Finished 2019 with 2,170 miles give or take a few ridden. Not bad for the first full year post hip fracture!!! I still have some weaknesses, and I am keenly aware of them. The biggest hurdle I have is stairs. I can get up and down them fine, but when I get tired, have been walking a lot or have ridden my bike, it can be hard and painful. Sometimes I wind up doing one stair at a time. I can tell there's weakness - I think mostly it's my glute. So yea, weak ass!!!
We've been playing around at work on Fridays and dancing some - this past Friday I discovered that many dances causes hip fatigue and pain. Mainly things that require side steps. Phew! It's fun so I'll continue doing it. I really need to buckle down and focus on some specific exercises for my hip again. I just hate figuring out what to do. Can't afford a trainer and can't afford to go back to PT.
It's just a matter of focusing. I feel fat and heavy and would love to lose some weight, but that's not like going to happen until I can bust out some more cardio. Oh well. We will just see what happens.
2020 looks to be off to a good start. New Year's Day I wound up just riding on Zwift. I was busy around the house getting decorations down before the next wind/rain storms. It was cold and wind anyway, so I really didn't miss out on much. Two days later, I did 30 minutes of Zwift where I went as hard as I could on one of the less steep climbs. Finally got outside to ride yesterday - when I left my house it was fairly decent - the sun was shining. I chose to ride in a long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey and my winter knickers. I wore my wool socks and old winter boots. Since I was on my cross bike, I would be going slower and they were calling for the wind to pick up so I took a vest and my old wind jacket with me. This decision was the most fortunate decision - I'll get to that.
I decided to go see if 10th St really is almost finished. After I think almost 3 years of construction, I found a smoothly paved road with new bike lane (as promised). It's still not officially open so traffic was light. I zoomed on down to Shenandoah Ave and rode towards my work place - this definitely will be the route I chose if and when I finally make an attempt to ride to work in the spring. This is the least sketchy of the neighborhoods between home and work and likely would have less traffic whoas. Instead of climbing the hill to the stop light at Peters Creek, I cut through the Food Lion Parking lot and took Peters Creek back north. As I was sitting at the stop light near Sheetz, I noticed the sky looked very ominous to the west. UH OH. By the time I got to the light at North Lakes I knew I'd better make a decision and head home. I elected to turn and go through the Lick Run Greenway to go towards William Fleming HS. By the time I got to the light at Fleming, it was starting to rain. OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH CRAP. There is no direct route home from here unless you decide to brave Hershberger Rd which is never a good idea or take sidewalks along it, again not a good idea as it crosses 581 and idiots driving cars can't figure out the exit ramps on normal days much less toss in someone on the sidewalk on a bike. I got across Hershberger and started up the hill. After making a right hand turn, I stopped to put on the rain jacket... oof, I'm so fat and it's old, so this was like a girdle. HAHA I got to Cove Rd where I have to make an illegal left hand turn. By now it's a steady rain. I'm really wanting to get home now. The traffic though was coming from both directions. So I sat there in the rain.
Finally got a break, made my illegal turn and headed towards the neighborhood where I could take Norris Dr to the other part of LRG. As I was going down the hill on Norris, I just kept thinking slow down, don't ride the bridge too fast, no fast turns.... Made it safely to the GW and headed uphill towards the mall. After crossing 581, I deliberately rode the GW, hopped off the curb in front of Target to get to the light straight on - I almost made the green, but ended up stuck at the red light while the rain continued to pelt me in the face. Now the wind began to gust. WTH? Is this like a thunderstorm? HAHAHA
The light changed, I zipped across made the left in front of Logans, stopsign - hurry up lady damn, it's dry in your car. To the gravel path at Huff Lane Park. It's pouring and the wind it gusting from my left to right. I pedaled quickly through the park to be met by a stiff headwind. Finally made it to Williamson Rd where you guessed it.. stop light. I just dropped my head at this point because my sausage casing jacket had now begun to soak through. I could feel the cold rain on my forearms. The tops of my legs were starting to chill from being saturated. Come on light. The cross traffic was red and the offset on coming was green, but the cars turned right. I just ran the light. Screw this, I'm cold now that the wind has become pretty steady.
I finally made it home safely where all I could do was laugh. It's always been an adventure to ride in adverse conditions, and I never really minded the rain until my crash. Now honestly I have no desire to fool around in it. If I get caught out like yesterday that's one thing, but I'm not sure I'll ever go deliberately ride in the rain. Not sure what I'll do if an event I've paid money for gets rained on. I guess it will be a day of decision.
Today was cold and windy. I would have glad rode in the cold, but the wind was just too much - I'm thinking the windchill was in the mid-30s all day - I could have ridden mountain bike, but it's muddy on the flatter stuff probably and I doubt the fireroad would have been much fun. I have yet to venture back to Mill Mtn which tends to do well after rains, but is likely leafy. I elected for a group ride on Zwift where I felt good about my efforts. I even was at risk of getting kicked out of the ride for being too far ahead - a new experience for me. All total today on Zwift ~ 22.4 miles (1 hour 15 minutes) - it was all Watopia Flat Course.
Meh, I guess I'd better get ready for bed. Back to 5-day work week again........... YUCK! I'm tired of work right now - it's very negative and very frustrating. I feel like there's no purpose in my work lately. Very little seems to be improving. I feel like the bad guy everyday - it's my job actually, but it gets old.
Alas, spring will come eventually - meanwhile I'll try to keep you informed of my progress. Bye for now!
#rebuildingme
We've been playing around at work on Fridays and dancing some - this past Friday I discovered that many dances causes hip fatigue and pain. Mainly things that require side steps. Phew! It's fun so I'll continue doing it. I really need to buckle down and focus on some specific exercises for my hip again. I just hate figuring out what to do. Can't afford a trainer and can't afford to go back to PT.
It's just a matter of focusing. I feel fat and heavy and would love to lose some weight, but that's not like going to happen until I can bust out some more cardio. Oh well. We will just see what happens.
2020 looks to be off to a good start. New Year's Day I wound up just riding on Zwift. I was busy around the house getting decorations down before the next wind/rain storms. It was cold and wind anyway, so I really didn't miss out on much. Two days later, I did 30 minutes of Zwift where I went as hard as I could on one of the less steep climbs. Finally got outside to ride yesterday - when I left my house it was fairly decent - the sun was shining. I chose to ride in a long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey and my winter knickers. I wore my wool socks and old winter boots. Since I was on my cross bike, I would be going slower and they were calling for the wind to pick up so I took a vest and my old wind jacket with me. This decision was the most fortunate decision - I'll get to that.
I decided to go see if 10th St really is almost finished. After I think almost 3 years of construction, I found a smoothly paved road with new bike lane (as promised). It's still not officially open so traffic was light. I zoomed on down to Shenandoah Ave and rode towards my work place - this definitely will be the route I chose if and when I finally make an attempt to ride to work in the spring. This is the least sketchy of the neighborhoods between home and work and likely would have less traffic whoas. Instead of climbing the hill to the stop light at Peters Creek, I cut through the Food Lion Parking lot and took Peters Creek back north. As I was sitting at the stop light near Sheetz, I noticed the sky looked very ominous to the west. UH OH. By the time I got to the light at North Lakes I knew I'd better make a decision and head home. I elected to turn and go through the Lick Run Greenway to go towards William Fleming HS. By the time I got to the light at Fleming, it was starting to rain. OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH CRAP. There is no direct route home from here unless you decide to brave Hershberger Rd which is never a good idea or take sidewalks along it, again not a good idea as it crosses 581 and idiots driving cars can't figure out the exit ramps on normal days much less toss in someone on the sidewalk on a bike. I got across Hershberger and started up the hill. After making a right hand turn, I stopped to put on the rain jacket... oof, I'm so fat and it's old, so this was like a girdle. HAHA I got to Cove Rd where I have to make an illegal left hand turn. By now it's a steady rain. I'm really wanting to get home now. The traffic though was coming from both directions. So I sat there in the rain.
Finally got a break, made my illegal turn and headed towards the neighborhood where I could take Norris Dr to the other part of LRG. As I was going down the hill on Norris, I just kept thinking slow down, don't ride the bridge too fast, no fast turns.... Made it safely to the GW and headed uphill towards the mall. After crossing 581, I deliberately rode the GW, hopped off the curb in front of Target to get to the light straight on - I almost made the green, but ended up stuck at the red light while the rain continued to pelt me in the face. Now the wind began to gust. WTH? Is this like a thunderstorm? HAHAHA
The light changed, I zipped across made the left in front of Logans, stopsign - hurry up lady damn, it's dry in your car. To the gravel path at Huff Lane Park. It's pouring and the wind it gusting from my left to right. I pedaled quickly through the park to be met by a stiff headwind. Finally made it to Williamson Rd where you guessed it.. stop light. I just dropped my head at this point because my sausage casing jacket had now begun to soak through. I could feel the cold rain on my forearms. The tops of my legs were starting to chill from being saturated. Come on light. The cross traffic was red and the offset on coming was green, but the cars turned right. I just ran the light. Screw this, I'm cold now that the wind has become pretty steady.
I finally made it home safely where all I could do was laugh. It's always been an adventure to ride in adverse conditions, and I never really minded the rain until my crash. Now honestly I have no desire to fool around in it. If I get caught out like yesterday that's one thing, but I'm not sure I'll ever go deliberately ride in the rain. Not sure what I'll do if an event I've paid money for gets rained on. I guess it will be a day of decision.
Today was cold and windy. I would have glad rode in the cold, but the wind was just too much - I'm thinking the windchill was in the mid-30s all day - I could have ridden mountain bike, but it's muddy on the flatter stuff probably and I doubt the fireroad would have been much fun. I have yet to venture back to Mill Mtn which tends to do well after rains, but is likely leafy. I elected for a group ride on Zwift where I felt good about my efforts. I even was at risk of getting kicked out of the ride for being too far ahead - a new experience for me. All total today on Zwift ~ 22.4 miles (1 hour 15 minutes) - it was all Watopia Flat Course.
Meh, I guess I'd better get ready for bed. Back to 5-day work week again........... YUCK! I'm tired of work right now - it's very negative and very frustrating. I feel like there's no purpose in my work lately. Very little seems to be improving. I feel like the bad guy everyday - it's my job actually, but it gets old.
Alas, spring will come eventually - meanwhile I'll try to keep you informed of my progress. Bye for now!
#rebuildingme
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