Preparedness is a family and friends affair

While it's arguably a valid subject at any time of year, winter in the mid-west often has me thinking of survival techniques and general safety.  Granted, suburban Kansas City is fairly benign when it comes to real, honest wilderness extremes.  I'll grant you that:  this isn't Montana, northern Ontario, or the Mojave desert - that's certain.  However, it's surprising how quickly in this age of expansion and construction that I can find my self utterly isolated while out on a bicycle ride, and that's the motivation for these thoughts.

Bicycling for recreation generally leads to riding in groups for motivation and friendly competition, but longer distances and commuting tend to weed out some of the crowd.  Often times you can find someone to ride with - but not always.  In fact, a large percentage of my mileage each year is spent in complete solitude and this is the norm for many commuters and long-distance riders.  Even when commuting a short distance to work, through town, I can find myself out well out of view and out of ear-shot on the county trail system.  Traffic is the "natural enemy" of the recreational cyclist, which can put you in isolation on-purpose while looking for that perfect, quiet route.  You can be off the beaten path yet still very much "close to town" in any of these situations.  Add in the harsh conditions of winter and you can begin to see the potential for less than ideal scenarios to arise. 

I don't want to further this culture of fear we already live in.  (Too late?)  We all already know that bicycling is an "inherently dangerous outdoor activity".  Society at large has "taught" us through various "scientific" studies and "research" that we're constantly at risk of dying some horrible death, or at least moments from being injured no matter what we're doing.  Wear a helmet.  Wear sunblock.  Ride smart.  Check your tires.  Don't over-tighten.  Grains of salt.  What I'm talking about here, however, can be a legitimate concern:  crashing, bonking, getting lost, running out of water, having more flat tires than supplies to fix them, having a major mechanical problem during a ride - they can happen without warning at the best of times for the most well-prepared rider.  Despite all that, bicycle riding is fun and the benefits far outweigh the risks.  You can't foresee every problem - nor should you get bogged down trying to.  Any cyclist should have the knowledge and skill to fix flats, fix minor mechanical issues, and get moving again -- but there are other things you can employ to stay safe that don't involve your gear or your bike at all.

The scenarios are as endless as your imagination - but don't get so hung up on them that you find the need to prepare and pack for anything possible.  Carry the same things you always carry - but know how to use what's around you if needed.  Can you make a splint?  Can you make a fire?  Do you need to?  Do you know how to get back to town?  Can you walk?  Will you be okay if you have to simply stay put?   Sure, sure - the chances of anything major are very slim; but the majesty of a long solo ride through beautiful scenery can hide the dangers that await you if something goes awry.  Paranoid?  Yes, perhaps I am - but consider that I might be paranoid enough for both of us, and take heed.  I've been on the bad side of scenarios like this, so being prepared may prevent you from having to endure the same.  Simple orienteering, light survival knowledge, knowing your limits, knowing how to effect your survival without technology.  Remember, this has nothing to do with equipment so much as it has to do with employing your mental preparedness and knowing that you have a safety net in place.

There are plenty of outdoor survival resources available on the internet, so I won't delve into that subject here.  Further, you know the things already touched on in the post about winter clothing, so this post is a mild extension that talks about something we often forget as cyclists:  Having that safety net in place.  Assuming you have already made all the other preparations necessary to enjoy winter time (or ANY season) riding, you should always have a system in place to monitor your safe return.  Many a survival story has unfolded simply because of lack of communication.  It's a hard nut to crack:  feeling independent as a adult and as a cyclist, an adventure-minded individual not having to be accountable for your activities has to take a backseat here - even if you tell only one person, just communicate.  That's the hardest step.  

In this day and age, there's almost no excuse.  Social networking, email, text messages, GPS tracking, mileage tracking websites, or the simple buddy system work marvelously and should be taken full advantage of.  Make sure the person you have for your safety net is responsible, someone that will check their messages or is ideally already in that habit as part of their job or lifestyle.  The people in your safety net don't need to be on-call, or the person that will pick you up if something happens - make that clear.  They don't even have to be cyclists.  Family is an obvious choice.  If it's a friend, have an up-front conversation with them over a beer or coffee, and set expectations.  Don't put too much burden on your contact people.  Let them know your ability, your limits - and make it a big envelope so as to avoid confusion:  setting boundaries so that if you go out for a ride and expect to be back at 2:30 and your contact person doesn't have an email from you at 2:45 they don't hit the panic button and send out the National Guard, for example.  

If you are already in the habit of posting your ride results to a social network, have that be your conduit.  "Headed out for a quick 50 miles to Smalltown and back".... then, later,  "an awesome ride today".  Simple, succinct, done.  Be creative - but make it transparent, easy, effortless.  The trigger mechanism for your safety net should be something to the effect that if you haven't been heard from by sundown, then someone out there starts to try your cell phone, and so-on.  Even if it's a false alarm, it builds a network of accountability that could potentially come to your aid someday.

Plan a route:  Often times I am hard on myself for not being spontaneous enough - but as the miles get longer and longer in the course of training, it becomes harder to simply meander:  I have to have a route planned, something to stick to even if it is a loose plan.  It's very hard for me to simply "go out and ride", or "show n go".  When it comes to riding solo, however, this is a good thing - and any route plan should be communicated to your network as part of your "departure" message.  Include an image of your route or a list of towns you expect to hit.  No-one has to look at it - but it's there if needed.  If you are spending an hour plotting a route on your favorite mapping website or program, share that link with your network.  Don't think of this as being tied to the route, however - you still have freedom.  Even if you decide to meander during the ride and take a side-road, everyone still has an excellent general idea where you intended to be, and there isn't a search-party in the world that will just "stick to the map".  Even if you don't know the route - have a general direction of travel and communicate it.  "Headed to Cycleburg", should be enough:  your network knows where you live, and there are only so many ways to get from your home to your destination and back.  If the worst should happen, they can figure it out.  If you decide en route to alter your plans, however, be sure to communicate!  Update from the road, "Headwinds stink, turning north to Geartown."  Stay connected. 

Technology is catching up.  Only a few years back I had to get in the habit of turning off my cellphone during longer rides to conserve battery, and I was constantly in and out of coverage areas.  These days, phone run-times are longer and coverage is better.  You have to try a LOT harder to get truly isolated around here.  Is any of this a real issue then?  Probably not --- but it is remarkable how isolated you can feel only a few miles from town when nobody in a car will stop to assist you while you fix a flat tire.  Being hot and sweaty on the side of a road in frigid temperatures isn't apparent at all to someone flying past in an automobile - they'll just think "crazy biker", and keep going.  While there is still a lot to be said for the kindness of strangers, you have to be realistic.  Blow a tire on a rural downhill, drift off the steep shoulder and into the brush below - you can be mere feet from the road, yet completely invisible to passing cars.  If you have a $1.00 reflective mylar emergency blanket in your seat-bag, you may never need it --- but you'll be infinitely glad you brought it should that rare, rare hand be dealt to you when you're miles from home, with a double flat and jammed chain, in the rain, 30 minutes before dark.  Make sure your phone is "findable" by enabling GPS features (if applicable).  Keep your phone turned on, call for help - if GPS isn't an option, one of the first steps search and rescue will use involves triangulating your signal.  Even if YOU don't know where you are, the professionals have the tools to find you.

Finally, the obvious "safety in numbers" - the original social network:  ride with a friend.  Try to plan something - riding with friends always trumps riding alone, from many angles.  The same rules apply, though -- make sure family or friends know where you are headed, especially if the conditions are questionable.  Never assume that someone else in the group will do this for you.  Redundancy is good.  Event riding can be a good thing - especially if it's well supported.  There will be sweepers, roving SAG, and course marshals that will make getting lost a difficult prospect.  However, even in those situations there can be miscommunication and crosstalk - so at least make sure someone in your network knows where you're headed on that special Saturday morning.

There is no "off season" - but safety is always in-season.

Ride safe!

'dude, reMixed

Often times the mental side of randonneuring gets the better of us all.

Some would argue this sport makes you a little bit "off".

I would agree.

Wait for it....

There is a void in ultra-cycling

I'm almost a month late in reporting this, but I felt it relevant to at least catch up and pay my own respects in these pages to one of ultra-cycling's greats.  It is with a heavy heart that I share the following link:

N.Y.Times.com 2010/09/30, Jure Robic

I have been in a "news hole", quite literally focusing every last nerve and neuron towards work and other commitments, barely keeping up with the even the weather reports.  Quite literally, I don't know WHAT is going on.  Living under a rock?  Indeed.

Today, however, I took a brief respite from such things and started shopping for a goal for 2011/2012, something I usually do after an injury has altered my cycling routine like it has this year.  That move sent me instinctively to the UMCA's website, and the front page news literally stopped me in my tracks, dropped my jaw, and misted my eyes.  

The only, however trite, analogy I can think of:  this would be like losing Lance Armstrong for many cyclists.  Reading his accolades is humbling.  Having stood on the roadside, watching him fly by like he was out for a 40-mile club ride was a real thrill:  that was the closest I'd get to this man.  Literally and figuratively, anyone that has ridden a bicycle with aspirations to ride long (200+ miles) and fast, maybe even attempt The Race Across AMerica (RAAM), has probably looked at Jure Robic's race record, and like me, probably just thrown up their arms in defeat.  We are not worthy.

Year after year, Robic was (and will probably remain) THE subject of conversation when it came to the Race Across America - and it simply won't be the same without him.  I don't know if we'll see someone approach that race with the same dominance that Robic brought.  It's not a tag that should be used lightly, but I don't think anyone would argue associating this word with Jure Robic when it came to long-distance cycling:  Legend.  

Rest in piece - your memory will be honored by the retelling of your many heroic rides and seemingly super-human accomplishments.  We will not talk of filling shoes... in my opinion, it can't be done.

I humbly extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jure Robic.

Of small things, big things someday come.

I came across this sign today during errands:



Now, let's give ourselves a moment to examine the initial reaction you may have had to this. Is it the same reaction I had? Perhaps... maybe not:
Yeah, I was instantly thinking "boycott".

Many of us go to that extreme almost instantly. As cyclists, our rights are always under fire... it's natural to get defensive. Things often get larger than ourselves as we see bicycle bans that encompass entire towns or stretches of road. Think St. Charles County, MO., think Blackhawk, CO., think 83rd Street in DeSoto, KS. Translate this across the "internal combustion line", and think about Cassoday, KS. This paradigm can apply to bicycles, motorcycles, to bow-hunters, to gun rights, to chewing gum in movie theaters. It's about common courtesy, at its core - but it can get out of hand quickly. Are these small towns really "anti-cyclist", or is there something simpler here?

The establishment that posted this sign probably has no opinions or thoughts on how bicyclists use the roads around their town... or maybe they do, now, after the fact. They may not have anything against exercise, or alternative transportation. Let's definitely assume this point, however: whoever posted that sign did NOT spell out "bicyclists not welcome".

Yet.

I spoke to the manager working the store shortly before I took this picture and asked a lot of questions. I was wearing plain-clothes and had my kids with me. Nothing about me said "cyclist". I was even very careful about indicating I even knew what a "cleat" was. With my sweat-stained ball cap and hoodie, I might as well have come in from a nearby small town, and just wondered what the sign meant. But, even talking to me as a "probably-not-a-cyclist" individual, I could hear the disdain and frustration under her tone and in her choice of words.

I won't try to repeat verbatim what she said here, but the point was that cleats tear up linoleum. There were themes of "courtesy", and "how would they like it if..." rhetoric that touched on whether or not said cyclist would want someone walking across their new floors with screw-in soccer cleats on, things like that. There were lines drawn that made sense: even at the golf course, the pro-shop says "no spikes". There should be a difference in the real world, sign or no sign? She knew enough to debunk what was clearly already a topic that had come up, probably from a cyclist defending their footwear: I know anytime I walk around on concrete that "recessed cleat design" really doesn't mean that much, and her old floors apparently evidenced that.

"But, it's just a c-store...who cares?" you might wonder.

I went there, mentally, also... but let's consider this for what it is. This isn't a big-chain, corporate type of establishment. This is a small town, locally run and owned business, which happens to have a small amount of support from the gasoline company that supplies the pumps and fuel they also sell. This is, really, "home" for the people that probably spend most of their waking hours either at the store, or doing something to support it.

Let's think about the economy. Let's think about how it has really affected small-town America, small-town Kansas, and small-business owners around the region. This particular store used to make and sell really decent barbecue, and last year had to stop. The equipment they invested in for that effort still sits, un-used, inside: a probably sad and daily reminder to them of a dream that didn't quite work out. They may still be paying off that equipment. Probably stings.

Let's think about the fact this store maybe isn't seeing as much business as they'd like. Right down the street about 3/4 of a mile is a larger, corporate-maintained, franchised gas station and c-store right off the main highway. They may not have made the best choice in location, but it probably is still the choice of many of the locals. Still, they might have liked a taste of the highway traveler's dollar over the past few years, and that can't be sitting well.

Regular maintenance still has to be done, cleaning, repairs, and all on a tight budget. The roof might leak and need to be fixed. Light bulbs. Coolers on the fritz. Then, the floor starts to show wear. As a concerned owner, you'd bend down and look at that floor and see that the markings are clear. Frustration sets in - that it's not in the budget, or that the floor was supposed to last "xx" years and it hasn't. The money to keep replacing tiles just isn't there. How do you control that expense? Can you afford to turn away a customer in this economy? On a summer weekend, they probably see as many cyclists as they do farmers and locals. What to do?

It probably started mentally, then verbally... now it's a sign on the door. It probably starts discussions where the owner would have sooner liked to bite his tongue and just say "thanks for your business"... but, that frustration is still there. Maybe it starts arguments, threats from alpha-cyclists akin to "never shopping there again" are shouted. More frustration. Is the argument worth it? Sure, it doesn't say it now, but maybe the words on that sign will read "bicyclists not welcome", eventually.

Maybe this is already circling the forums that I no longer subscribe to, or someone else's social network page. I don't know... but I actually (as if you couldn't tell) tend to side with the shop keep on this one. I know what the economy has done to me, and my family. I know what I have had to say "no" to, what I've had to wait to repair in my own home and on my own bicycle because the money wasn't there. I don't like it when someone meat-handles something I worked hard to build/fix/maintain. I know a lot of us are like that. That's not unusual -- but, I know enough about myself that running a c-store, constantly letting the unknown masses into my pride and joy, the store that supports my family, and seeing them mess it up - however tiny, however un-intentional... I personally could not handle it.

Un-intentional: I don't believe for a second there is a cyclist on earth that intends to mar linoleum on purpose. Cleats are part of the package. However, I would also note that I don't believe there is a cyclist on this earth that wouldn't look at this sign, and because of what we generally go through as cyclists, not instinctively go on the defensive. It's inevitable. I would caution against that, here. Perspective: someone on the morning radio applauses questionable behavior towards cyclists, or a major c-store chain airs advertisements that put cycling in a negative light, or a congressman tries to take a road away - YES: fight, scream, pound the table, write, call, email, stand up and speak.

For the Stilwell Grocery at 199th and Metcalf; folks, let's see this for what it really is - and either kindly slip the shoes off, or spend the $12.00 on some rubber cleat covers. The fact we're riding bicycles for sport or recreation indicates that we, however small, have some expendable income - and certainly the time. You'll save their floor, you'll help a small business stay open in a larger sense. You'll maintain a good relationship with a familiar oasis at the end of a long stretch of road: for all of us. It shouldn't matter that there's another c-store 3/4 of a mile away: boycotting is not the answer here. Courtesy, understanding, and partnership is.

Supporting a local business is important. They have effectively opened their "home" to us, their restrooms, their ice machine and water dispenser, their front porch and picnic tables. Yes, we are paying them for drinks and chips - but I'm not sure that's the point. Let's remember how often our rights as cyclists are at risk, and extend them their right as business owners to set some guidelines. I don't find their request here terribly unreasonable, even if it does add a small step to my ride routine.

And, don't over-react: this is not so much an "anti-cyclist" thing as it's an "anti incosiderate people" thing.

Think about it.


Thanks for reading.

MoBike/PedFed announces two new FREE classes!

The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation has two FREE classes scheduled for November: These are great opportunities to gain some skill and knowledge in a very easy and comfortable environment.

FIX-A-FLAT, November 18th, 6:00 p.m., KC North Community Center.
Learn some full-proof methods of fixing flat tires at home or out on a ride.
Details and registration:
http://mobikefed.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=7423


BIKE SKILLS, November 20th, 11:00 a.m., Tony Aguirre Community Center on the Westside.
Get some practical riding experience in this clinic. You'll practice the essential riding techniques and even learn some emergency maneuvers. Bikes and helmets are required.
Details and registration:
http://mobikefed.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=7424

 

(Published with permission)

Brought to you by:
BikeKC, a program of the City of Kansas City
Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation
Mid-America Regional Council

Thank you, veterans

Politically, it's been an interesting year for cycling in a lot of regions of our great nation. Bike bans, riders rights, advocacy for civil projects, interpretations of laws, and ultimately - last week - voters at the polls, making tough choices that affect us all.

What does this really have to do with veterans? Well, that should be clear; we've all heard the "thank a veteran" rhetoric, and it's relevant today, tomorrow, and yesterday - regardless of context. When you bed down tonight, or tuck your children into bed, somewhere there is a soldier standing a post. Whether it's an analyst sifting intelligence in an Army data-center, someone on a patrol in Afghanistan, or the streets of Baghdad; whether it was Tet '68, or the 38th parallel on the Korean peninsula, or on Omaha Beach, or at Cold Harbor, or Valley Forge, there is a relevance to how we live our lives today.

Something as simple as the freedom to ride a bicycle across state lines without so much as a thought for papers or credentials, to ride on public roads, to breathe deep of free air and exercise the mind and body - yes, it's relevant. The right to vote on issues that take away some of those rights which cyclists enjoy? Exercise it. Write. Call. Email. Get worked up. Get passionate. Talk about it in the taverns and bars, and take it to the polls every chance you get. Educate people around you. Talk. Teach.

I can't think of a better way to honor those that served this country than to hang up the car keys for a day and ride a bicycle to work: Yeah, here in KC there is rain in the forecast; consider it a tiny bit of personal sacrifice to honor those that sacrificed everything.

Counter to that, maybe it's a day to fire up the most gasoline-inefficient SUV and drive that to work - by all means. That's American, too, and your choice. Obviously, part of the motivation within these pages is to perhaps pull you away from doing that EVERY day, but I do respect that you have that right and privilege.

For me, the "fight" to convince people otherwise is still a worthy one.

Happy Veteran's Day, everyone.

Ya ever have one of those years?

I have.  

And you know what?  Who cares?!?!

This morning, I rose early and rode the streets of suburbia to my job - enjoying now how each day the sun rises later and later, each morning commute turns into a miniature "night" ride.

Orion, my favorite constellation, is up now - directly overhead in the last hour before dawn, and with the dry, cool air in place it's spectacular.  Along 137th street, no cars, utter silence save for my tires and the wind in my ears, I let go of the handlebars and sat back, stretching in the saddle hands-free, and looked up.  Right as I did, perfectly in the center of my field of vision a bright shooting star arced across Orion's belt from west to east, and the light pollution that normally shields the details had lifted just for a moment to reveal the sparkling, ghostly remains of the trail - hovering like magic dust in the black sky.

It's amazing from whom I grasp inspiration.  It's shocking sometimes, the things that finally resonate - and sometimes more shocking where the revelation comes from.

I won't get into a lot of detail here, because... well, because.  BUT: something changed today, while I was at work in an totally unplanned, impromptu meeting with someone with whom I've worked for a long time, but hadn't ever really TALKED to, ya know?  Words I heard, and how I interpreted them... it made a difference.  For some reason, today, I was really listening - because this person really didn't offer any pearls of wisdom that were immediately relevant to my current situation, it was him, relating HIS story to me, and how he'd manage to use what happened to him in a positive way.  It made a lot of the things I'd been going through seem really tiny.  Hard to explain... but if you've been there, you know.

Heck, this may not last... I know myself, and people are people with things like this:  sometimes we get inspired, times are good, attitudes are solid - but we forget.  We need that little reminder.  That slap in the face, depending.  So, today, I got what I needed.  

Today, on the ride home from work - cool breeze, dry air, birds still singing, leaves not quite changing yet... but aching to... I took off with the wind at my back and loved every minute of it.

Car coming down the hill on the road that kinda wraps around the office buildings.... that tiny, thin grey line between "yeah, I should stop... but, I have room and time...."

I hammered it.  Granted, not my finest performance - but that, along with how hard things have been, doesn't much matter either.  

I stood on the pedals and told a few hills how I felt about them, and then looked back in appreciation of Newton's 3rd law.  You see, the hills - love them or hate them - always give something back.  It's what you DO with it.  

The flats?  Bliss.  Deep in the hoods, jersey collar flapping against my neck, tempo... how that leg??   Hmmm.... you know, not bad today.  

Granted, I don't want to smoke all my reserves and re-injure anything... bah, just pedal.

The smells of the bike trail... fall... ah, fall...  a campfire sounds good again.

I get home along my new, scenic bypass:  my last north/south road is currently under construction, so I have been adding about two miles to get around it and still avoid the throngs of rush-hour... only to find that all this time, I really should have been adding those two miles, regardless.  Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is definitely NOT a straight line.... assuming shortest and best are equated.  Even after constructions wraps, I may just keep using the bypass.  It's like, "I've lived here HOW long, and this was always here?"  (facepalm)

I arrive at the driveway... out of breath?  Check.  Legs sore?  Check.  Injured part of leg sore?  yeah..... but not as bad as last week.... stretch, stretch, stretch, massage.

I find my kids in the backyard, tossing the football around.... BONUS.  I remember that football practice this week got moved a night, so this time we can play because we WANT to.  I've never been much for ball sports... but there is something downright Norman Rockwell perfect and very satisfying about tossing a ball back-and-forth with your kids.  

All in all, even with things at work being probably more intense than I found myself harpin' about last week, this was a very good day.

Attitude?  Yes... it matters.  I usually suck at it... but it doesn't take much to turn it around if you WANT to.  I've found a pile of new reasons to want to, just today.

It's amazing - what was simply "routine" two days ago, it was all there... but, today I noticed.  

Keep your eyes open, and your head up.

Thanks for reading!

Age sucks.

I'm holding my head a little higher lately, taking some things into control.  Creating music.  New fervor at work.  A return to school.  Push-ups.  

I'm fighting back. 

Being injured makes you feel old.  Headed back to July 7th, kick-boxing - my cross-training program came to a bitter halt when I side-kicked the 150lb. heavy-bag incorrectly, landing my left foot's big toenail firmly into the leather seaming on the bag.  The bag won.  They always say, make sure the seam is at the front... I knew this, but the bag had rotated, and I wasn't paying attention.  I didn't hold back, landing a hit that immediately sent feedback to my brain that something bad had happened.  Thankfully, I was jacked up on adrenaline and endorphines enough to push my toenail back down into position and tape it in place quickly enough that the nail-bed didn't start to heal over.  So, the nail was saved and has since grown back to full recovery - but, my ankle.  Maybe I don't give myself proper leg-strength credit, but I imagine that kicking the bag hard enough to cleanly separate the big toenail 3/4s of the way off might also have twisted something.  Ever since that night, the back of my ankle - specifically the Achilles tendon - has hurt, a lot.  Daily.

Initially, I thought it was plantar fasciitis - but, either that part healed, or I was wrong.  The Achilles tendons right near the base of the heel have been a struggle, however, for the last eleven weeks.  Regular routines of stretching and massage have helped, but it's been frustrating.  Each morning, after a full night of immobility, that first weight-bearing movement getting out of bed literally seems to re-tear them, every morning.  Although, over time, over the last three weeks, it has gotten better.  My weakening Shimano sandals had begun to offer less and less support, and finally the fore-strap failed on - you guessed it - the left foot.  I was sad to see them go, super-comfortable in the early days and simply perfect for commuting and utilitarian in the last couple years, I don't think they were doing the ankle any good when they started to fall apart.  Having since switched to my "weekend shoes" full time has helped things along.  

As a last-straw, it seemed that any compensation I was doing to save the ankle began to translate to my calf becoming very, very tight while riding.  Initially nervous that it was my IT-band, I ended up being wrong on that count as well - thankfully.  Still, it makes me nervous, the tightness being so close to the knee.  I think things are progressing, finally; continued massage and stretching have begun to loosen things again.  The weird thing is, it's like I'm 2nd-guessing everything:  the bike fit, the way I pedal, the way I do or don't point my toes during the pedal stroke - seriously, overthinking things I haven't thought about at all in a while.  

The bike fit?  Okay, that's dumb -- enough time and mileage has passed, and the injury didn't occur while riding.  It never hurts while riding, even when sprinting or hammering a climb... or slow, totally wrong-geared mashing out a climb.  No issues.  So, that's not it.  Don't touch anything.

The pedal stroke?   Overthinking.  Just pedal.  Easier said than done... when the calf tightens up, it makes me naturally want to alter this detail or that - for better or worse.  The best medicine:  don't compensate for it - just pedal.  Trying to keep that in mind.  

The whole thing, however, solidifies my R-12 bail-out decision of a few weeks back.  I completed the July 24th permanent on the Border Patrol route, and really didn't have any complains in the ankle department, though I was very mindful of it.  Recovery afterwards was the same as it ever was.  There is a good chance, however, that whatever subconscious compensation I've been doing to keep the ankle out of risk, it's migrated to my calf - perhaps.  Or, perhaps as the ankle heals it simply can't bear the strain - thereby transferring tension to the other end of the muscle, where it meets the knee area.  Still, it's been limited to muscle tension, not tendon pain.  I need to make sure it stays that way.  Maybe it was partly subconscious, but the injury didn't affect the July 200K, so I don't see where it would have affected the now-we'll-never-know August or September rides... but, I'm certain it wouldn't have HELPED.  Stress, planning, and just flat running out of time killed the R-12... but it's probably better, for my ankle's sake, that I made that decision before it was stubbornly made for me.  It'll be out there,  I'll be back.

I've gone easy on the ibuprofen, barely touching the stuff - and only taking mild doses before bedtime.  I do need to reinvest in some of Hammer Nutrition's Tissue Rejuvenator supplement, but financially it's been out of reach lately.  Just being careful, and trying to be my own best sports-masseuse have paid off so far... just a few more weeks, I really hope just a few more weeks.  So, to avoid "burn-out" since I'm still car-free these days, I've adopted a plan of riding "soft".  Which immediately makes me feel like i'm giving up.  It's hard to get past... but, geared lower, and riding slow.  Painfully, guilt-producingly, slow... for at least a month.  I need to perform consecutive rides that do NOT produce the calf tension that I've felt at some point near the end of every commute, and nearly every recreational ride I've ridden since late August.  This stuff simply HAS to heal.  It HAS to.  Mentally, spiritually, I just don't know if I can let go of the bike quite yet.  As might be apparent here, I've clearly not sought a doctor's professional advice on the subject because I'm afraid of those dreaded five words:  "no riding for _____ months". 

"Well, I don't have a car, doc"... and even if I did it quickly becomes a matter of "don't tell me what I can't do."  Yes, perhaps that attitude will someday put me in a hand-cycle, or a wheelchair.  I just remember those long months off the bike back in 2006 after the Tejas 500 attempt... caused by, yes, ankle pain.  It seems that my Achilles Heel is literally my Achilles heel.  To be clear, though, the pain I've been experiencing these last eleven weeks is NOT the same pain, nor is it in exactly the same location, as the pain from Tejas '06.  But, it crossed my mind more than a few times - I've been very mindful.  Could it be over-use?  Hard to tell - but really, it's just not the same circumstances at all.  I just know that as I age this is going to be the thing to care for and watch.  

It's completely silly, I know ... but the first time, in 2006, when my ankle grounded me I have little doubt that it was somehow for a reason, and that reason was keeping me close to home when my Dad's health was failing.  I don't look at that injury as frustrating and I don't care that I didn't finish that race, or that I lost ride time... I look at it from the perspective that if I had been out in the country on a bike somewhere when that last phone call came in, if I hadn't been able to get there that last time, I never would have forgiven myself.  That injury gave me the best last month with my father I ever could have hoped for, and the weird thing is that I can't remember the pain *I* was feeling at the time... but I do remember his.  I can't help but wonder if this injury is trying to tell me something, too.  I've been listening.  Maybe I'm just sad that he's not here.  That's okay, too.  I do miss him.  There; I said it.   

 I've been surviving, enduring, I've been on a randonnee of life.  It's all relative, it could be worse - of course.  And I say that because I know there ARE people going through FAR worse that I will ever have to endure... but, darn it, I'm tired.  I'm frustrated.  Sometimes I feel lost.  We all go through these things.  It shows.  It's been a roller-coaster since June of 2007.  I've never worked so hard, I've never struggled like this mentally, spiritually, financially.... and it shows.  I used to write ride reports with such VIGOR and LIFE... man, even about the shortest commutes.  I used to inspire people to ride, and I'm not so sure that's still the case.  I used to pour over maps and plan and plan, I used to race, I used to drive cross-country to do rides, and I used to attend all the local haunts and pub rides and such.  Good times....  good friends.  The best.  

I've been gaining the proper perspective lately, though, trying my best not to become isolated - talking about things, listening to friends.  

I have no doubt that I'm making things harder on myself than they really are.

Perhaps I set my personal standard too high... frustratingly out of reach for the only one really keeping score... me.

Why did I start this blog?

Why do I organize rides?  Why DON'T I anymore??

Why DO I ride so far, so long with no real destination, so fast when no-one is chasing me? 

This post took on a weird tone, I know ... no need to worry.

This is kind of therapeutic in a way, just typing out randomness like this...  not sure what any of it means, or where it's going.

I'm not even sure if anything in these last few paragraphs has been bicycle related... but, hey.  I'm paid up.

Does any of it make sense?   Probably not.

I'll read this in a few years, and probably wonder what I was drinking.  

To be clear, I haven't been.

So, let's stop this dribble and get back to healing.

Life, slowly, surely, is getting better all the time.

It is, after all, up to me.. and it's also up to me to let certain things go, like the negative stuff.

I can't control everything.  That's okay.

Thanks for reading.... as always.

I'm sure we'll return to normal programming eventually.

I'm not going to put any additional pressure on myself, but I am looking towards 2012 for a return to more active participation in some of the things I used to love.

I look to be ready for big changes, in my professional and personal life.

There is a massive list of things I've not been able to do over the last 4 years, and one-at-a-time, I'll check them off.

Thanks, if you're still out there, for reading -- it's appreciated!

UPDATED: Bike America Swap Meet, Saturday and Sunday

Bike America, Overland Park, is hosting a swap-meet adjacent to their Overland Park location at 95th and Nall.

Dates and times:

SATURDAY, SEPT 18TH FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 5:OO P.M.
SUNDAY SEPT 19TH FROM 11:00 A.M TO 4:00 P.M.

Details from their website:

FREE TO THE PUBLIC! BUY! SELL! TRADE! BIKE AMERICA OF OVERLAND PARK KS HAS LEASED SPACE ADJACENT TO OUR 95TH & NALL LOCATION FOR THIS 2 DAY EVENT. BRING YOUR MERCHANDISE, BRING YOUR TABLES, AND BRING YOUR CASH. THIS WILL BE A BIKE BARGAIN HUNTER'S PARADISE. WITH OVER 20 YEARS WORTH OF ACCUMULATED BIKES AND BIKE PARTS, MERCHANDISE FROM HALF A DOZEN STORES THAT CLOSED THEIR DOORS! EXPECT GREAT DEALS ON NEW AND USED SMALL PARTS. YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE WILL BRING TO SELL AND WHAT TREASURES YOU WILL FIND. DON'T MISS THIS 2 DAY ONLY SALE.
913-381-5431
ALL SALES FINAL, NO REFUNDS, NO RETURNS AND ITEMS SOLD AS IS. NO WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

UPDATED: Details from me:

I will not be in attendance this weekend, so this post is strictly informational.

Traffic Skills 101 class offered in KC!

Post yanked from Eric Rogers, via CarFreeKC.com

Think you know all there is about riding in traffic?

You'd be surprised!

Traffic Skills 101 is an intensive, on-bike class designed to help you safely and confidently bike in traffic. The two-part series is on October 2nd and 9th, 2010.

Whether you are an aspiring bike commuter or a seasoned cyclist, this class will give you invaluable knowledge and practical bike handling skills. This is the first time Kansas City has seen this class in several years, so don\'t miss this great opportunity.

Space is limited, so sign up today: HERE

Traffic Skills 101 is offered by Eric Bunch, a Licensed Cycling Instructor with the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, a partner in the Car Free Challenge.