Kneedy

So after waiting two weeks to see the orthopaedic surgeon I arrived at his office with a million questions and high expectations. I also expected the worst. I knew that they'd have to slice me open and put in some bionic parts...I just knew it!

So he asks me how I did it. "I have no idea. Maybe in a mountain bike race, maybe running". How do you rate your pain when you're riding? "Zero to maybe a one". Then he moves the ailing knee back & forth. Twists it and pulls on it.

My diagnosis: inflammation made worse by not resting. Take some anti-inflammatory (that don't mix with alcohol. !!??!!) Rest more. See me in two months. $50 co-pay please.

Crap. I wanted a bionic knee.

Does Lance have a chance?

He would be the oldest ever to win the TDF.

Yep, tennis.

Lot's of short, fast sprints, good practice of hand-eye coordination...I'm hooked. Now if I can only get my knee to stop hurting.

Killing time

So with little to no riding happening until I can have my knee evaluated, I'm losing my mind with all this extra time. I can't play tennis much for the same reason. When I was training, 10 hours a week on the bike never seemed like enough. Now that I'm resting, 10 hours is an eternity!

Forced rest, season 2

I had a good season in 2009. I was riding strong, feeling good, and making it onto the podium now and then. It all ended in a split second when I crashed and dislocated my shoulder. It was easy to make the mental transition from racing to recovery because I didn't have a choice.

The 2010 season has yielded mixed results. I've done OK in some short, fast, intense races, but haven't fared so well in some longer events. All the while nursing a nagging knee injury. My body is telling me that something is wrong and I need to pay attention to it. I have just seen my family doctor and gotten a referral to an orthopedic surgeon to determine what's going on.

Bottom line is that some severe pain is forcing me to take some time off...again. Second season in a row. Bummer. Not sure how long it'll be this time.

Mentally I'm not sure how to appraoch this since I don't know what I'm up against yet. I'd like to think that I have more racing in my near future, but we'll see what the doc says. It will be nice to know, that way I can plan (another) comeback.

It's getting hot out there.

I really have the bike-geek tan workin' after this weekend. Lots of miles while being blanketed in full sun.

Glad I'm not a waterskier.