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Riding back in time

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

I started out yesterday morning reading some from The Time-Crunched Cyclist (more on that later). Then it was off to take my son to his baseball tryouts. After moving branches from a tree that fell in my backyard and fixing the shed door, I stopped for lunch. Lunch done, I put up a new light fixture in the hallway. I helped my son burn some of the branches and then I was free to ride my bike.

It was around 2:30 PM when I rolled the Felt out to the driveway. The weather was beautiful. Just around 60 degrees and feeling even warmer when I stood in the sun. I wondered if I was going to get too warm with my long sleeve under layer and knee warmers. Figuring that the wind would make things a bit cooler, I decided to stay dressed.

This ride was a throw back to days gone by. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t even know where I would go. Turning right out of the driveway decreased my options, but there would still be plenty of varied terrain to mix things up.

In about 8 minutes, I was in Cleveland Park. I decided I would stay there a bit and do some laps. This would also be a return to days gone by.

Back when I was first starting to ride I had no inclinations to race. I thought it was way beyond me. However, I did like going fast and enjoyed competition. If I couldn’t race other riders, I would race myself.

Little did I know that what I was doing was an unsophisticated type of interval training. What I did was do up to 10 laps of the park – about a 2.5 mile loop. There are two climbs that require a good effort and some downhills that give you a minute or so to recover. The rest of the park is pretty flat as it runs along the Reedy River.

As I did these laps I would focus on either 1) beating the time of my previous lap, or 2) try to maintain a certain speed for the entire lap. I still remember how pumped I was when I managed to hold a 22 mph average for the 20 or so miles. I can’t remember my fastest lap, though I don’t believe I ever got under 6 minutes — though I did get close.

Well, on this beautiful Saturday I pushed my lap button at the bottom of the climb on Woodland Circle. The first lap was more a warm up. Because of all the people and the traffic, I finished the first lap close to 8 minutes.

I picked it up a bit on the second lap, but still got caught at the doggie park because of all the people parking along the side of the narrow road to unload their dogs. I went a little harder once I got clear in an attempt to make up time, but that was a mistake. I’m not ready for those kinds of efforts! Still, I shaved off about 30 seconds.

The earlier effort caught up with me on the third lap. I focused on keeping a cadence over 90 rpm and tried to make sure I kept spinning circles instead of mashing on the pedals. This time I got held up by pedestrians crossing the road and cars slowing for speed bumps, but got the lap done in about the same time as the second lap.

I made that one my last and slowly made my way toward the Swamp Rabbit Trail to go downtown to get a cup of coffee. What a wonderful thing to see all the people! It is a great place to people watch. There are some interesting characters, but also it is fun to watch the cyclists who are trying to be “all that.”

About an hour was under my belt when I stopped for my coffee. As I pulled up to dismount my bike, I saw two racer type cyclists — probably college age — go by. Their jerseys were unzipped and they looked like they had been putting in an effort. I wondered if they were coming in from the UWBL.

Several cars went by with bikes on top. I figured they t00 were used for the several hour long ride that leaves from downtown most Saturday mornings during the winter months. Unlike the past, I didn’t feel a pang of guilt for not taking my bike with them.

I tried to finish the last of my coffee so I could get going and ended up burning my tongue. I had parked my bike on the outside of the shop and sat near the door. I wanted to get riding again, but also wanted to attach myself to the bike before someone else did!

Now I was on the Swamp Rabbit Trail headed toward Furman University. Once again I found myself moving around people skating, walking their dogs, running, walking or riding their bikes. Today there were a lot of bicycles.

As I neared Furman, I was glad I had kept my knee warmers and under layer. The wind was cooler now and I was in more shaded areas. The layers made me feel quite comfortable.

Once you reach the portion of the trail that goes through the Furman campus, Paris Mountain becomes an obvious landmark. As I glanced up from the shaded trail to see the sun shining on the mountain, I decided that going over it would be the fastest way home. That would make my ride about 2 hours total and it would be fun to make my first attempt of 2012.

I had absolutely NO thoughts that this was going to be a good time. I didn’t even try to make it so. I put the bike in the easiest gear and started to climb. Frankly, I was feeling pretty bad by the water tower section. I was starting to second guess my decision!

Getting around the first turn after that section, I was feeling a bit better. I was more in a rhythm.

I reached halfway in 7 minutes or so. Hmmmm, that wasn’t so bad for not really trying. As I started, I thought it might be nice to hit 18 minutes. Now I was thinking I might make it in 16.

Sure enough about two-thirds of the way up I bogged down. This is typical for me. Still, I just kept looking ahead to the next turn and kept spinning. I reached the wall just under 15 minutes. I stood and started rocking the bike toward the top. Maybe because I had not pushed hard to this point, I found that I was feeling pretty good.

Paris Mountain KOM

Looking through the trees atop Paris Mountain. Looking toward Saluda.

I pushed the lap button at 15:33. This will be my base time to start the year. Each time I make the climb, I’ll try to bring it down. Granted, it won’t be hard to drop it with a little bit of effort. However, I know the time will come when it will be very hard to improve the time.

Coming off the mountain, I let the Felt go. I love big-ringing it down Altamont and swooping like an eagle around the turns. It helps me forget about the pain of the climb.

I pulled up at home after just over 2 hours on the bike. There was no guilt that it hadn’t been 4 hours. I sat down by the still burning logs to talk with my son. There was a smile on my face — and on the inside.

It was good that the bike was telling me how to love it instead of everyone around me.

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2012 Goals

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

You may ask that with all these changes in my approach to cycling this year, “What are your goals for 2012?” That would be a good and fair question. It is a question I’ve asked myself and struggled with. I guess my first goal is to set some goals!

Typically, I divide my goals with the bicycle into three sections — racing, personal and charitable. Racing goals can be your typical “A”, “B” and “C” type events that you try to peak for. These goals can also be aims within the race — improvements in performance and knowledge of the sport. Personal goals are more associated with training. Working toward a certain FTP or a time up Paris Mountain. Charitable goals have normally culminated in my Ride for Mike events.

I guess I’ll do the same thing this year. One thing I know is that I need some goals in order to stay motivated. It is just up to this point, thinking of goals has made me tired.

Racing

There will be plenty of opportunities to race locally this year. It all starts with the Spring Series in mid-February. You can have some pretty serious racing under your belt by the end of March. Also in March is the Spring Cycling Extravaganza — a new two day series presented by the POA Cycling Team. As for April, I don’t know if I’ll take the trip down to Charleston for the SC crit championships this year, but the St. Francis summer series starts up locally.

May presents opportunities at the Spartanburg Regional Classic and another St. Francis race. June brings about the SC road race championship, the SC time trial championship and, yes, another St. Francis race. July could see me in Asheville again for the French Broad TT and road race. There is a St. Francis race near the end of the month as well.

The new race weekend “End of Summer Blowout” will take place in August along with the continuing St. Francis race. September brings the end of most racing — except cross — with the final St. Francis race. So, there is plenty of racing right in the general Greenville area. Throw in other races within an hour or so drive and you could nearly race twice a week or more the months March – August.

That isn’t my plan. My “A” race is going to be the SC Road Race Championship on June 9. My goal is to be as fit as I can be to be on form for a top 10 finish. I’ll use any racing up to that point as a means to reach that goal. I’m definitely not planning to explode out of the gate for the Spring Series!

Other than that, but goals will be to put a more conscious effort into watching and learning — becoming smarter. That means better skill wise, better reading moves and better at using the field to put me in the best place. This will happen by racing and watching riders I know have been in this game for a long time. The goal is to set a lesson plan for each race, focus on that one thing and grade myself at the end.

Personal

This one is simple. I want to return to my obsession with the mountain. I realize many people think this is a Don Quixote endeavor.  However, when I think back to some of my more fun periods on the bike, they include my attempts to bring my time down on that 2.2 mile stretch of road.

My goal here is simple. I want to get a personal best climbing Altamont Road. That means I have to climb it in less than 11 minutes and 24 seconds.

Charitable

Here is where I face a challenge. In the past, I have always had a clear road ahead for my goal by this time in the year. For 2012, I don’t have an “epic” ride in mind.

Originally, my goal was actually much larger. My plan was (is?) to start a new foundation — iridefor.org. Its purpose is to help others who want to be an encouragement by personally supporting people in need. Basically, it would be to provide tools and knowledge to help anyone carry out their own “Ride for Mike.”

The problem for me right now is that to make this a success, I would have needed to be much farther along in the process right now. I just don’t know if I can pull it off on the same scale for 2012 that I originally dreamed.

At the same time, if you don’t have goals, you might as well not dream. I still have a dream for iridefor.org. While I may not hit the stars this year, I don’t see why I can’t land on the moon.

So, there you go. I’ve laid it out what I’m thinking. That is another part of setting goals… you need some accountability. That is one of the main reasons for this blog.

Thanks for keeping an eye on me.

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Thanks, Coach. Thanks, Friend.

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Over the last several years I’ve had the privilege to be coached by Jim Cunningham. As I look back at any success I have had, I can attribute a lot of that to Jim. Where I haven’t done so well, I can attribute that to me not listening to Jim! Now in 2012, I’m moving in a different direction. As I do so, one of the things I’ll miss is having Jim covering my back.

I couldn’t believe that in all the photos I have of me cycling, I don’t have one with Jim! Here is the closest I have to it — this is a photo of Chris Hartzler wearing a Low Cadence kit standing next to Jim. Chris had just attended a hill climbing clinic that Jim was holding on Paris Mountain.

The coach

Jim Cunningham and Chris Hartzler

This is the one thing that brings a little pang of regret. Not having Jim pushing me along means that the official coach/athlete relationship comes to an end. I’ll have to admit, I’m not so much going to miss the coach structured training as I will Jim the coach.

The same thing goes with the decision not to race on a team this year. I definitely know it is for the best, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t miss that feeling of “belonging” that comes with having mates in the peloton. Sure, it isn’t like I’ve been disowned, but it just isn’t the same.

It is going to be interesting finding my spot in the cycling world. The bicycle was the primary connection that I had with most folks in the community. My “other life” moves in a different sphere than most other two-wheeled junkies.

Now I’m going at it a little bit alone. I’m hoping that Jim will still be willing to give me some pointers and kick me in the seat on occasion. He definitely has the knowledge and desire to see those he helps succeed. Take a look at his recent article over at CarolinaCyclingNews.com.

I highly recommend his services. If you want to improve as a cyclist, one of the best ways is to get yourself a coach. The knowledge and accountability it brings will definitely move you to a different level. If you can’t get Jim, then let him point you to someone he knows can help improve you.

Thanks, Coach! Thank you, my friend!

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Back to the lair

Friday, January 20th, 2012

I call my basement office the “Low Cadence Lair” (what it looked like back in 2009). Over the last several years, I would like to know how many miles I’ve ridden down there! I’m certain the whirring of the trainer has been heard for dozens of hours. Well, the sound returned last night for the first time in many months.

13 minutes in to the first trainer ride of the winter

13 minutes in to the first trainer ride of the winter

As I was groaning about to roll out of bed Thursday morning, the beautiful redhead whispered in my ear, “You need to exercise today.” Rather than hitting her with a pillow, I agreed. It wasn’t just for the physical benefits of it, but for the stress release as well. I determined I was going to get on the trainer that evening.

After a bit of delay due to the fact I couldn’t find the skewer for my trainer, I got the bike set up and climbed on board. I had the same feelings that I have at times when I’m about to set out on a ride that I know is going to be a long one… this wasn’t just the start of a trainer ride. It was the start of the new season!

I had a dread of 1) the boredom of an hour being spent going nowhere, and 2) the realization that this would reveal just how out of tune I am. To battle the first issue I started a  movie on my iPad. I figured I could avoid number 2 by spinning easy this first time and just letting my legs get back in the motion.

Wow! The basketball business was hurting! One thing this all has revealed is how desperately I need to cross train. My non-cycling muscles had all kinds of aches and pains going on. It was even affecting my stroke on my left side. Some tendon on the backside of my knee was tight and caused me to pedal blocks and swing my heel out with each revolution.

Those negative thoughts began to seep in… “I’m getting old.” “Most of the guys have been out doing long base mile rides. I’m so far behind, I don’t know if it is worth it.” “Do I really want to go through this again?”

The voices in my head got so loud that I even turned off the movie. I wasn’t paying much attention to it. I just silently spun for a moment being lulled into a trance by the rhythm of the spinning wheel. By this point I was starting to warm up and the pain and stiffness was leaving.

I raised my head and looked around the room. Right in front of me were jerseys covering the wall. Each one of them told a story… Assaults on Mount Mitchell, Challenge to Conquer Cancer rides, podium finish in the state criterium championship, and numerous charity events. There was that Greenville Spinners jersey from my first ever win.

All those memories started pushing against the negative thoughts. It has been a good ride over the last five years or so. Whatever the future holds, the bicycle has been good to me.

Perhaps where I have gotten off course is trying to be something I’m not. In my mind, I’ve always seen myself at the front. I’ve wanted to be one of the “fast men”. Early on, I was. However, as you move up it takes more and more commitment to stay at the front. It is a commitment that I now realize I can’t invest.

You know, that might sound like a negative thought. However, it is freeing. I’ve got a lot of great memories of success to hold onto. I’ve also got a lot of great opportunities and memories to make off the bike.

I looked down at the meter and saw my hour was nearly up. My legs were feeling pretty good (though that one push for a few seconds at around 750 watts reminded me I’ve got work to do before spring). Best of all, my mind was feeling pretty good.

Me and the bike are going to have a more mature relationship this year. I’m looking forward to it.

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It is official

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

For many years my neighborhood has worked to get sidewalks put in along the street that runs in front of my house. It is a “cut-through” between two main roads leading into downtown Greenville. I was shocked to learn that thousands of cars come down the road. Some of them well over the 30 mph posted speed limit. Well, we finally got our sidewalks… and a bonus to boot.

The plan was to put a curb and sidewalk on one side of the street. Our side of the street would not be altered in any way. However, shock of all shocks, the project came in significantly under budget. Since the money was earmarked for the project the project was expanded to include adding curbs on our side as well.

I was loving the changes. The only thing that would have topped it all off would have been to have the street repaved. The drainage work, curb work and moving of the stripes had made a mess of the asphalt. It was pretty obvious that we were going to have some erosion issues.

Lo and behold, the resurfacing request got approved and around Christmas time we got a newly paved road. Then to add to my contentment, the idea of bicycle lanes was broached with the community. At that point, there were some pretty vocal opponents to the idea. Even so, I had a good feeling that something would come through. I was well aware of the city’s Complete Streets Program that makes it a priority to consider all means of transportation — car, bicycle and pedestrian.

Our road was a perfect example of where this could be used. It was already a wide road so basically nothing had to be done to accommodate the space needed for the lanes. The road was already being used by cyclists and pedestrians. It would also help with traffic calming as it would visually narrow the road.

After one rather testy community meeting, I knew we would have the lanes. Then about two weeks ago the guys showed up to stripe the road. There was plenty of room for both the cars and bicycles — and a nice smooth sidewalk for the pedestrians.

Finally, last night as I was sitting eating dinner, I noticed some more street painters appear. I watched as they made it official. Right in front of my house in the far lane of the road, they painted the bicycle man and arrow.

Now, I can use bicycle lanes all the way from my house to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and — before you know it — be out in Travelers Rest. Not only that, but I am already seeing commuters using the lanes. I hope there will be more opportunities to see the Complete Streets initiative become a reality.

Granted, there are some downsides to having bicycle lanes in your neighborhood. You cannot place yard waste in a way that obstructs the lane. This can lead to your lawn being destroyed by the garbage man. You also cannot park on the street in any way that obstructs the lane. This will be a problem for my neighbors who enjoy throwing a party from time-to-time.

The city is working with those neighbors to offer them a permit that temporarily gives them the right to block the lane. It is like I mentioned to the neighbors in the meeting about the lanes. We are a community. Our road is something we share with each other, but it is also something we share with other Greenville residents. Their taxes helped us get our sidewalk, road and bicycle lanes. We have to work and sometimes compromise to make the best opportunities for the whole.

The Complete Streets initiative does this for our city. It is more than a logistical necessity. It creates many intangible benefits. For instance, bicycle lanes with their little cyclist signage gives the perception of intimacy. Much like sidewalks they are footprints of human movement. They are indicators that there is a soul in the city.

Thank you, Greenville, for bringing that footprint to my neighborhood.

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Not the first time

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Yes, I know that it has been a long time since there has been a post here at Lowcadence.com. If you are a blogger, you probably know the guilt I’ve been feeling about that. Looking back, I realize that there have been other times when I’ve gone a month or so without a post. I’ve always come back, and most likely will again.

What I have I been up to? Nothing. Absolutely.  Nothing. Since October, I can count on one hand the number of times I have gone on a ride over 30 minutes. There have been the occasional commutes to work (like this morning), but for the most part the bikes have stayed in the basement.

The thought of a long ride in the cold is not appealing to me. The idea of an hour or so sweating on the trainer going nowhere is also uninspiring. The realization that I am way off my fitness level gnaws at the back of my mind. I know what it is going to take to get back and the motivation to do it just isn’t there.

I’ve tried running as a way to cross train. However, the hip pain that continues to be with me seems to be exacerbated by pavement pounding. Besides… see the first sentence of the paragraph above.

Last night I went and played basketball for the first time in… Well, I can’t remember the last time I played a pickup game. It has been years.

I enjoyed it. I woke up this morning feeling like I had raced a crit, but the actual participation was enjoyable. If it wasn’t for my defense and rebounding, I think I would have gotten laughed off the court, but you can’t expect to hit many shots when you haven’t played in years.

One thing that surprised me was the fitness that still seemed to be hanging around. Not having a big body and no outside shot, I have to move a lot to get a position to rebound or score. I managed to play for an hour and it wasn’t until near the end that I started to wain.

At the same time, I’ve been catching up a bit with the Tour Down Under. Other than the crashes, I’ve found the racing to be motivational. It reminds me that warmer weather is coming. I’m going to want to be on my bike when it does. Now is the time I need to start getting ready.

I think I’ll keep playing basketball, but also set up my trainer. I don’t know what this season holds, but I do know that I am going to want to be on my bike. To enjoy the spring and summer, I have to stay with it during the winter.

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Post-event blahs

Friday, October 28th, 2011

When I think back to Monday, I can’t help but smile. It was a great experience. It exceeded my expectations in many ways. In addition, some of the things I feared never happened. All in all, I have much to be thankful for.

Rebekah and her brothers

The Ellis children

The support I received was also overwhelming and I am thankful for all of the help that pushed me down the road. Receiving photos like the one above made every pedal stroke worth it! What a blessing to consider how the Ellis family will be able to go to Charleston for Rebekah’s surgery in December without having to worry about the expenses surrounding it.

So, why do I feel so “blah?” It doesn’t surprise me. I’ve participated in enough of these types of events with high levels of emotional and physical stress to know that it comes. This year I went into the Ride for Mike knowing that it would hit me soon after.

I think there is a physical reason why this happens. During the time leading up to the event your adrenalin is pumping. For sure during the event you are riding a wave of adrenalin just to make it to the end.

Then suddenly it is over. Your body realizes that the “flight” mechanism isn’t active. The adrenalin stops flowing. Some call it “adrenal fatigue.” Your adrenal glands move into recovery mode and it leaves you feeling lethargic and tired.

Probably the best way to handle this would be to go do some exercise. I think of a drug addict going cold turkey. Often it is best when trying to ween someone off of a drug to do it slowly. Take them down dose by dose. A little bit of exercise might be a good thing.

On the other hand, I am not one to break down everything into a chemical formula. Human beings are spirits. We are more than just a chemical makeup. There is that element that transcends our physical presence. That spirit also takes a hit after an epic event such as this.

Many, many hours have been invested in the Ride for Mike. A lot of hopes and expectations were bound up in it. Now that it done there is a hole. It is kind of like the day after Christmas. There is nothing to be sad about. Actually, there is a lot about which to rejoice! Still, you walk away from it with much fulfillment, but a bit of emptiness as well.

We can’t live our lives on the high. Just as our bodies can’t function properly for long periods of time on adrenalin, nor can our spirits skip from one emotional wave to another. Sometimes we just need to rest. We need to find contentment in what is. When we do, we can be ready for the next epic event.

I’m already thinking in that direction. You can find a sneak peak here… However, for right now I think I’ll rest a bit.

Sleepy after RFM Family Fun Ride

Got an extra car seat for me?

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There are some strange things out there

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

I’ve been amazed at the things I find on the side of the road when I’m out riding. Probably the best thing I ever found was $50 in $5 bills spread out along the road. I’ve thought I should start a photo album of all the stuff, but then I would be stopping all the time.

Probably the thing I see most consistently are shoes. Hardly ever do I see a pair of shoes together. I see one shoe. I’ve seen crocks, high heels, work boots and you name it. The one that sticks out the most in my mind for shoes and other things was a platform shoe covered in rhinestones out on a rural country road.

I do a lot of riding on Old Buncombe Road. Just as you pass the entrance of Altamont Road there is a park. For several weeks now, I have noticed along the road there a bunch of 5 Hour Energy drink containers. This time I stopped, collected some of them and took a picture.

5 Hour Energy Bottles

This guy would have been going for about 95 hours!

As with most things I see along the road, the focus is not the item itself, but with how it got there and what type of person wears rhinestone encrusted platform shoes. As for the 5 Hour Energy man (or woman), I assume this person didn’t walk or ride along the road drinking multiple shots of this stuff and then drop them. Most likely this is not a case of a morning routine where at that given place as a guy drives to work he throws one back and then throws it out the window.

I think this is the case as it is with most litter. I don’t think most litter on our rural roads comes from people throwing items out the window one-by-one. Most of it, I believe, comes from people taking their trash from their homes to a central dumping location.

I’ve seen this happen. Someone has a plastic bag of trash in their pickup truck. The wind catches it just right and there it goes…. It lands on the side of the road and if you are lucky it stays closed. However, often the bag opens in the back of the truck or when it hits the ground and strews everywhere.

But, hey, we’re not here to talk about the ravages of litter (though I do hate it so). I want to ask a question, “What is the strangest — or most glorious — find you have stumbled upon while riding your bike?” Your riding buddy doesn’t count.

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You don’t know what you didn’t have till you’re done

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

It is something that has been in the back of my mind for the last couple weeks. It was hard to put my finger on it, but it seems to have crystallized in my thoughts. It leaves me feeling nostalgic and hopeful.

It is hard to grasp what you are learning through an experience while you are in the midst of it. Often the lesson isn’t obvious until after you have the opportunity to look back. I find that is the case for me when I look back at this last season.

I think I fooled myself into thinking that I was over my June 2010 accident. The fact that I was so quickly able to get back on the bike and even complete the 2010 Ride for Mike only a month after ditching my neck brace gave me the illusion that I would quickly be back up the speed. Surely an off-season and some good spring training would get me right back up there.

It didn’t happen. It was a very frustrating racing season for me. There were multiple DNF’s and I didn’t race nearly as much as I did the previous year. I was mentally out of it and not positive at all. Sure, there were flashes of power and the data showed that I was physically close to where I was in early 2010 — the best months of my life on a bicycle.

First, there was the lingering issue of my hip. I rode through the entire season with hip pain. While my legs were putting out power, my right leg would fatigue. Over the last month, I have started to notice a significant decrease in the pain. My ability to hold an effort has also improved.

Not sure what has caused it. Perhaps it is the shift in focus from big power intervals to more tempo riding. Perhaps this has taken some of the strain off my leg and has allowed it to heal. Then again, maybe it is just that time has finally started having its affect. Whatever the case, I didn’t realize how much of an influence that pain had on me until it diminished.

Second, there is a difference between strength and power. Power is what you can apply to the pedals to make the bicycle go. Strength is the ability to sustain that effort. I was able to return to the same power numbers pretty quickly. However, I just didn’t have the strength to maintain it.

This year I would go out to do intervals and I could match the same intervals as the year before. The difference was what happened after the interval ended? In 2011 I was aiming for the end of the interval. My guess (looking back) is that the big difference between 2010 and 2011 was that in the earlier year, I could have done much more with the time following the interval than in 2011.

It is just a feeling. Fact is I feel stronger right now than ever before this year. I feel like going out and doing an FTP test just to see if the feeling matches reality. The questions that swirled in my mind during the season are settling down. I’m not questioning my strength anymore.

Last, I’m just feeling much more comfortable on the bike. I realize now just how stiff I was on the bike. Now I’m finally getting my hands out comfortably on the tips of my hoods with my back flat. I’m able to bend my neck without becoming so quickly fatigued. My legs have a feeling that it is a supple power I’m producing instead of a chunky kind.

Again, had you asked how I was doing during the season, I would have told you that I was back. Now I realize just how much I wasn’t. It is a good feeling.

I realize this might all just sound like crazy talk to you. However, to me it is so clear. I begin to understand how a major accident can have long-term ramifications. Even when you think you have gone beyond it, there are lingering affects that just require the passage of time to bring you healing.

So, going forward I realize that 1) I should not fool myself into thinking I’m in some place that I am not. Don’t oversell yourself to yourself. Be willing to accept that you aren’t what you once were – yet. 2) I should look for the improvements. The diminishing pain, the flexibility on the bike, the suppleness of the legs — these are all encouraging signs. Look for more of them and focus on the confidence they bring. 3) I should focus on those things that allow me to improve – emotionally, physically, and mentally.

For now, I need to put racing out of my mind. Rediscovering the joy of the long ride, the anticipation of exploring a new road, and just riding my bike have helped bring back something I was missing. The fact that I am looking forward to the pain and suffering of the 2011 Ride for Mike is definitely a good sign!

What will 2012 hold? I don’t know. I’ll pedal over that bridge when I get to it.

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I’m so dizzy

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

It is back. Ever so often I get hit with a sinus problem that is deep in my head. It doesn’t really lead to a stuffy nose. It is more back around my ears. The pain is not so bad, but the dizziness is no fun.

They say that as long as your sickness hasn’t moved into your chest, you can get out on the bike. Of course, the people who say that can probably walk straight! If I’m going to get on the bike right now, it is going to have to be on a trainer. I don’t trust my balance right now.

One thing that seems to help is guaifenesin. Yes, it is primarily for the lower respiratory system, but it seems to loosen whatever is up there and gives me a bit of relief. Along with that over the counter drug, there is good old water. Staying hydrated is a big help.

Sometimes I think the whole thing gets started when I am not hydrating properly. However, to be honest, I’m not sure what brings it on.  It happens at weird times and doesn’t appear to be seasonal.

I just hope that it is out of my system by Thursday evening. I’d like to take part in the final POA race. You get dizzy enough going around that course without having an inner ear problem!

Anyone else out there have this happen to them? What do you do to treat it?

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