Sep
13
Weeks 9-10: first singletrack ride, first road bike ride…
September 13, 2009 | |
Have had an action packed couple of weeks.
Went up to Darwin last weekend (still in the same country but about 4000km away!) where my wife was presenting at a conference. Had the chance to drive around and do some photography, and generally thaw out after a cold wet winter.
Amongst other things, I got to do my first beach walk, my first walk up a steep rocky trail, and my first walk along a slippery rocky creek bed. Was I cr***ing myself in fear of re-rupture? Yes I was!! “That is NOT what I meant by saying you could go back to 2-shoes” said the surgeon’s voice echoing in my head. Probably not the best of ideas, even though I was being super-duper careful and using a trekking pole for a bit of extra support…but the rock pool under florence falls was nice and refreshing to lounge around in.
Yesterday I finally got to ride my road bike for the first time since my injury - I have been holding off because it doesn’t have an easy gear, I can’t really stand on the pedals, and it would have felt like sacrilege slapping on a flat pedal so I could ride with the boot on (the boot just wouldn’t match, everything else on the bike is carbon!). But it was such a great sunny day that even though I still can’t do a heel raise, I decided I could push enough force through the pedal to get me up the hill home from the bike path, and off I went. Only a short ride of about 10 miles, and it was hard work not dropping my right heel, but felt like good rehab.
And today I finally got to go on a proper singletrack mountain bike ride, a big steep climb (and resulting downhill run) rocks, roots, mud and all. I played it safe for this and wore my cam-boot for the first time in 4 weeks, got some funny looks from other riders and some extra cred, despite opting out of the more technical section of the route. Only one minor “off” - that boot is so damn bulky I kept clipping rocks with it, resulting in one low speed incident where I came close to tumbling down the hill. It felt strange showering after the ride and feeling the sting of scratches on my legs from sticks and branches (really narrow track) - in normal times a week wouldn’t go by without this feeling, but of course it has been months since I have been able to get out there!
Do I need to say that my injured leg is tired today?;-)
Tomorrow it’s back to work, and the fact that my bus ticket has run out sounds like a good reason to start commuting by bike again!
Have fun everybody and stay safe (do as I say not as I do;-)
Dylan
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- dsut4392 has completed the grueling 26.2 ATR miles to full recovery!
Goal: 152 days from the surgery date.
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- dsut4392 has completed the grueling 26.2 ATR miles to full recovery!
Dylan:
So you went clipless and just avoided dropping the heel, right?
I’m still in the boot w/ flat pedal on my mountain bike (just puttering around the neighborhood). I’m wondering when I might venture out on the road bike.
I got a little down this weekend realizing that, at 7.5 weeks post-op, I probably still have 3 months until I can jog again. I think a 10 mile road session would help my spirits a lot.
Hi Tom,
Yes, I went clipless. I’ve been spinning on the trainer using SPDs (or regular joggers) for nearly a month so that made the transition easier. This was under orders from my PT at my (first and only) visit at week 6. I have also done a few 10-15 mile rides on my hardtail MTB with flat pedals on.
I was still pretty nervous as I usually start off with my right (injured) foot clipped in, stand on the pedal to get moving, then clip in the left…of course this didn’t work as I can’t do a heel raise yet on that foot. Trying to break the habit of 20 years and remember to clip in the left first was tricky, and of course I had to do it so much more often than usual as track-stands at intersections were also out of the question.
If you have a trainer, I found it very useful for regaining some muscle memory of the pedal action. The proprioception of foot position was tricky to start with, even with minimum resistance my foot was rocking forawrd and backward over the pedal spindle like crazy. Starting off with flat pedals and an easy gear also lets you control just how much you are using your achilles (by moving your foot forwards or back on the pedal). If you’re walking in 2 shoes, riding on the trainer in 2 shoes should be at least as safe so long as you refrain from sprints and standing efforts.
I’m keeping the boot for real mountain biking for another month or two, but for commuting and road cycling I’m back in my regular SPDs or Keos.
If your spirits need improving, just think back to where you were 5 weeks ago…I was hobbling about in a boot, glued to the handrails for any staircase, spending all evening in front of the TV, unable to ride, unable to drive…
Yes, jogging is still a way off for me as well, let alone multi-day hikes carrying a heavy pack. But I think 10 road miles will soon become 20, then 50…
Dylan
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