Antisocial?

 

My enforced break from cycling has been tough. I've been watching even more youtube videos chronically other people's cycling adventures and challenges. The last one was about two childhood friends completing the Great Divide (GD) route, North to South across America. From the Canadian to the Mexican borders.

It reminded me of the two multi day rides with Richard and Matthew. Although London to Paris and the South Downs Way are a long way short of the 2400 miles they rode. The shared memories mean a lot to me.

Then there are the rides with Matt and Oxted CC. A few hours when we are just in the moment and other stuff takes a back seat.

I have mentioned this years ride to Cornwall - sponsorship link at the top of the page. And my plans for next year and beyond.

I have some questions.

Do I invite others? 

Does anyone want to join me?

How will having companions affect the trip?

The first question is partially dependant on the second.

The third has two answers. The trip will be improved and made more complicated. Arranging more people's calendars' can be tricky.

It also depends what bikes other people have. The terrain has to be suitable and accessible. Daily distances need to be achievable for eveyone.

If it's just me, I can go when, where and as far as I want. Very simple.

Am I antisocial to want to be alone sometimes?

If anyone does wants to join me for a mult-day ride next year; what do I have planned?

I will ride my mountain bike to Bristol over two days, stay overnight. Then take the same amount of time to do this route created by Will Cycle. Returning home the same way. Why the MTB you may ask. The Will Cycle loop is a mix of cycle ways, green lanes, gravel and road. He says a road bike could do it, but I have a bike more suitable. The ride to Bristol will be on the road , 65 miles a day is okay on a MTB.

I would like also like to do a WW1 inspired ride in France. It's partly the reason for me learning French. But that may be for another year.

On the mend

 

The latest milestone was my visit to the fracture clinic to see a consultant. And have another x-ray. I was a little disappointed to be told it'll be another six weeks of partial mobility. I can at least start putting some weight on it, and use the indoor bike. The next check-up should confirm I can get out on my road bike.

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I hadn't seen the scan before. I didn't appreciate how big the fracture was. Almost completely across the bone.

And then to see the repair; it was another surprise. I had not expected so much metalwork. It explains the muscle stiffness and pain. 

I still have time until the solstice ride, the consultant did say I should make a full recovery. His words were: this is a break we more often see in the elderly, and they heal very well. So me being young is a good thing. I guess I can take that as encouragement.

Je parle un peu le français

A while ago I wrote about future cycling goals. I wanted to ride in France and maybe Spain. Our close neighbour is top of my list so I started learning French. 

It's tough going; for the first few weeks nothing seemed to sink in. The last attempt to learn a language was the first three yearsat secondary school. It was German and no-one liked the teacher, so we didn't put much effort into it. I dropped the subject as soon as I could, and like most British people took advantage of English being widely spoken around the world.

A few years ago I did try to pick up a little Spanish when we had a few holidays in Gran Canaria. But it was only while we were in the hotal and didn't get much further than hola, gracias and una cerveza por favor - hello, thanks and a beer please -; not very good I admit.

What progress have I made in the last month? It's starting to sink in, I can recognise words when they are spoken to me. I can read and understand basic sentences, and string simple phrases together. I struggle with masculine and feminine words, the accents when I have to write answers and spelling. 

My grandaughters visited to see how I was doing. Marcelina greated me in French, my mind went blank. Not good; I couldn't even remember "Je suis bein, merci". I did however have "à bientôt" ready when she left. She is multilingual; speaking English and Polish perfectly and learning Spanish as well as French. I don't know how she does it. Actually I do; she is a very clever young lady. My other two grandaughters will be just as inteligent, they are all so quick at picking up new skills.

To save you googling the translations.

Je parle un peu le français - I speak a little French.

Comment ça va? - how are you doing?

Je suis bein, merci - I am fine, thank you.

à bientôt - see you soon.

I try to spend at least half an hour a day practising. It's not yet a habit, I find I'm too easily distracted. I am determined to keep at it. I woud really like to at least hold short conversations with people during my visit next year.

A month has passed

It's been a month since that fateful ride. The longest period I've had off the bike since I started cycling as an adult.

I seem to be recovering faster each day. My leg is no longer swollen, I've had my stitches out and an appointment with a physio is scheduled for Monday.

I won't be able to do much until my x-ray and meeting with the consultant next month. I'm hoping they will tell me when I can start riding again.

Bruising is still showing and I do get hip, knee and ankle pain occasionally, so it's not all great news. But I can live with it because of the progress I feel I'm making.

The surgery will leave an eleven cm scar, but that should be the only lasting evidence. 

The worst part is the improving weather, I look through the window and wish I could get outside.

I have lost muscle mass and I suppose fitness, it's why I have altered the Solstice ride in June. My biggest worry is that I won't be given the okay to do it.

My bike is being repaired by one of my cycling club, Oxted Cycling Club. They have been great, a whip round will pay for the repairs, plus a new helmet and clothes damaged by the crash. They have been checking in with me.

Family, friends and neighbours have also come to my aid. Marcia's carers have increased their support too.

Colleagues have bolsterd my spirits.

And work has given me the time to adjust, and continue to support me.

And of course the NHS. I large number of people have been involved: from the intial 999 call through A&E, x-rays/CT scanning, and the surgery team. Everyone on the ward, plus physio, cooks and cleaners. Patient transport to get me home. Then the district nurses, and my own doctor. Everyone involved with my visits on Monday and next month. And the contining physio I'll need. I have never taken it for granted, but it is easy to forget how well the system works.

I am very lucky to have this around me, it makes a big diference. 

It all means the dark periods are less troubling, and I emerge from them far quicker.

A change of plan

A change in circumstance - my bike crash - has meant a rethink about my June challenge. I potentially face another couple of months off the bike, hopefully it will be less. I was confident I could ride 250 miles in a day. Now I think it's maybe 50/50. It depends on getting the all clear from the hospital to start walking and riding. Then building strength and fitness in time. Will the hills be too much for my hip? 

I decided to break the journey at Stawell, a distance of 150 miles leaving a little over 90 the next day. This second section of the ride is the hilliest, I'll have more time to climb them.

It does mean less time with my sister, I know she'll understand.

The family were a little rattled by recent events, so I'll be carrying a tracker, with an emergency button.  I can send them a link so they can follow my progress and it will call for help should anything happen.

I may do the same for the long rides I have planned in the coming years. 

I hope my present and future sponsors don't mind the slightly less epic single day distance.

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Recovery update.

I am in less pain and the swelling is much reduced, but the bruising is now blooming. 

It's like Andy and his technicolour dream leg.

Harder than I thought it would be

Sunday morning of the 27th Feb, a gentle ride to marshall a sportive. An early start; I left the house around 7 a.m. Nearly to my post I encountered some black ice. The roads until then had been dry and safe. This one had a puddle surrounded by the ice. I didn't appreciate that fact and went down hard. The driver behind me asked if I was okay, I knew I'd done some damage, I didn't know straight away how much. I tried to stand to pick up my bike, I was also sat in a cold fairly deep expanse of water. I got as far as being upright, but my left leg was weak and very painful; so I sat down very quickly.

The driver asked if he should dial 999, my immediate answer was yes. 

A runner was next on the scene, she organised some extra layers to keep me warm; a coat from the driver and a sheet from a delivery van that has also stopped. 

The ambulance arrived within about twenty minutes, it may even have been quicker. I was soon breathing in gas and air as quickly as I could. Some morphine helped when they lifted me onto the stretcher.

I was at hospital in no time being assessed. After many x-rays and a CT scan; the news wasn't good. The radiographer had to take two snaps of my chest because it appears I have extra long lungs. A broken hip would mean an operation and a long recovery, damn.

It all happened very quickly, I was waking up from the surgery by 6 p.m. The recovery started as soon as my walking aid was delivered on the Monday. I was given a competence test and cleared for moving around the ward. I also had physio moves to do whilst stuck in bed.

Six weeks on the zimmer frame with no weight on my left leg. Then hopefully two months on the exercise bike and I'd be on the road again. I'll need to build fitness and strength for the Solstice ride.

After a few days I have started to adapt to a life of hopping about. The self administered blood thinning injections cause a little anxiety. 

My family, neighbours, and friends including the newest from my cycling club are rallying around; it is truly moving. 

Somethings I have learned:

Using the zimmer frame is tiring, more than I thought it would be. It's good for building upper body strength though.

Using a small shoulder bag means I can carry stuff.

I now wear a cycling jersey, the three pockets on the back are great. Easily accessed and not compressed when you sit down.

Everything takes longer than expected.

My balance on one leg is getting better.

You will have dark days when it all seems too much. A quote present in the books I read is very true. It never gets worse all the time. The situation will improve.

When people offer help; accept it. It comes from a good place and you know you'd offer the same if the roles were reversed.

It takes time to heal, so celebrate each small improvement.