Saturday, June 30, 2012, 81 miles - Total so far: 633 miles*
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 80.7 Total to date - 670.2 miles
81 miles of Kansas Hwy. 96 behind us
This morning we got out about 5 minutes earlier (at 5:55am) because the day looked like a really tough one. It was still a bit dark as we left, but the road was pretty well deserted. Hwy 96 through this part of Kansas turned out to be a great bike riding route. It's smooth and wide and there's at least a 2 foot shoulder to the right of the white line for the entire length of today's ride and on this Saturday morning there was almost no traffic.
The first stretch of road was 32 miles from Ness City to Dighton. As we rode this stretch there was a nice cloud cover to keep the temperature down. When we arrived in Dighton the temperature was 76F. There also was no apparent wind. We made great time and got to our second breakfast stop at ~8:15am. We stopped at a convenience store for snacks, drinks and free ice refills to our water bottles. After about a 20 minute stop we headed out. The temperature rose 2 degrees while we rested, but the cloud cover continued to work in our favor.
The next stretch was 24 miles to Scott City. It turned out to be more of the same - cool weather, great roads and no apparent wind. At the Casey's convenience store where we stopped we met up with several eastbound riders. They told us they'd been fighting a headwind coming toward us. It was then I realized we'd really been aided by about a 10mph tailwind most of the way. As we continued we saw a few flags which indicated the wind was almost directly behind us from the east.
We kept rolling along making great time for the 25 miles beyond Scott City to today's destination, Leoti, KS. The sun came out in the last stretch and warmed things up, but it was still in the low 90's as we arrived. We made such great time that we stopped at the Dairy King on the edge of town for ice cream and a bit of celebration. The end result of this great day of riding - our slow group of Gina, Wendy and myself had made the 81 mile day in just over 6.5 hours! I'm sure that's the fastest I've ever ridden 80 miles. Nicole and Judy rode the last 25 miles with us, having started an hour earlier and joining up with us in Scott City.
So the first of two ~80 mile days is behind us and we're just keeping our fingers crossed for tomorrow.
It's late as I write this and I need to get to bed for an early start again tomorrow, so I'll add pictures and fill in some more details of our wonderful day in beautiful downtown Leoti, KS tomorrow.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Day 41: Larned, KS to Ness City, KS
Friday, June 29, 2012, 65 miles - Total so far: 552 miles*
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 64.7 Total to date - 589.5 miles
A reminder not to prejudge
We left again this morning at 6am. There was a beautiful sunrise to our backs as we began, enhanced by a thin layer of cloud cover. I had assumed this would be a tougher day than yesterday. The weather forecast was pretty much the same, but the distance was 65 miles instead of 54. Of course, I was wrong (thankfully).
The first 12.5 miles were due west into a pretty stiff breeze from the SSW. But because of the early hour it was pretty comfortable. When we reached the intersection of Kansas Hwy. 156 with U.S. 183 we turned north for a 19 mile stretch to Rush Center, KS. For me it was the best 19 miles so far. With about a 20mph tailwind we flew. I made that stretch in under an hour, averaging 21.4mph - pretty unheard of for me.
At Rush Center we turned west onto Kansas Hwy 96 - which will be our route for the next 305 miles into Pueblo, CO. Today's route was the first 33 miles of it, through Alexander, KS, Bazine, KS and into Ness City, KS.
Fortunately, the clouds continued to partially obscure the sun almost all the way to Bazine, the first 21 miles of this stretch. This kept the temperature from rising so quickly today. The wind was still crossing to a slight headwind, about like yesterday but not nearly as bothersome without the extreme heat.
When we got to Bazine there was a small cafe which was open for lunch. Judy, Wendy, Gina, Paul and I (the slower riders) stopped for lunch - good food, 2 tall glasses of root beer for me and ice water to fill our water bottles as we headed down the road.
The last 12 miles to Ness City could have been as bad as yesterday's finishing stretch because the sun was now out in full force. However, the wind had calmed significantly and was barely a factor on this last hour of the ride. We arrived in Ness City about 12:45pm to see 97F displayed on the bank sign downtown. Several degrees cooler than yesterday. As we talked with the earlier riders we found they didn't stop in Bazine because the diner wasn't open when they passed through. They also said the headwinds were very bad when they rode that 12 mile stretch.
So the reminder for me is that I shouldn't make any assumptions about how hard a day is going to be - just ride them and enjoy whatever conditions we get. As someone pointed out during the ride today, we could all be at work instead of out riding our bikes. (Apologies to all my former colleagues.)
When we arrived we got our things situated while the first group was shuttled to the city pool for showers. We got our turn about 2:30pm. The showers at the pool were ice cold, but better than nothing after a hard day of riding. We're staying at the United Methodist Church - another great place with air conditioning, a full kitchen and lots of rooms for everyone to spread out. The church accommodations have generally been great and very appreciated. Many thanks to Nicole and Paul for hustling up church overnights the past few days of record heat in Kansas.
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 64.7 Total to date - 589.5 miles
A reminder not to prejudge
We left again this morning at 6am. There was a beautiful sunrise to our backs as we began, enhanced by a thin layer of cloud cover. I had assumed this would be a tougher day than yesterday. The weather forecast was pretty much the same, but the distance was 65 miles instead of 54. Of course, I was wrong (thankfully).
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| Sunrise to our backs as we rode away from Larned, KS |
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| Clouds continue to obscure the sun on the run to Rush Center - moderating the temperature very nicely! |
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| Mailbox alongside the road to Rush Center, KS |
At Rush Center we turned west onto Kansas Hwy 96 - which will be our route for the next 305 miles into Pueblo, CO. Today's route was the first 33 miles of it, through Alexander, KS, Bazine, KS and into Ness City, KS.
Fortunately, the clouds continued to partially obscure the sun almost all the way to Bazine, the first 21 miles of this stretch. This kept the temperature from rising so quickly today. The wind was still crossing to a slight headwind, about like yesterday but not nearly as bothersome without the extreme heat.
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| Wendy, Gina and Judy head down Hwy 96 toward Alexander (12 miles) and Ness City (31 miles) |
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| Cows seek shelter from the heat under a railroad trestle alongside the highway. |
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| A large mower tidying up the roadside. |
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| Along this road there are many stone fenceposts like the one at this corner and a few in the distance. |
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| Me, Gina, Wendy, Paul and Judy at the Good Eats diner in Bazine, KS. |
So the reminder for me is that I shouldn't make any assumptions about how hard a day is going to be - just ride them and enjoy whatever conditions we get. As someone pointed out during the ride today, we could all be at work instead of out riding our bikes. (Apologies to all my former colleagues.)
When we arrived we got our things situated while the first group was shuttled to the city pool for showers. We got our turn about 2:30pm. The showers at the pool were ice cold, but better than nothing after a hard day of riding. We're staying at the United Methodist Church - another great place with air conditioning, a full kitchen and lots of rooms for everyone to spread out. The church accommodations have generally been great and very appreciated. Many thanks to Nicole and Paul for hustling up church overnights the past few days of record heat in Kansas.
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| United Methodist Church, Ness City, KS |
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| My room at the church - the Infants and Toddlers room. |
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| The Ness Co Bank in downtown, built 1890. |
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| Three stone fence posts from the surrounding area re-purposed as a decorative corner marking in downtown Ness City. |
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Day 40- Sterling, KS to Larned, KS
Thursday, June 28, 2012, 54 miles - Total so far: 487 miles*
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 54.4 Total to date - 524.8 miles
A "short" but tough day
We left Sterling College this morning at 6:00am to beat the worst of the heat again. It worked to some extent, but it was still HOT. The route today was 54 miles. There were no services anywhere between Sterling and Larned - just a long flat route with almost no shade. Nicole parked the van and trailer at the 25 mile mark which allowed us to get ice, Popsicles and water.
One bit of amusement in the early morning - yesterday at Sterling Simon put a plastic snake in Gina's computer which got a startled response from her when she opened it. This morning Gina started her ride with the snake attached to her top tube. As we rode she told me how it creeped her out because she hated snakes.
At some point I stopped to take a photo of a sign along the road. There on the ground was a small, dead snake. After poking it with a stick to be sure it was dead, and seeing that it was quite stiff, so as to resemble Gina's plastic snake, I picked it up and put it on top of my rear bag. Simon had ridden by just before that point, so I caught up to him and showed him. We rode on down the road, caught up with Gina and I offered her a new souvenir to replace her other one. She said it was gross and disgusting, but Simon got a pretty good chuckle from it.
The snake rode with me all the way to Larned, though a portion of him broke off somewhere along the way in the heat. At the church in Larned I dumped him outside. I guess Gina didn't really want the real thing.
The first section of the ride today, to the rest stop, was pretty good. It was 73F when we started and felt really comfortable. As we neared the 25 mile mark the wind began to pick up. It was mostly from the south so it was a cross wind, but a slight headwind at times.
After the stop the wind increased a bit and it got continually hotter. When we got to the 34 mile mark (the sign along the road said "Larned 20") it was quite breezy and hot. The cross wind made it difficult to ride smoothly and at a decent pace. Thankfully, the road surface went from relatively rough to pretty smooth right at this point. That helped a little.
I found the last 20 miles to be very grueling. It might have been better if I'd been riding for the past 4 weeks, but everyone agreed it was tough. The good news was that our early start allowed us to arrive in Larned by about 11:30am. The temperature was 93F as we rode into town. Whew! At least I made it.
We're staying at the First Christian Church on the main street (Broadway) in the center of town. After everyone got settled and cooled off a bit we made a run to the local swimming pool at 12:30pm for showers. Not surprisingly, no one wanted to stay long at the pool. A few took a dip while waiting for the few available showers, but we all finished pretty quickly and headed back to the air conditioned church.
Tomorrow is 65 miles with the weather supposed to be about 1 degree cooler (a cooling trend!). I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but at least there are services at two locations about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way along the route.
One personal note to all of my Purdue alumni friends - when I saw we were going through Larned, KS it sounded familiar to me. I may have heard of it in association with the Santa Fe Trail, but I did a little research about Larned and found another connection which was probably buried in the back of my brain. Larned is the hometown of former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady.
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 54.4 Total to date - 524.8 miles
A "short" but tough day
We left Sterling College this morning at 6:00am to beat the worst of the heat again. It worked to some extent, but it was still HOT. The route today was 54 miles. There were no services anywhere between Sterling and Larned - just a long flat route with almost no shade. Nicole parked the van and trailer at the 25 mile mark which allowed us to get ice, Popsicles and water.
One bit of amusement in the early morning - yesterday at Sterling Simon put a plastic snake in Gina's computer which got a startled response from her when she opened it. This morning Gina started her ride with the snake attached to her top tube. As we rode she told me how it creeped her out because she hated snakes.
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| Gina's"pet" snake, courtesy of Simon |
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| Me with my new "passenger" on top of my bike bag |
The first section of the ride today, to the rest stop, was pretty good. It was 73F when we started and felt really comfortable. As we neared the 25 mile mark the wind began to pick up. It was mostly from the south so it was a cross wind, but a slight headwind at times.
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| Gina,Wendy and Judy approach one of the few bends in the road as the sun rises. |
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| Interesting metal sculpture on the central plains of Kansas |
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| Bare trees lining the road |
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| Did they run out of room or not know how to spell? |
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| Simon contemplates the necessity of a "Watch for Ice" sign as the temperature soars to ~107 today |
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| This was the scenery most of the day |
I found the last 20 miles to be very grueling. It might have been better if I'd been riding for the past 4 weeks, but everyone agreed it was tough. The good news was that our early start allowed us to arrive in Larned by about 11:30am. The temperature was 93F as we rode into town. Whew! At least I made it.
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| The First Christian Church of Larned, KS - our overnight location - it's air conditioned! |
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| The Masonic Lodge building on Broadway in Larned - built in 1887 |
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| Plaque commemorates the Santa Fe Trail - near the rail line and grain elevators on Broadway in Larned |
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| My private bedroom at First Christian Church in Larned - "The Gleaners" classroom |
One personal note to all of my Purdue alumni friends - when I saw we were going through Larned, KS it sounded familiar to me. I may have heard of it in association with the Santa Fe Trail, but I did a little research about Larned and found another connection which was probably buried in the back of my brain. Larned is the hometown of former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Day 39: Sterling, KS - Layover day
This is my first layover day of the trip. I didn't make it to the first one in Damascus, VA and missed the layovers in Berea, KY, Carbondale, IL (though I did visit then) and Eminence, MO. After eight straight days of riding everyone else was definitely ready for a day off.
The heat continues to be unbearable here in central Kansas - so this layover day was doubly welcome. There were a few early risers who got up around 6:00am or earlier. Others took advantage of the off day to sleep in. About 7:00am I walked downtown with Paul, Huey, Monica and Greg for breakfast at the Sterling Cafe in the center of town. It's about a mile and was pleasant at that hour. When we walked back about 8:30am it was already starting to get uncomfortable.
After breakfast I hung out in the air conditioned dorm lounge and did things on my computer. I didn't feel like walking back downtown for lunch, but there was a Subway shop just across Broadway from our dorm. Later in the afternoon a group of us rode in the van down to the local swimming pool. When we got there we saw there was no shade anywhere around the pool. Simon, Ubald and Huey went ahead in for about a 45 minute swim while Nicole, Judy, Gina, Wendy and I went to the local coffee shop downtown. I got a great blueberry-banana smoothie which was just right for this afternoon.
We spent the rest of the afternoon inside taking shelter from the heat. I did walk over to the bookstore next door and bought a postcard, then took a photo of one of the campus buildings. The wave of heat that struck as you went outside was incredible.
Normally on a day off everyone would go out somewhere for dinner. This night no one wanted to brave the heat again, so we ordered out for delivery pizza. After dinner most of the group watched a movie while I'm sitting here catching up with today's blog entry.
Overall, a good day to relax and stay inside away from the heat.
The heat continues to be unbearable here in central Kansas - so this layover day was doubly welcome. There were a few early risers who got up around 6:00am or earlier. Others took advantage of the off day to sleep in. About 7:00am I walked downtown with Paul, Huey, Monica and Greg for breakfast at the Sterling Cafe in the center of town. It's about a mile and was pleasant at that hour. When we walked back about 8:30am it was already starting to get uncomfortable.
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| Front of Cooper Hall, Sterling College - built 1887 |
We spent the rest of the afternoon inside taking shelter from the heat. I did walk over to the bookstore next door and bought a postcard, then took a photo of one of the campus buildings. The wave of heat that struck as you went outside was incredible.
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| Back side of Cooper Hall in late afternoon |
Normally on a day off everyone would go out somewhere for dinner. This night no one wanted to brave the heat again, so we ordered out for delivery pizza. After dinner most of the group watched a movie while I'm sitting here catching up with today's blog entry.
Overall, a good day to relax and stay inside away from the heat.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Some thoughts on returning to the ride
Many people have told me they're amazed and / or impressed that I'm resuming the TransAm ride so quickly. My crash was exactly four weeks ago yesterday. In some ways I'm amazed too - amazed at the healing powers of my body. But, never having broken any bone before I really had no way to gauge how long it should take to recover.
Personally, I'm mostly just thankful. I could tell after a week or so that I was feeling a bit better everyday. I had hopes, but waited until I saw Dr. Stansbury a week ago to be sure I wasn't likely to mess things up more by resuming.
I targeted this day to return to riding based on the logistics, the ride schedule, the location and the degree of difficulty of the rides. Today was perfect because I got to ride 58 miles of flat terrian to get back in the groove and then get a rest day tomorrow. That's followed by ~50 miles, then ~65 miles before a couple of back-to-back 79 mile days. Plus it's all in Kansas and very flat. Coming back now gives me a chance to take it a bit easier and not do any serious climbing for the first week, while I continue to mend.
What my quick return is NOT is an indication of any athletic prowess or superhuman will power on my part. I'm not an athlete, just a guy who likes to bike. I'm not enduring excruciating pain to get back at it against all odds. I'm still a bit sore but overall I'm feeling very good (maybe ~90%). It actually feels better to be riding than some other things like lifting with my left arm or bending / squatting in particular ways. The biggest discomfort I have is in finding a comfortable sleeping position, though that's also getting better day by day.
More than anything my quick return is a testament to determination. I can be pretty determined when I've got a goal I want to accomplish and I have the know-how and ability to accomplish it. I've never been one to sit around and feel sorry for myself or bemoan my fate in life. I think a positive attitude goes a long way in many endeavors.
So, to those who've expressed awe, disbelief or amazement at my return - I thank you for your thoughts and appreciate your words of congratulations and encouragement. Your support also helps drive me, but I'm not Superman, just a guy who likes to ride, likes to travel, likes to see and experience new things - and is incredibly blessed to be able to do so.
Now, on to Oregon -
this time, keeping the primary creed of every bicyclist in mind - "Keep the rubber side down!"
Personally, I'm mostly just thankful. I could tell after a week or so that I was feeling a bit better everyday. I had hopes, but waited until I saw Dr. Stansbury a week ago to be sure I wasn't likely to mess things up more by resuming.
I targeted this day to return to riding based on the logistics, the ride schedule, the location and the degree of difficulty of the rides. Today was perfect because I got to ride 58 miles of flat terrian to get back in the groove and then get a rest day tomorrow. That's followed by ~50 miles, then ~65 miles before a couple of back-to-back 79 mile days. Plus it's all in Kansas and very flat. Coming back now gives me a chance to take it a bit easier and not do any serious climbing for the first week, while I continue to mend.
What my quick return is NOT is an indication of any athletic prowess or superhuman will power on my part. I'm not an athlete, just a guy who likes to bike. I'm not enduring excruciating pain to get back at it against all odds. I'm still a bit sore but overall I'm feeling very good (maybe ~90%). It actually feels better to be riding than some other things like lifting with my left arm or bending / squatting in particular ways. The biggest discomfort I have is in finding a comfortable sleeping position, though that's also getting better day by day.
More than anything my quick return is a testament to determination. I can be pretty determined when I've got a goal I want to accomplish and I have the know-how and ability to accomplish it. I've never been one to sit around and feel sorry for myself or bemoan my fate in life. I think a positive attitude goes a long way in many endeavors.
So, to those who've expressed awe, disbelief or amazement at my return - I thank you for your thoughts and appreciate your words of congratulations and encouragement. Your support also helps drive me, but I'm not Superman, just a guy who likes to ride, likes to travel, likes to see and experience new things - and is incredibly blessed to be able to do so.
Now, on to Oregon -
this time, keeping the primary creed of every bicyclist in mind - "Keep the rubber side down!"
Day 38: Newton, KS to Sterling, KS
Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 58 miles - Total so far: 433 miles*
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 59.2 Total to date - 470.3 miles
GREAT to be riding again!
Yesterday we stayed at St. Matthews Episcopal Church north of Newton, KS. Paul picked me up at my motel in Wichita at 8:30am, we drove to Newton, checked the church and then drove the route to provide water and refreshments to the riders on their way from Eureka. This was one of their toughest days, 75 miles and temperatures reaching 108F. I'm glad this wasn't my first day back riding.
Today we started riding at 6:00am to beat the heat. This was only a 58 mile day and combined with the early start the heat wasn't really a problem. The route was very flat and the roads were good. I felt great and it was so nice to be back on the road again.
We're staying today at a dorm at Sterling College, a small college on the north edge of Sterling, KS. The dorm is air conditioned and we've got a layover day tomorrow! As I write this at 7:30pm it's still 103F outside. It's good that we don't ride tomorrow, but it's supposed to stay hot for the next week. Highs above 100 predicted all the way into Colorado. Oh well, it's summertime in the center of the country - what do you expect. The good news is it's way too hot and the humidity is too low to boil up any thunderstorms or tornadoes (or even any rain).
* Miles ridden on the TransAm route
Odometer miles - Today - 59.2 Total to date - 470.3 miles
GREAT to be riding again!
Yesterday we stayed at St. Matthews Episcopal Church north of Newton, KS. Paul picked me up at my motel in Wichita at 8:30am, we drove to Newton, checked the church and then drove the route to provide water and refreshments to the riders on their way from Eureka. This was one of their toughest days, 75 miles and temperatures reaching 108F. I'm glad this wasn't my first day back riding.
Today we started riding at 6:00am to beat the heat. This was only a 58 mile day and combined with the early start the heat wasn't really a problem. The route was very flat and the roads were good. I felt great and it was so nice to be back on the road again.
We're staying today at a dorm at Sterling College, a small college on the north edge of Sterling, KS. The dorm is air conditioned and we've got a layover day tomorrow! As I write this at 7:30pm it's still 103F outside. It's good that we don't ride tomorrow, but it's supposed to stay hot for the next week. Highs above 100 predicted all the way into Colorado. Oh well, it's summertime in the center of the country - what do you expect. The good news is it's way too hot and the humidity is too low to boil up any thunderstorms or tornadoes (or even any rain).
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| St. Matthew's Episcopal Church - Newton, KS |
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| Peggy, the church secretary, and her granddaughter Hailey prepared a huge feast at the church for our dinner. |
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| The sunrise on Tuesday morning as we leave Newton, KS |
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| The Buhler, KS water tower - one of only a couple of possible locations for services on today's ride. |
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| Mailbox on the route from Buhler to Nickerson |
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| Beautiful downtown Nickerson, KS |
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| It wouldn't be Kansas without a field full of sunflowers. |
Monday, June 25, 2012
Made it to Kansas - Rejoining the group
Yesterday was a fun travel day. My flight from Philadelphia departed about an hour late. I had a 57 minute connection in Atlanta to the plane to Wichita. They made up a little time in the air, but we parked at the gate in Atlanta about 20 minutes before scheduled departure to Wichita. Fortunately I was only carrying my netbook computer, no bags. I got on the train between concourses just as the doors were closing, got to my departure concourse and ran all the way to my gate. They had already closed the door, but the gate agent let me and one other hustling traveler from the Philadelphia flight get on the plane just before they closed the doors. Whew!
Of course the tight connection meant there was no way my bags and bike would make the transfer to the Wichita flight. When I arrived in Wichita (where the temperature was 104F) I filed a missing bag claim, took the shuttle to my hotel and went out for dinner. Delta baggage service was extremely poor about providing information or making any live person available to answer questions. At 11:30pm I got the hotel to shuttle me back to the airport to try to find my things. Of course while we were there the baggage delivery service dropped my things off at my hotel.
So I got my things into my room about 12:15am and spent over 1.5 hours reassembling my bike. Then I got to bed about 2am. As I write this I'm waiting for Paul to pick me up from my hotel - at about 8:30am. Quite a hectic travel day, but the good news is I'm back. The "bad" news is the high temperatures for the rest of this week are supposed to be 100-105F throughout western Kansas. I'm not looking forward to the heat, but I am looking forward to getting back on the ride.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Ready to Roll - Kansas Here I Come!
I did 43 miles yesterday and another 25 today. Each day I feel a little bit better. I'm convinced I'm ready to get out to Kansas and start back on the TransAm. I've looked at the weather forecast for there and I'm wondering what I'm getting myself into. The predicted highs each day this week are >100F. I may melt into the pavement somewhere in central Kansas, but physically I'm healed up enough to go.
After my ride this morning I boxed up my bike and packed my things. It took almost 3 hours to get the bike and all its attachments into the box. I ended up having to take off the fenders and the water bottle cages in addition to the standard stuff - pedals, handlebars, front wheel and seat. That will give me something to do tomorrow night when I arrive in Wichita. I'll spend the night in a motel and Paul will pick me up sometime on Monday.
I had pretty much kept all my other things together in the hope that I'd be repacking someday. That didn't take as long, but I went through my packing list again to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. Back in May I thought I'd only have to pack everything once. Now I had to do it all again. Let's hope I've got everything.
So tomorrow I fly out, I join the group in Newton, Kansas on Monday and ride again on Tuesday, June 26 from Newton to Sterling, Kansas. Tuesday will be 4 weeks and 1 day from the day of my crash, Memorial Day, May 28th. I'm incredibly fortunate and feel very grateful to be able to get back so quickly.
Thanks again for all the encouragement and well wishes!
Once again so many people have offered words of encouragement and wished me well. Thank you everyone! It is all very much appreciated. Keep reading and I'll try to keep up with frequent blog updates as I resume. Hope you continue to enjoy riding vicariously with me.
After my ride this morning I boxed up my bike and packed my things. It took almost 3 hours to get the bike and all its attachments into the box. I ended up having to take off the fenders and the water bottle cages in addition to the standard stuff - pedals, handlebars, front wheel and seat. That will give me something to do tomorrow night when I arrive in Wichita. I'll spend the night in a motel and Paul will pick me up sometime on Monday.
I had pretty much kept all my other things together in the hope that I'd be repacking someday. That didn't take as long, but I went through my packing list again to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. Back in May I thought I'd only have to pack everything once. Now I had to do it all again. Let's hope I've got everything.
So tomorrow I fly out, I join the group in Newton, Kansas on Monday and ride again on Tuesday, June 26 from Newton to Sterling, Kansas. Tuesday will be 4 weeks and 1 day from the day of my crash, Memorial Day, May 28th. I'm incredibly fortunate and feel very grateful to be able to get back so quickly.
Thanks again for all the encouragement and well wishes!
Once again so many people have offered words of encouragement and wished me well. Thank you everyone! It is all very much appreciated. Keep reading and I'll try to keep up with frequent blog updates as I resume. Hope you continue to enjoy riding vicariously with me.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
40 miles today - Rolling Along!
Because of the heat I got started at 6:35am today. I did a 40-mile route to the west of Allentown over a mostly flat course, but with a few moderate climbs today. Still nothing strenuous. My hip is feeling pretty close to 100%. The only issue is swinging my leg up over the saddle to get on and off the bike. I'm a bit more stiff-legged doing that than I'd normally be. My shoulder doesn't bother me while riding, but it feels stiff when I stop. Overall I'd say everything's working OK and I should be ready to ride the flats of Kansas next week.
The countryside is mostly farmland along this route. Not much traffic, very calm and peaceful.
I made a stop today at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome (actually the Valley Preferred Cycling Center - this being the age of corporate sponsorships of athletic venues). I took one lap around the track just for kicks. First time I've been on the track with my Surly LHT, though I've ridden a couple of other bikes there. Never done it on a real track bike - they have a single fixed gear and no brakes, a bit too intimidating for me.
I'll ride again tomorrow and Saturday which should put me in reasonable shape to resume the TransAm ride.
The countryside is mostly farmland along this route. Not much traffic, very calm and peaceful.
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| Field of wheat appears to be almost ready for harvest. Hazy, hot and humid on this day. |
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| The photo panorama merge distorts everything, but the track is a 333 meter highly banked oval. |
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Making Plans to Rejoin the Ride!
Yes! Based on the doctor's assessment yesterday and my rides yesterday and today I've made plans to rejoin the TransAm ride. I've made a reservation to fly to Wichita, Kansas and resume riding with the group next Tuesday from Newton, Kansas. Yay!
After yesterday's 12 mile ride I got up this morning and did a 30-mile ride. Still mostly flat but at a better pace today. My hip bothered me less today than yesterday - maybe an indication that activity is helping the healing. My shoulder is still sore so I avoid bumps and the doctor cautioned me not to pull with my left arm. That should be easier to accomplish by starting in Kansas where it's relatively flat. I'm hoping by the time we get to the Colorado mountains my shoulder will be much improved.
Having decided to resume the ride, the next challenge has been working out the logistics. I'll have to check my bike as baggage on the flight, so I've picked up a used bike box from the local bike shop (thanks, BikeLine). I determined that I can carry the box in my own car which makes the departure much easier. I'll make arrangements with Paul and Nicole for someone to pick me up in the van in Wichita. One reason this works well is it's only ~35 miles from Newton to Wichita. I've mostly keep my things for the trip packed, but I'll need to review my packing list and gather up everything again.
In the meantime, I'll ride again the next three days to get back in a bit better shape. It's a heatwave in Allentown, high of 96 expected tomorrow, so I'll ride early and keep the mileage short. That's a luxury the TransAm riders don't have. They rode 64 miles today, they have 48 miles tomorrow and 69 on Friday. Temperatures in western Missouri have been almost as hot as in Pennsylvania - and they have specific distances to ride each day. One might wonder why I want to rejoin the ride, but I'm thrilled to be preparing to get out there and get going again!
After yesterday's 12 mile ride I got up this morning and did a 30-mile ride. Still mostly flat but at a better pace today. My hip bothered me less today than yesterday - maybe an indication that activity is helping the healing. My shoulder is still sore so I avoid bumps and the doctor cautioned me not to pull with my left arm. That should be easier to accomplish by starting in Kansas where it's relatively flat. I'm hoping by the time we get to the Colorado mountains my shoulder will be much improved.
Having decided to resume the ride, the next challenge has been working out the logistics. I'll have to check my bike as baggage on the flight, so I've picked up a used bike box from the local bike shop (thanks, BikeLine). I determined that I can carry the box in my own car which makes the departure much easier. I'll make arrangements with Paul and Nicole for someone to pick me up in the van in Wichita. One reason this works well is it's only ~35 miles from Newton to Wichita. I've mostly keep my things for the trip packed, but I'll need to review my packing list and gather up everything again.
In the meantime, I'll ride again the next three days to get back in a bit better shape. It's a heatwave in Allentown, high of 96 expected tomorrow, so I'll ride early and keep the mileage short. That's a luxury the TransAm riders don't have. They rode 64 miles today, they have 48 miles tomorrow and 69 on Friday. Temperatures in western Missouri have been almost as hot as in Pennsylvania - and they have specific distances to ride each day. One might wonder why I want to rejoin the ride, but I'm thrilled to be preparing to get out there and get going again!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Back In The Saddle Again!! (Gingerly)
I went to the doctor this morning. He said my collarbone has started to mend. Everything seems to be going as expected. I talked to him about getting back on my bike and a time frame for rejoining the ride. He agreed that as long as I take it easy at first, especially with my shoulder, I can get back on the bike. I outlined a tentative plan for rejoining the TransAm ride and he said it should be OK. (I suspect it helps that he's also a cyclist, so he's got the same wiring in his brain which says "Get on the bike and ride!".)
So I came home from the doctor, put on my cycling clothes for the first time in 4 weeks and went for a ride. I took it easy, riding various loops around the neighborhood which is almost completely flat, but I did 12 miles at an average speed of 10.4mph. Pretty slow and not a lot of exertion, but it's a start. I'll see how I feel the rest of the day and how I sleep. Then I'll try to get out and do >20 miles tomorrow. If that works then I should be well on my way to getting back out on the TransAm route soon!
Keeping my fingers crossed.
So I came home from the doctor, put on my cycling clothes for the first time in 4 weeks and went for a ride. I took it easy, riding various loops around the neighborhood which is almost completely flat, but I did 12 miles at an average speed of 10.4mph. Pretty slow and not a lot of exertion, but it's a start. I'll see how I feel the rest of the day and how I sleep. Then I'll try to get out and do >20 miles tomorrow. If that works then I should be well on my way to getting back out on the TransAm route soon!
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Southern Illinois wrap-up and status update
Apologies for being so slow to add another blog entry. I had a long travel ordeal getting home on Thursday and Friday, then spent yesterday relaxing and catching up with things at home.
After visiting with the TransAm group on Monday night I returned to a Marion hotel for the night. On Tuesday morning I visited with family friends in Marion. I drove down to Goreville after the visit and met some of the riders coming out of Delaney's on Broadway - a favorite stop for bikers because they offer a free dessert to all who stop in.
Then I drove to Carbondale and met up with the TransAm riders as they arrived at their motel. We hung out a while and visited the local bike shop. My wife Pat arrived in Carbondale in the afternoon to spend two nights with me. We had made her reservations for this visit before my ride began. So she went ahead with her plans and met up with me in Carbondale even though I'm not riding.
After dinner Simon, Ubald, my wife and I drove over to Marion for a minor league baseball game. The Southern Illinois Miners started playing in Marion five years ago, long after I moved away. It was neat to go back to my hometown for a game. It would have been hard to imagine Marion making the "big-time" with their own baseball team when I was growing up there. It was a beautiful night for baseball, we had great seats in the first row behind the visitors dugout and we all had a great time.
On Wednesday while the riders enjoyed their layover day my wife and I drove to Marion again to visit with other family friends. Then we went to the local cemetery to find the gravestone of a Civil War veteran who my wife had located in her genealogy research. Next, a drive back to Carbondale for lunch and relaxing at our motel before driving back to Marion in the late afternoon.
The other task my wife and I accomplished on our visit was to pick up personal possessions and memorabilia of my dad's. Three weeks after my dad died last December his wife died. Her two daughters have been slowly cleaning out the house they shared and had gathered my dad's things for us. Through the spring I was still employed and was busy making trip preparations, so I hadn't been able to get back to Marion. We picked up three boxes of things and shipped them back home. I didn't get a chance to hang out with the TransAm riders on their off day Wednesday, but I did take care of some personal business which needed to be done.
On Thursday morning I got up and had breakfast with the riders as they prepared to ride on to Chester, IL on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was bittersweet because I really wanted to be making the ride. In high school I had driven across the bridge at Chester many times to visit my older brother who went to college in central Missouri. On Friday morning the group departed together and rode across the two-lane bridge with the van escorting them to cross the river into Missouri. They're now in the Missouri Ozarks and I'm back home in Pennsylvania hoping I'll be able to ride sometime soon.
Health update - me and my bike
On the health front, I continue to get better everyday. I'm pretty mobile and feeling pretty good, but my left shoulder and right hip are still sore when I try anything requiring any force from them. I'll see the doctor on Tuesday morning to find out how my bones are mending.
This afternoon (Sunday) I took my bike over to Genesis Bikes to have them give it a once-over. They confirmed that my bike made it through the accident in much better shape than me. They straightened up the shifter levers and handlebars which had been twisted out of alignment, tightened my rear derailleur cable a bit and declared my bike good-to-go.
When I got home I hopped on the bike just to see how it would feel. I rode out of the driveway and up the street a few feet. It didn't hurt as much as I feared, but it wasn't very comfortable. Swinging my right leg over the seat to mount and dismount reminded me of the soreness in my hip. So I'm clearly not quite ready to get out on the open road, but with continued progress every day maybe it won't be too long. Then it will come down to what the doctor says. I've got my fingers crossed.
After visiting with the TransAm group on Monday night I returned to a Marion hotel for the night. On Tuesday morning I visited with family friends in Marion. I drove down to Goreville after the visit and met some of the riders coming out of Delaney's on Broadway - a favorite stop for bikers because they offer a free dessert to all who stop in.
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| Wendy, Judy and Paul at Delaney's on Broadway, Goreville, IL |
After dinner Simon, Ubald, my wife and I drove over to Marion for a minor league baseball game. The Southern Illinois Miners started playing in Marion five years ago, long after I moved away. It was neat to go back to my hometown for a game. It would have been hard to imagine Marion making the "big-time" with their own baseball team when I was growing up there. It was a beautiful night for baseball, we had great seats in the first row behind the visitors dugout and we all had a great time.
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| Simon enjoying the pregame festivities |
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| Beautiful sky at sunset from behind the visitors dugout at Rent One Park, Marion, IL |
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| Canary mascot dancing on the roof of the visitors dugout |
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| Near downtown Marion, IL - the building on the left housed my dad's drugstore. On the right is the old train station. |
On Thursday morning I got up and had breakfast with the riders as they prepared to ride on to Chester, IL on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was bittersweet because I really wanted to be making the ride. In high school I had driven across the bridge at Chester many times to visit my older brother who went to college in central Missouri. On Friday morning the group departed together and rode across the two-lane bridge with the van escorting them to cross the river into Missouri. They're now in the Missouri Ozarks and I'm back home in Pennsylvania hoping I'll be able to ride sometime soon.
Health update - me and my bike
On the health front, I continue to get better everyday. I'm pretty mobile and feeling pretty good, but my left shoulder and right hip are still sore when I try anything requiring any force from them. I'll see the doctor on Tuesday morning to find out how my bones are mending.
This afternoon (Sunday) I took my bike over to Genesis Bikes to have them give it a once-over. They confirmed that my bike made it through the accident in much better shape than me. They straightened up the shifter levers and handlebars which had been twisted out of alignment, tightened my rear derailleur cable a bit and declared my bike good-to-go.
When I got home I hopped on the bike just to see how it would feel. I rode out of the driveway and up the street a few feet. It didn't hurt as much as I feared, but it wasn't very comfortable. Swinging my right leg over the seat to mount and dismount reminded me of the soreness in my hip. So I'm clearly not quite ready to get out on the open road, but with continued progress every day maybe it won't be too long. Then it will come down to what the doctor says. I've got my fingers crossed.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
More Southern Illinois Memories
Remembering Dad
As I thought about doing the TransAm ride over the last couple of years I thought it would be nice to visit with my dad and his wife in Marion, IL as I passed through. Those thoughts and plans changed last December 14 when my dad died. My dad would have celebrated his 80th birthday on June 3. Because his second wife's family is from Vienna, IL (about 25 miles south of Marion), he is buried in the cemetery there. On my way down to Dixon Springs State Park to meet up with the TransAm group I stopped and paid my respects at my dad's gravesite.
Southern Illinois Sights
When we were in the area for my dad's funeral in December we came across the Tunnel Hill State Trail near Vienna. I investigated and found that this rail-trail crosses the TransAm route near Tunnel Hill, IL and goes to Vienna. I had made plans to do an extra loop in my ride today which would go off-route to visit the cemetery in Vienna, making use of the trail. Since I'm not riding, I made that trip yesterday, but I also took a look at the Tunnel Hill State Trail.
The most prominent feature on the trail is a 500 foot long tunnel at Tunnel Hill. I stopped there yesterday to check it out. There is a trailhead with parking, restrooms and water fountain alongside the TransAm route at Tunnel Hill. The tunnel is less than 1/4 mile from the trailhead and actually is carved under the road used by the riding route. The tunnel itself is pretty cool (literally) and quite dark at its center, but because it's straight and relatively short you can always see the light at each end from anywhere in the tunnel.
After visiting the tunnel and the cemetery in Vienna I drove along the TransAm route to Cave-In-Rock, IL. That's the location of the free ferry from Kentucky which the riders use to cross the Ohio. I visited the "cave" which gives Cave-In-Rock its name. This is a place I visited a couple of times years ago and it was neat to go back there - even if the "cave" is somewhat unimpressive.
After seeing Cave-In-Rock I drove back to Dixon Springs State Park and met up with the TransAm riders. It was great to see everyone again. In many ways it felt like I hadn't been away, but at the same time I was reminded that they've continued to ride the last two weeks while I've been home recuperating.
I'll go to Carbondale to spend time with the group again today and tomorrow. It's particularly disappointing that I won't get to ride today. This ride would come closest to my hometown and pass through very familiar territory for me. I still hope I get to do this ride someday.
As I thought about doing the TransAm ride over the last couple of years I thought it would be nice to visit with my dad and his wife in Marion, IL as I passed through. Those thoughts and plans changed last December 14 when my dad died. My dad would have celebrated his 80th birthday on June 3. Because his second wife's family is from Vienna, IL (about 25 miles south of Marion), he is buried in the cemetery there. On my way down to Dixon Springs State Park to meet up with the TransAm group I stopped and paid my respects at my dad's gravesite.
Southern Illinois Sights
When we were in the area for my dad's funeral in December we came across the Tunnel Hill State Trail near Vienna. I investigated and found that this rail-trail crosses the TransAm route near Tunnel Hill, IL and goes to Vienna. I had made plans to do an extra loop in my ride today which would go off-route to visit the cemetery in Vienna, making use of the trail. Since I'm not riding, I made that trip yesterday, but I also took a look at the Tunnel Hill State Trail.
The most prominent feature on the trail is a 500 foot long tunnel at Tunnel Hill. I stopped there yesterday to check it out. There is a trailhead with parking, restrooms and water fountain alongside the TransAm route at Tunnel Hill. The tunnel is less than 1/4 mile from the trailhead and actually is carved under the road used by the riding route. The tunnel itself is pretty cool (literally) and quite dark at its center, but because it's straight and relatively short you can always see the light at each end from anywhere in the tunnel.
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| The tunnel on Tunnel Hill State Trail |
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| Cave-In-Rock, circa 1967 - my grandparents and two brothers are in the foreground |
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| Me in front of Cave-In-Rock, 2012 |
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| The free ferry to Kentucky departs the landing with a coal barge moving down the Ohio River in the background |
I'll go to Carbondale to spend time with the group again today and tomorrow. It's particularly disappointing that I won't get to ride today. This ride would come closest to my hometown and pass through very familiar territory for me. I still hope I get to do this ride someday.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Old Home Week for me - Marion, Illinois
One of the attractions of the TransAm route to me has always been its proximity to my hometown, Marion, IL. In my plans for the ride I was really looking forward to the few days crossing through southern Illinois and the layover day in Carbondale. Because I wanted very much to see the area, because I never got see my fellow riders after my accident, because I've got a few things I need to do around Marion anyway - for a variety of reasons I decided to travel to Marion / Carbondale this week.
The riders are riding from Marion KENTUCKY today (Monday) to Dixon Springs State Park, Illinois. They cross the river on a small ferry at Cave-In-Rock, Illinois. Tomorrow they ride to Carbondale and spend a rest day there on Wednesday.
Yesterday, I flew from Pennsylvania to Marion ILLINOIS to spend a few days. The flight from St. Louis to Marion was on a 10-seat Cessna 402 twin-prop plane. This was just the start of my old home week memories. When I was young my dad flew single engine private planes for recreation. He owned a Piper and then a Cessna. He used to take us flying on Sunday afternoons from the Marion airport. The flight from St. Louis was noisy, it was bumpy, the cabin was cramped and stuffy, there was no lavatory or drink service. I loved every minute of it. It brought back so many memories.
I spent some time yesterday and this morning driving around Marion. In about an hour I circled the town and saw many of my childhood memories - the house I grew up in, my elementary, junior high and high school, my dad's drugstore location, town square, city parks, places where I worked. It's a small town and not very exciting, but it's my roots.
It's always amazing to me how the memories of my childhood have shrunk as I got older. All of these places were so much larger back then, especially my house. The front yard used to be the size of a football field for my brothers and me. It was huge when we had to mow it with the rotary push mower. In the intervening years someone must have zapped it all with a shrink ray.
Later today I'll drive down to Dixon Springs State Park to meet up with the TransAm group. It will be good to see everyone again. Tomorrow I'll stay where they're staying in Carbondale. I really wish I could be riding through with them, but since I can't I'm glad to at least be able to do this much.
The riders are riding from Marion KENTUCKY today (Monday) to Dixon Springs State Park, Illinois. They cross the river on a small ferry at Cave-In-Rock, Illinois. Tomorrow they ride to Carbondale and spend a rest day there on Wednesday.
Yesterday, I flew from Pennsylvania to Marion ILLINOIS to spend a few days. The flight from St. Louis to Marion was on a 10-seat Cessna 402 twin-prop plane. This was just the start of my old home week memories. When I was young my dad flew single engine private planes for recreation. He owned a Piper and then a Cessna. He used to take us flying on Sunday afternoons from the Marion airport. The flight from St. Louis was noisy, it was bumpy, the cabin was cramped and stuffy, there was no lavatory or drink service. I loved every minute of it. It brought back so many memories.
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| The Cessna 402 I flew from St. Louis to Marion |
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| The house I grew up in - Marion, Illinois |
It's always amazing to me how the memories of my childhood have shrunk as I got older. All of these places were so much larger back then, especially my house. The front yard used to be the size of a football field for my brothers and me. It was huge when we had to mow it with the rotary push mower. In the intervening years someone must have zapped it all with a shrink ray.
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| The clock tower in Town Square, Marion. A very large courthouse filled the town square when I was a kid. When they tore it down they built this tower, reminiscent of the old courthouse. |
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| Longfellow School - my elementary school for 2nd - 6th grades. |
Friday, June 8, 2012
Tailwinds and Downhills, Ollie!
Word came to the group yesterday morning and they relayed the news to me - Ollie's daughter flew in to be there and with family present Ollie's life-support was withdrawn at 11:00am, Thursday, June 7. Our TransAm group only met Ollie three weeks ago but his presence was large, full of life and touched all of us. I know there's a hole in each of our hearts and a big void in the group.
Our sympathies go out to his wife Pam, his children and all of his extended family and friends. Your loss is far greater than ours. Hopefully our photos can show the joy Ollie was living in his final days. Rest in peace!
Our sympathies go out to his wife Pam, his children and all of his extended family and friends. Your loss is far greater than ours. Hopefully our photos can show the joy Ollie was living in his final days. Rest in peace!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
A Difficult Entry to Write
I've told a lot of my readers I'll post updates on the progress of my recovery here, so I feel obligated to put something up sooner rather than later. I'll get to that in a minute, but my health issues are pretty insignificant at this point. More importantly I need to ask everyone out there to say a prayer and/or have a good thought for Ollie.
I wrote about Ollie a few days ago. His previous attempt at the TransAm ride three years ago ended in a crash and severe injuries. He recovered and came back to try again. We were all in awe and pulling for him to make the whole ride this year. On Sunday, June 3 Ollie turned 71 years old. The following day, on the ride from Booneville, KY to Berea he took a fall and suffered critical injuries. He was riding alone at the time, so it's unknown exactly what happened. There's some thought a health issue might have caused the fall. The last word I have is he's broken multiple vertebrae in his neck and is in critical condition. He's been taken to the hospital in Lexington, KY.
(Thank you, Gina for sharing the pictures above with the group.)
Being away from the group, back home in Pennsylvania, I can only imagine the impact this has had on the other riders and the leaders, Nicole and Paul. Ollie is such a helpful, cheerful and likeable guy. He made friends with everyone of us. Please also keep his wife Pam and his son who've come to be with him as well as his family and friends back home in your thoughts and prayers. Ollie, we're all still pulling for you!!
So my health issues are pretty insignificant right now, but the good news is I continue to improve and will be back on the bike at some point before very long. The exact timetable is still to be determined. I visited with Dr. Neal Stansbury yesterday afternoon. He's a local orthopedic surgeon who is also a track cycling racer at the local velodrome. He's had lots of experience with cyclists and their injuries and comes highly recommended by some of our cycling friends.
Dr. Stansbury says the break in my collarbone is not in the best place for fast healing (bummer), but it will heal on its own. It might take 4-6 weeks, or it could take 10-12 weeks. Everyone's healing rate is different. For now we're going to x-ray the break every couple of weeks to see how it's progressing.
I also went back in this morning for a CT scan of my right hip. He found a small fracture in my pubis bone (my "sit" bone) which explains why I'm still so sore. There's no procedure to repair it, like the collarbone it's just got to mend on its own. It will probably mend on about the same schedule as the collarbone so it's really no more of a problem. It's reassuring to know there's an explanation for my continued hip pain and reason to expect it to get better over the next few weeks.
So that's it for me. I'll be back on the bike as soon as I can. If that's soon enough to catch the last few weeks of the TransAm ride then I will. If not, I'll just try to do it again another time.
For everyone who's offered comments, sent e-mails or called with words of encouragement - Thank You! It's very much appreciated and I apologize that I'm not able to acknowledge everyone individually.
I wrote about Ollie a few days ago. His previous attempt at the TransAm ride three years ago ended in a crash and severe injuries. He recovered and came back to try again. We were all in awe and pulling for him to make the whole ride this year. On Sunday, June 3 Ollie turned 71 years old. The following day, on the ride from Booneville, KY to Berea he took a fall and suffered critical injuries. He was riding alone at the time, so it's unknown exactly what happened. There's some thought a health issue might have caused the fall. The last word I have is he's broken multiple vertebrae in his neck and is in critical condition. He's been taken to the hospital in Lexington, KY.
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| Happy 71st Birthday Ollie - Sunday, June 3, 2012 |
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| Ollie, Me and Gina on the Blue Ridge Parkway |
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| Ollie, Me and Huey at Starbucks in Charlottesville, VA |
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| Huey and Ollie hanging out at "Beer Can Alley" |
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| Ollie with June Curry - Afton, VA |
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| Ollie riding across the pedestrians only footbridge - Buchanan, VA |
So my health issues are pretty insignificant right now, but the good news is I continue to improve and will be back on the bike at some point before very long. The exact timetable is still to be determined. I visited with Dr. Neal Stansbury yesterday afternoon. He's a local orthopedic surgeon who is also a track cycling racer at the local velodrome. He's had lots of experience with cyclists and their injuries and comes highly recommended by some of our cycling friends.
Dr. Stansbury says the break in my collarbone is not in the best place for fast healing (bummer), but it will heal on its own. It might take 4-6 weeks, or it could take 10-12 weeks. Everyone's healing rate is different. For now we're going to x-ray the break every couple of weeks to see how it's progressing.
I also went back in this morning for a CT scan of my right hip. He found a small fracture in my pubis bone (my "sit" bone) which explains why I'm still so sore. There's no procedure to repair it, like the collarbone it's just got to mend on its own. It will probably mend on about the same schedule as the collarbone so it's really no more of a problem. It's reassuring to know there's an explanation for my continued hip pain and reason to expect it to get better over the next few weeks.
So that's it for me. I'll be back on the bike as soon as I can. If that's soon enough to catch the last few weeks of the TransAm ride then I will. If not, I'll just try to do it again another time.
For everyone who's offered comments, sent e-mails or called with words of encouragement - Thank You! It's very much appreciated and I apologize that I'm not able to acknowledge everyone individually.
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