you lean over the steering wheel, just like an aerobar.

Your car sits outside your garage because your garage is full of bikes and cycling gear.

You tailgate a semi-trailer to get the drafting effect.

You hear someone had a crash and your first question is "How's the bike?"

You smile at your evening date, and she politely points out that you seem to have bugs in your teeth.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to cycling.


Thanks to JJ for sending these along- I found myself laughing hard enough that I felt I got in my ab work out for the week.


Ride on.

DEA

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I'm gonna find my bike

The last week has been nuts with graduation taking place and all the craziness that goes along with that. The on Sunday and yesterday- I was in full on recovery mode and just couldn't find the energy to hit the bike. That will all change today.

Watching Dicky's PMBAR video and reading about CVV crashing out and Tyler taking a stage win got me fired up. That and my pants aren't fitting.

DEA