- Todays Miles Rode 27.07
- Weather Conditions 87,4f & Sunny, winds 12-18mph
- Total Miles 2008 1,744
- My Total Cycling Miles 7,407
Back to the typical Monday ride with Glades Auction House booming and the smell of onion rings and french fries wafting in the air at each loop.
The sun beating down on me. The humidity up there and climbing. I loved it. Equipped with a water bottle with a nuun tab in it and a plain water bottle along with the last shot blok bag left over from the ToW, I headed out with intent on going some distance today.
I'd like to recondition myself into shape slowly, but surely. It's amazing what a few months off the bike can do to your body. Although slow today, I was steady and enjoyed myself. Once again my ultimate goal was to just enjoy, and I accomplished that indeed.
I saw the carriage dude, but he was heading out the road when he waved at me. So no chance in asking about a farrier 
No one else was about today once again other then a few waves at people in vehicles on Trout Run starting up at me again.
OH...and another deer that jumped a hedge row of bushes in front of me just as I stopped on one of my loops to turn around. Damn good thing I stopped too. I would have collided with her for certain I believe. Sure is a lot of deer active lately!
Winds were nagging me today more then normal. I realized that something was different the last couple rides from last year on Trout Run about those winds. Then I noticed it finally. Mitzi had planted soy beans in all her fields on Trout Run were as last year it was corn. That corn used to help shield those winds from me!
I picked a bad day to do some distance from the wind stand point, but it may be the only day I can get some extra miles in this week. I have a lot to get done starting up weed wacking again and I need to scrape and sweep the hay loft this week sometime as well.
I've got to set up a dinner date with my friend for her birthday, of which I said I'd treat, and then she will be leaving next week for Florida again for the winter.
Not to mention I will call my friend up the road whom Trudy works for cleaning her house tonight to ask about Trudy and what farrier she uses. She has horses as well. I need to find someone ASAP now. Almost to emergency mode here on that!
I also am taking Ginger in tomorrow to the vet at 3 p.m. for checking out her skin issues. Once again, even though she got over her urinary issues, she now has her skin problems back. I think it's time for a culture on her to be done now. I'd like to find out what's wrong with my baby!
Tune in tomorrow, or whenever I post again, for what happens next 
- Todays Miles Rode 18.10
- Weather Conditions 83.7f & Mostly sunny, winds 10-15
- Total Miles 2008 1,717
- My Total Cycling Miles 7,380
Notice the change in my stats. This is the way I'm going to post from now on. There is no sense in posting the other stuff. After all, the stats are normally always about the same and if I do something out of the ordinary, I post it in the written part of the blog anyways. I don't believe it's needed anymore. I'm not training for anything. I'm just riding and loving every bit of it and that's all that matters to me since this years crash. I just want to stay in shape as best I can, get my weight back down and enjoy cycling as long as I'm able
There would be nothing out of the ordinary today either. Just more people out and about. More deer out and about. This time I did wave at the carriage company dude and he yelled out "HI" to me as I zoomed by. I was gonna stop, but I was going downhill a bit fast and when I came back up he wasn't there any longer. Oh well...maybe next time. I do want to ask him about a horse farrier. Seems mine has just stopped coming and is ignoring my phone calls. My boys need trimmed like two weeks ago when he was supposed to be here. I was worried at first and hoping he was o.k. and didn't get hurt, but now I'm just annoyed that no one has at least returned my calls. That tells me he doesn't want to bother coming here because there are only three horses to do and soon to be only two. It's probably not worth his trip if he doesn't have other clients in the area. Still...a PHONE CALL WOULD BE NICE THEN??!! I don't think that is too much to ask. So I need to stop and ask someone on that road that has horses if I could get their farriers number and soon.
I also met up with the lady that has the horse farm were I turn around at walking her elderly dog that has cancer. She too said "hi" to me to which I replied "hello" back. Still no sign of Trudy and Spikey though 
I may try and call her employer up the road this week to see if she can get a message to her.
So I put in a couple extra laps today since I had the time. I'm trying to get some miles in because if I do have the surgery on my hand, chances are I'll be off the bike again for at least a month. I don't believe I will hit my mileage goal that I wanted to this year. Alas...such is having surgery and health issues. After all, I said I would strive for 3,300 providing I was healthy enough to. Obviously this year that is out of the question. Just one of the many goals I did not accomplish this year. However, the big one of the ToW made it all worth while...broken clavicle or not 
- Todays Miles Rode 16.17
- Weather Conditions 79.3f & Mostly sunny, winds 12-15mph
- Total Miles 2008 1:21:32/11.90/Recovery
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,699/130:47
Well, I did get to eat my taco salad last evening, but the movie wasn't a go. It being a Friday and a premiere weekend for some new movies, the movie that we wanted to see started earlier then we expected. SOOOO...we ate and bull crapped a while over a bottle of wine and then went SHOPPING!
Oh yeah...a chance to spend money on myself for no damn reason except that I'm OUT! LOL I picked up some things for the house. Some wine of course. A couple toys for the pups. Some bath and body stuff for myself was a must. OH...and a new base layer short sleeved under armor for myself of course 
Anyways...I had a nice time even though we didn't go see the movie
So today after my work out, I started out chain sawing up some more branches for fire wood and then started a burn pile. I worked on that till I was fully soiled in soot and the fire was under control. I then took a quick shower and suited up for a nice recovery ride. That was the intent for today. I was tired when I left for the ride. After all I had done already, I was hot and sweaty and soot soiled, but it was JUST SO NICE OUT! I had to just take a nice easy ride. I did just that. A quiet day today, strange for a weekend. Not a lot of people out. A few mowers was about all. To not see any of my "normals" out there, is a bit strange for me yet. I hope to see someone soon!
A few things worth mentioning. My second loop I had my arm out to signal a turn onto Trout Run. After I started my turn, I hear something behind me and not a car. It was a cyclist. He was in bermuda shorts and a t-shirt with no helmet on a straight bar hybrid. He went straight, but I had the feeling he was chasing me. He swooshed by in that form if you know what I mean. He was only a kid. No matter to me...I was on an easy going ride today.
Well at least till I saw the chubby dude riding a hybrid with a back pack on the WRONG side of the road on my final loop going up Druck Valley. I stopped taking my usual drink first at Glades Auction house and took my time, not thinking anything about a chase. Soon as my foot clipped in I had to find him. Yeah I gave chase just to find him and passed and as I did I waved an arm up. He's still a cyclist after all
- Todays Miles Rode 16.40
- Weather Conditions 74.9f & Cloudy, winds 10-12mph
- Total Miles 2008 1:15:40/13.00/Basic
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,683/129:25
I fully intended on a Recovery ride today. I wound up pushing it just a tad however. One due to the "spritzing" or as my neighbor fondly calls it "pissin" through most of my ride. It was very light. Not even enough to wet the roads. Just enough drizzle to annoy you kinda thing. I had already started out and figured I could cut it short if I had to. I didn't since it just stayed light. The second reason was I needed to get my butt home, clean the house, vaccum and shower before a friend of mine shows up for dinner and a movie at 5:30 p.m.
I met up the same two does and their babies on my second loop where I stop to turn around. They were headed into the woods nearby. I figured it had to be them. Oddly, on my way home on Druck Valley another doe and her baby by the power lines. I'm sure the gray skies had them active. I'm just glad none of them ran out in front of me. I don't need that accident again!
I spent most of the ride slowing a lot due to the brakes being a tad wet. I didn't want to panic again. It does seem my right clip is a bit tight. I may have to stop at my LBS and have that adjusted. I don't want a repeat brain fart! I practiced stopping slightly harder using the rear brake on purpose as well today.
Sadly, now the sun is out. Oh well! I'm headed out soon for a nice taco salad
- Todays Miles Rode 16.17
- Weather Conditions 84.9f & Partly cloudy, winds 5-10mph
- Total Miles 2008 1:11:02/13.66/Basic
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,666/128:09
Well I tackled the last battle mentally with today's ride.
Some people retire a kit after a crash. I've decided since my Lampre kit was only scrapped up a small bit with one tiny hole, I would not retire it. Instead...I would beat the mental block of wearing it again.
To my liking...no crash! I managed the ride just fine. Overly cautious again for the most part and concentrating, but I handled it. No more mental block about wearing the Lampre kit in which I crashed in. All is good now. It will just take some time for me to relax a bit again I'm sure. Time, as they say, heals all wounds.
The ride itself? Not too shabby. I got up there with my AVG to make it a Basic ride. Chances are I will be doing a lot more Recovery rides in between any type ride now. A Tempo ride is doubtful unless I am rushed anymore this season as well as Climbs. I'm just not in good enough shape to bother with either of those. So my rides will be Basics and Recovery with an LSD thrown in there once in a while the rest of the season. That's just fine by me
One funny note about this ride. I stopped at my usual spot headed home at Glades Auction house and took a drink while waiting for traffic to pass. As I pulled out and clipped in, three ladies buying soda's in the machines at Glades glanced out at me and one went "Woo hoo...go for the gold!" I thought that was kinda funny. I grinned and pumped forward to home. Yeah a gold metal>>>HAHAHA NEVER! My gold is my new hardware in my shoulder maybe? LOLOL
- Todays Miles Rode 16.17
- Weather Conditions 83.5f & Partly cloudy, winds 10-12mph
- Total Miles 2008 1:18:16/12.39/Recovery
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,650/126:57
Today marks the third ride for the Quickstep kit in a row. I said I wanted to wear it for my first three rides and did. Good thing...it was starting to smell a bit! HAHA
I saw the carriage company dude out today but way out in his pasture doing something. Not sure if he saw me or not. I'll stop if he's near the road sometime and tell him why I wasn't around for a while. Still no Trudy or any other walkers for that matter today. No deer either.
I did however come down Trout Run to the stop sign were Upper and Lower Glades meet and as I slowed up to stop if needed (yeah this is a spot I tend to unclip and glide through if I can...I know BAD!) on one of the loops I saw a cyclist out of saddle climbing up Lower Glades. It looked like he had a kit on. It almost looked like a Team CSC kit actually. But I just kept going. I'm sure he saw me. The thought of doing that Glades climb is scary. I could not do that again this season anymore. I'll be lucky to climb Druck Valley again before Winter hits.
Thinking he might follow, instincts made me speed up till I realized this was, after all, a recovery ride after yesterdays long LSD. DOH! I slowed up and said to myself "if he comes this way, let him pass and don't chase." He didn't so no pressure there on my mind to have to keep up. It's funny how a cyclist just instinctively does that shit...we are a weird bunch
- Todays Miles Rode 21.33
- Weather Conditions 80.3f & Partly cloudy, winds 10-15mph
- Total Miles 2008 1:42:04/12.53/LSD
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,634/125:38
A long time at that! Today was a day I had extra time so I put in some saddle time. It's been so long since I've rode, I just wanted to soak up the day and enjoy the ride. I certainly did that indeed, but was tired enough in the end.
I did not see any of the usual people again today even going out early or my normal time. I had taken along Spikeys treat, but no Trudy today. I may not bother taking it anymore until I do catch her. I can set up a time to meet then to get Spikey his Wisconsin treat
Along the way on one loop, I had to stop for deer. Two does and their babies They started to run back, but I slowly proceeded and they just stopped and watched me go by. I suppose they crossed once they knew I was not a threat to them.
This was a relaxing and well paced ride. Not pushing anything. Just working on getting myself back into shape and breathing better. I'm not training for anything anymore since the ToW, so there is no sense in pushing anything anymore. Now I will just enjoy what's left of Summer and Fall before the dreaded Winter months and layers upon layers of gear IF I can ride at all. I've even bid on a couple kits on eBay to get myself back into gear! For me now, there is no other purpose riding but to enjoy cycling again and get back into shape, that's what it should be all about anyway
- Todays Miles Rode 13.22
- Weather Conditions 74.6f & Partly cloudy, winds 12-18mph
- Total Miles 2008 56:32/14.03/COME BACK
- My Total Cycling Miles 1,613/123:56
Yeah baby! I'M BACK! Not 100% of course, but today's Doctor appointment and x-ray shows good progress.
I was sent home with a large rubber band type thing to do more exercises, or use my free weights, which is what I've been doing. I may try the thing out though 
I was told it looks good so far. I am allowed to do my normal activities within reason. I'm not allowed to lift 50lbs (there goes hay and grain chores yet), but I am allowed to CYCLE AGAIN! Which of course...I had to ride today
I'm also allowed back into my hot tub!!! YEAH!
So...I don't go back until September 9th now. I am scheduled however to get a NCS (Nerve Conduction Study) done the end of August. I've had issues with my left hand for years now numbing up. I decided to ask about it today and go through with some checking into and possibly surgery. Hell, I've met my deductible in insurance, so why not?!?! I like these Doctors and they seem to do a great job and are truly sincere in my best interest. That says something to me.
So I'M BACK people! (Well almost hehehe)
_________________
So onto the actual come back and ride. Once I got home I promptly geared up for the ride and prepared a bottle of water. After a quick check on the radar, I rolled "Miss Just Natasha" out the door.
I mounted the bike and stood there taking a deep breath. I glanced down to check on my computer. A cold chill crawled up my spin as I read the computer stats. They were the same as the day I crashed. I quickly reset the computer and took several more deep breaths. At around 3 minutes, I clipped in and headed out the driveway. My come back ride started.
The ride started out with myself being overly cautious. My legs screamed out on the first slight climb. Once I warmed up, I felt better. By the time I turned at Glades auction, I said out loud "yeah, this is what I miss" and continued onward.
I had intended on only doing 7 miles. Then I decided 10. Well I wound up doing 13 and loving it. I have to say the biggest problem was breathing. Then again...I'm hauling 15lbs more weight on myself around! Time to buckle down and get into shape again. Breathing was definately my biggest issue.
No sign of any of my "usuals" out there today (although I did pass a woman on a hybrid on Trout Run and waved a hand at her), but it was 4 p.m. before I left. I'm hoping tomorrow after I do my work out and my new "rubber band" exercises, to get out again. Distance will depend on how I feel. Right now I feel pretty good and it's almost 2 a.m. here now. I post the time as yesterday so it says the right date
I will take Spikey's treat that "Coach Phil" bought if I get out tomorrow and earlier. My plan is if I don't catch Trudy within a week or two, I will call my friend whom she works for up the road and see if she can get a message to her since I don't know her phone number.
As promised...here is the special pictures of my come back ride after better part of 3 months without riding. Yeah...I gained weight...so HUSH there 
I'll lose it! YES, the Quickstep kit (well jersey "Coach Phil bought me) is on. YES, the TOW bracelet is on...which I tried to show it off in the pic and I think you can see it Note the special surprise I have on the second one that I mentioned earlier I had "worked on" over a lunch. I'm going to wear this "kit" for THREE rides straight. My favorite number is THREE for one...and to make sure people really know...
I'M BACK~~~~~~
Saturday would be no work out and no trainer session. Outdoors needed tending to, and with me getting better, I had to get to it right off since we had evening plans. This entailed spraying weeds and the big one, cutting up a large branch off a big tree that was struck by lightening with the chain saw. This was a task for me, yet while doing it I was fine. Later would tell the story of two Vicodine that evening. Yeah...I over did it a bit maybe. Although it still hurts a bit today, I took no Vicodine. I enjoyed a great evening relaxing with friends while we drank beer and chowed down on a bushel full of crabs. Indeed a good progress day outside and enjoyable evening regardless of pain.
Today I did do a work out and just a short trainer session of 20 minutes spinning in the middle ring on the first gear. A consistent cadence with the last three minutes fast pedal. Just an easy going one to loosen up the legs and burn off a couple of those beers maybe.
My hopes is that this trainer session, be it easy going, will be the last trainer session for a while now. Tomorrow is the six week Dr. appointment and x-ray. It should tell the tale and if I'll be allowed to start riding again. Although I know my range of motion is limited, and obviously I can't over do it too often yet, I may be cleared to ride. My next post could be my comeback ride...or it could just be that I'm not allowed to ride yet. We shall see.
Meantime. I'd enjoy a couple more beers and the left over crabs for dinner tonight. Not a bad weekend at all
A typical Friday for me today. I cleaned the house and did a load of laundry. Some small tasks needing done around the house that seem to pop up daily for me normally.
A little something different while I ate lunch. I worked on something special for my come back ride You'll have to just wait for that ride, whenever it may be.
I did my workout and a Carmichael. Cleaned the stable then showered. Went shopping for some needed things in the stable and for the horses paste wormers as well as some weed spray and gloves and a new horse porch flag to hang out
Off to The Paddock restaurant to eat their famous onions rings and my normal cheeseburger sub along with a small pitcher of beer. Guess the Carmichael was all for nothing! OH WELL!
Watching the opening ceremonies at the Olympics now and just chilling out.
Busy day tomorrow planned for outdoor work. Doubtful I'll get on the trainer. A work out probably in store only before I get outside to work. Sunday may be my last trainer session till Winter. We shall see.
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