Back up and running! Kind of.

I'm fixed! My knee surgery was about 9 weeks ago and it went great. The knee feels good and both the doc and the physical therapist think I'm recovering very well. It's amazing I'm able to stand on and move my knee in ways i haven't been able to since i was 16. Right now I'm focusing on rehabbing my knee and leg muscles. I go to to pt at least once a week and do daily exercises as well as all the other stuff the doctor has cleared me to do. Ive been riding my bike and walking as much as possible, which is a nice change from the 5 or 6 weeks of not being able to do anything at all right after surgery. Lately I've been doing 20 to 40 mile road rides 2 or 3 times a week. I'm not cleared to actually run for another 7 weeks or so. I'm pretty excited to get back to that as well.

About four weeks ago i also elected to undergo lasik eye surgery. It's pretty awesome to go in blind and come out 15 minutes later with much clearer vision. Not perfect yet it takes a while for your eyes to heal and for you vision to stabilize but i can actually see now.

Now that I've got all the work done I've got a to do list of activities a mile long with hopes of being able to do them all as soon as possible.

BAD NEWS FOR A BAD KNEE.

Well the M.R.I is back and the prognosis isn't very good. I've torn my Acl, both meniscus, damaged my Pcl and because of instability had two bones rub together until i developed a bone spur. The doc also explained that i have post acute injury arthritis.
The surgery i need to repair it will be a full reconstruction with a little bone contouring to get of the bone spur. I'll have my patellar tendon removed and it will be bolted in as my new acl. My meniscus are torn to badly to get sewn back together, so they will cut out anything flapping around (part of one of my meniscus has ripped and flapped backwards, getting caught behind the joint.).
My surgery is tentatively been scheduled for mid December so i don't jeopardize my job. Summer is the busy season.
It sucks. There's not a lot of good news in it. Surgery will fix it but arthritis will tear it back down.
My doctor referred to it as "the blue plate special".
It will be nice to have a good working and pain free knee. I'll get through it and I couldn't have a better wife, family, and friends. It's just going to take a little time.

A bad year and hope.

It's been more than a little while since my last post, with some good reason too. I have been injured in one form or another for most of the year.
My first ailment to bring my running and riding to an end is my knee. It's not a new problem but it's been a persistent one. I wrecked a motorcycle a month or two before I turned 16, the main injury was a blown knee. due to lack of insurance and a fear of surgery it went mostly untreated. To this day I have pain. The newest form is pretty bad, crunching and popping, swelling and buckling.
My second was a hernia. While moving some heavy logs at work, I felt a sharp pain in my gut. A day later the pain worsened and a day after that the doctor confirmed I had a hernia and in two weeks I would need surgery and a month or two recovery period. Surgery went well and many weeks later I decided I would do a 24 hour century. I didn't do much in the way of training, a couple rides to work and a 10 mile jaunt up the river trail. I felt good (as good as I could have given the circumstances) so I started in Ouray and rode 65 miles to Delta, where I camped. First thing the next morning i rode the remaining 45 miles to my home here in Grand junction.
My third was and is acute Achilles tendinitis. due to my lack of preparation I developed a pain in the tendon on my right ankle. I didn't think much of it till two days later. I went on a run with a friend and afterwards it was extremely soar and swollen. I have given it a few days to rest and recover followed by a run or a long ride and it always ends up worse than before.
I have never felt as weak or helpless as I have these last few months and after a little persuasion from my wife I have a Dr's appointment. It's with a orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. I hope he has the key to get me going again. I hope.

UP, OVER AND BACK.

IVE RECENTLY BEEN SPENDING A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE ROAD BIKE. WITH WET TRAILS I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF OPTIONS, BUT IT'S BEEN FUN. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SUN SO I COULD FINALLY RIDE THE MONUMENT. LAST WEEKEND AND THE WEEKEND BEFORE WERE PRIME CANDIDATES. THE FIRST ATTEMPT TWO WEEKS AGO WAS A SUCCESS BUT IT INCLUDED SMASHING A BROKEN CHAIN TOGETHER WITH A COUPLE OF ROCKS AND FINISHING THE RIDE (20 MILES OR SO) IN GRANNY GEAR. THIS LAST SATURDAYS TRIP WAS A BETTER (NEW CHAIN AND REAR DERAILLEUR HANGER) ALTHOUGH COLDER RIDE.

ABOVE. A PIC FROM TWO WEEKS AGO. JUST AFTER DEVILS KITCHEN PARKING LOT. THE CLIMB BEGINS.

ABOVE. ME WITH PROOF I MADE IT TO THE HIGHEST POINT. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY BUT THE LAST STORM WE GOT LEFT SNOW KNEE DEEP ON THE ROADSIDE. I FOUND THIS OUT WHILE TRYING GET THIS PIC.

ABOVE. A SHOT OF THE VALLEY LOOKING OUT OVER FRUITA. AMAZING HOW FAR YOU CAN SEE FROM UP HERE.

GETTING CLOSER. FRUITA HERE I COME.

TUNNELS, CHECK.

I MADE IT! THE RIDE FROM MY HOUSE OVER THE MONUMENT TO FRUITA AND BACK TO MY HOUSE TOOK ABOUT 3 HOURS 15 TO 3 HOURS 30 MINUTES IN TOTAL. 45 MILES. GOOD FUN AND I GOT TO SEE A TON OF OTHER CYCLISTS OUT. A FRIEND AND I WERE THINKING ABOUT A DOUBLE MONUMENT RIDE OR A PALISADE TO MONUMENT RIDE IN THE FUTURE. WITH WARMER WEATHER I'LL BE UP FOR ANYTHING. IT'S JUST NICE TO BE OUT.

FLAT CITY TO THE CITY OF PALISADE.

THE WEATHER AS OF LATE HASN'T BEEN WARM EXACTLY BUT THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD DEAL OF SUN AND THE TEMPS HAVE BEEN IN THE UPPER 30'S. SO IVE BEEN RIDING ANY CHANCE I GET.

SUNDAY, STILL BEING EXCITED WITH THE NEW AND IMPROVED GIANT I TOOK IT FOR A ROAD RIDE. MOST DAYS THE WORST IVE HAD HAPPEN IS A FLAT, THIS PARTICULAR DAY I GOT THREE IN 15 MILES.

ABOVE. MY MAKE SHIFT PIT AREA.

I HAD RIDDEN JUST PAST THE TAUBEGAUCH TRAIL HEAD ON MONUMENT ROAD WHEN I REALIZED THE REAR TIRE WAS ALMOST FLAT (MY THIRD FLAT). I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO GET A GOOD PLACE OFF OF THE ROAD TO FIX IT.

ONCE FIXED I WAS OFF AGAIN ONLY TO FIND A GOAT HEAD IN THE FRONT TIRE 5 MINUTES LATER. I DIRECTED THE BIKE HOME WHILE I STILL HAD AIR.

FUN RIDE BUT FLATS SUCK.

ABOVE. A VIEW OF THE MESA DOWN C 1/2.

IVE HAD THE ROAD BIKE OUT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. I GOT IT OUT TO LOAN TO A FRIEND. SINCE GETTING IT BACK IT HAS BEEN CALLING ME TO DO A REAL ROAD RIDE AGAIN. I CAVED AND DECIDED TO SEE HOW PALISADES FARM COUNTRY WAS DOING. 36 DEGREES AND SUNNY.


ABOVE. THE LOOK OF DETERMINATION.
I LEFT AT ABOUT 3:30PM AND I KNOW THE RIDE IS ABOUT 35 MILES AND 2 HOURS LONG. TODAY THE SUNSET WAS GOING TO BE AT 5:30. I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO HUSTLE TO GET HOME WITH LIGHT.



ABOVE. A SHOT OF MT. GARFIELD THROUGH AN ORCHARD.

ABOVE. I'M NOT FAR FROM HOME.

IT'S CRAZY HOW EASY IT IS TO FORGET HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY DOING SOMETHING. I HAD A GREAT TIME, TONS OF AMAZING VIEWS, SOLITUDE AND SUN. PLUS ITS JUST FUN TO BE OUT AND GOING.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT WEEK I HOPE I CAN KEEP THE RIDES GOING.

THE OLD HORSE RIDES AGAIN!

IN A EARLIER POST I MENTIONED THAT MY 04' GIANT RINCON WAS GOING TO GET A LITTLE TLC BY WAY OF SOME NEW PARTS. IN THE TIME IVE HAD SINCE GETTING BACK FROM SIN CITY I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE IT. ABOVE.

HERE SHE IS IN ALL HER GLORY. FROM THE TOP. NEW MARY BAR KNOCK OFF WITH 3 1/2 INCHES OF RISE. NEW SURLY 1X1 FORK ADDING ANOTHER INCH OF RISE. NEW AVID BB7 FRONT BRAKE WITH NEW CABLE AND HOUSING MOUNTED ON A NEW TO ME FRONT WHEEL. NEW REAR SINGLE DIGIT 7 BRAKES. OVER THE OLD SETUP I'M ABOUT 3+ INCHES MORE UPRIGHT.

THE UPGRADE WAS DUE TO A RECENT WINTER TIME ROAD RIDE I WENT ON. I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE BRAKES AND THE ALMOST NON WORKING FRONT SUSPENSION FORK. I COULD BARELY SLOW DOWN ON WICKED STEEP DECLINE AND THE FRONT FORK BOUNCED ALL THE WAY DOWN, AT 30+ MPH IT WAS JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SCARY.

I TOOK IT OUT FOR A BIT OF A TEST RIDE TODAY. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, ALL THE SNOW WE GOT YESTERDAY HAD MELTED OFF THE ROADS. LEAVING THEM 99% DRY, SUNNY AND WARM. I WAS GOING TO JUST DO A 4 OR 5 MILE RIDE BUT THIS BIKE IS FUN, I ENDED UP DOING CLOSE TO 20 . IT'S REAL RESPONSIVE AND STABLE. IT REMINDED ME OF BMX BIKES I HAD WHEN I WAS A KID.
I FOUND MYSELF STANDING AND SPRINTING EVERY CHANCE I GOT AND I TACKLED SOME PRETTY GNARLY HILLS. COMING DOWN I COULD HAVE STOPPED ON A DIME. A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.

THIS BIKE IS MY JACK OF ALL TRADES BIKE. NOT SURE WHAT ALL IT'S GOING GET USED FOR BUT I COULD SEE IT WITH A FULL SET OF RACKS AND BAGS COMMUTING OR AS IS BOMBING DOWN A TRAIL WITH SOME HUGE DIRT TIRES. IT'S DONE AND IT'S FUN. I'M GOING HAVE FUN FINDING OUT.

FUN IN THE DESERT SUN.

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ME AND MY LOVELY WIFE DECIDED WE COULD USE A COUPLE DAYS FOR OURSELVES. WE PLANNED A MID-WINTER TRIP TO LAS VEGAS. NO KIDS, NO BEDTIMES, NO WORRIES. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME FLYING AND IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE AS NERVOUS AS I.

ABOVE. A PICTURE OUT OF MY WINDOW, COMING INTO LAS VEGAS. THE FLIGHT WAS A RUFF ONE, LOTS OF TURBULENCE. AFTER A FOUR HOUR DELAY AND CRUISING INTO 131 KNOT HEADWINDS THAT THREW US AROUND THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY HAPPY SITE.

ABOVE.
ONE SUNNY MORNING IN FRONT OF LE PARIS FOUNTAIN.

ABOVE.

ME AND THE WIFE IN THE MGM GRAND. I'M FEELING PRETTY FEROCIOUS.

ABOVE.

I DIDN'T LEAVE LAS VEGAS WITH ANY OF THEIR MONEY. BUT THANKFULLY THEY DIDN'T GET MUCH OF MINE.

ABOVE.

MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE MAKING FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL KNUCKLE DRAGGERS.

ABOVE.

BREAKFAST INSIDE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER. I HAD FRENCH TOAST OF COARSE.

ABOVE.

ONE OF THE BETTER STREET PERFORMERS WE SAW ON THE TRIP. HE ONLY MOVED FOR TIPS. HE WOULDN'T MOVE FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE 20 OR 30 MINUTES AT A TIME. HIS DISPLAY SAID HE WORKED TO SUPPORT A WIFE AND KID.
THERE WAS SEVERAL OTHERS BUT HE WAS THE BEST.

ABOVE AND BELOW.

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE BETWEEN NEW YORK NEW YORK AND THE MGM GRAND. WE WERE DOWN ON THIS END OF THE STRIP TO RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER AT THE NEW YORK CASINO. IT WAS VERY FUN BUT IT LEFT ME QUEASY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY INTO THE FLIGHT HOME. THE WIFE TOOK IT LIKE A CHAMP.

ALL IN ALL A VERY FUN TRIP. ONE SEMI CRAZY NIGHT AND A FEW PRETTY TAME ONES. WE GOT TO SEE A SHOW AND EAT AT A COUPLE OF THE POPULAR RESTAURANTS. WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF GAMBLING AND HAD A FEW DRINKS. IT WAS GOOD TO GET AWAY WITH THE WIFE AND SPEND SOME COUPLE TIME TOGETHER. I WAS REMINDED OF ALL THE REASONS I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.
IT'S A NICE PLACE TO VISIT BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE. I WOULDN'T MIND SPENDING A FEW DAYS THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THOUGH.