The Crash and The Journey Back

Earlier this week I decided it was time to stop being afraid of the road bike and of clipping in, so as I posted prior I did get the bike out and ride around near my house some.  So I decided Sunday would be a good day to take the bike down to Nace/Lithia and ride.  This road is typically peaceful and fairly flat, although I now remember that the drag back to Nace is uphill.  Got things done at home, loaded up the bike and stuff and drove 20 minutes to ride. Now last year I would have never hauled my road  bike to ride near home, but as you know my life is completely different now.  Once I get my endurance up more and my balance improves, I'll likely just start riding from home again.  For now, I will commute to do some rides in lighter traffic. I parked at the base of Salt Pond Road, which I've ridden a bunch on my mountain bike.  It's a dirt/gravel road that basically scales a hillside to the Blue Ridge Parkway and is a scream to ride down. ...

Was talking to a good influence at work today about needing to get this bike out and ride it and also try clipping in outside.  I had several things to do at home before and after dinner, so I got those done then retrieved Patrick from the basement along with my current road shoes. First I put my right shoe on and left my tennis shoe on the left foot.  Figured out how to get my leg over the bike (still a problem at times).  Made a short, wobbly lap around the yard.   Decided to just put the left shoe on and go for it.  Now mind you I wasn't wearing any bike clothes so whatever I did was going to be short lived.  I yanked both pants legs above my knees, somehow managed to get my leg back over the bike and headed towards the road.  It was hard to get my shoes clipped in....  I guess the pedals are tighter than I thought (need to loosen them a touch).  Made it to the street.  Wandered over to the nearby nursing home and back. ...

Will post more later, but sharing what I posted on the BRM Facebook page. Gonna put this here and hope the individuals see it. To the lady with the past mastectomy running the colorful lymphedema sleeve - WAY TO GO! To the runner with the med port and I swear it looked like O2 - BRAVO! And to the man with the ACL brace who still has the hobbled gait- WAY TO GET IT DONE!!! It hit me as I stood there cheering you on that we may be injured, but we don't loose our spirit. Your fight and determination did not go unnoticed. I'm so impressed, and you have provided me a bit more motivation to continue working hard in my journey back from a hip fracture. SO IMPRESSED WITH EVERYONE TODAY, but those three particularly stood out to me.

Back in Townsend camping at Big Meadow again. This is where I was staying when I broke my hip. No bikes this time.  Having a good time so far. Will post more again when I get back home!

Coral...almost matches the orange perfectly! Still here folks, just haven't done anything noteworthy to share.  Work, go home, eat, exercise a bit or Zwift.  Fickle weather is keeping me inside after work during the week.  Vacation prep has kept me busy on the weekends. I did sneak in a short ride to downtown and back on some neighborhood roads and the greenway (https://www.strava.com/activities/2252564550/overview).  I climbed the hill into Washington Park from Orange Ave... it's always been a bit of a grind, but more so now that I'm stuck in the saddle and trying to build my my strength.  According to Strava it's 4% climb for 0.25mile - I think that 4% is what hurts.  Ha.  Oh well, I've been through much worse. I also got my road bike tuned up the other week.  It has snazzy new bar tape and new tires.  It appears ready to go...  I haven't put flat pedals on it yet, so it may make it's way back on the road around the anniversary...