Van now driven by proper performing transmission making it such a joy to drive which I have been, However price of diesel curtails long travels.

I swapped out the longer stem on my bike for the shorter length Revel specs and bike performance jumped in control. And my body is asking for time off. And the new derailleur that tightens up shifting to happening now.

This about that.

So, I have been really working over my right leg on the hard rubber ball loosening muscles that control the knee cap with great success in reducing / eliminating knee pain. In all likelihood a tear exists caused by course of living and using, muscles have lost elasticity. Age.

I rest one day and the next the knee is quiet: Cured, go ride. Yesterday I connected with Emmy, the executive director of COTA for a ride, ostensibly  for her to see the brushing on Farwell. Our ride would require climbing N Fork Tumalo Creek, big climb, not good for my knee. I really should not do this ride, I did not want to bail on last moment. Yesterday morning air quality was yellow with smoke in the air. Maybe air quality would be my out. Day progressed and air cleared. 2 PM meet time at Skyliner TH. Emmy was quiet. Okay, drove to TH. Emmy arrived. I briefed her on my knee condition. She allowed me wiggle room if I didn’t want to ride. My stiff upper lip I can ride through this discomfort is lessening its rigidity as accepting what is. We pedaled up Tumalo creek which is gentle climb, the one I like to set speed record on. I led huffy and puffy while Emmy kept up almost nonstop chatter about club actions and becoming a professional organization which I really dig learning about. I could hear her when she was behind and she said she heard my words. She said she could ride Farewell at another time that I finally embraced. She suggested returning then riding Skyliner out and back to which I agreed. Sped back down Tumalo, I hit 26 mph coasting. Skyliner is a wonderful trail in each direction. We reached the end of trail where a now destroyed  log bench marked a major trail junction. Bike swoops the turns both up and down and steering is sharper and quicker, bike flicks as some reviewers have stated. Emmy being under 50 climbs stronger than me. I told her to lead which she did. However I could not hear her words.

Fall weather. Up near Skyliner scattered aspen were showing gold. I will miss the Wood River fall aspen colors this year. Conditions for me are so pleasant. Fall.

Memory recall sometimes fails to find the information. Case in point was / were the reason (s) I swapped to a longer stem on the Turner then installed on the Rail. Recall is strong enough to not drink 2 shots of Tequila.

Resting today, next se day will be Sat for trail work. Saying that sitting in my van while outside is another beautiful fall day. Albeit still no precip.

Still Life with Woodpecker. Robbins stretches my mind, no hard rubber ball required. Pot pokes holes.

Last night I attended the Bend chapter COTA meeting, speaker was Lev, owner of Cog Wild, on chain sawing. Lev and I met years ago when he invited me to join his customers on first ride of O’Leary. Prior to that I read about his trips in several bike mags, articles I have saved in the file folder on top of my refrigerator. I am seeking his autographs on those articles.

COTA celebrates its 30th year creation this weekend.

 

Sat evening post ride my knee caught on fire. The PT that treats me in Sedona, Eric, sold me a hard rubber ball for me to press on to tight muscles, much like Elbow Dave here in Bend uses his elbow. Principle is a muscle is under tension and needs to be released by point contact. This ball creates high pressure on local spot.

I put the ball under leg parts then lowered myself onto its hard surface. Whew, painful. I worked many muscles in that leg ultimately extinguishing the burn. I figured that muscles were not playing well with the knee and the releasing of tension would allow the knee to track correctly and that maybe pain is from muscle and not meniscus. I went to bed dreaming about the next day’s ride.

Sat I set out on that ride with the knee smiling. That’s it, I’m recovered. I pedaled with joy. I bit off a big ride, my knee paid for it as the burn returned albeit not as hot as before. Ride climbed up to Helipad at the start of Storm King descent. Descent was a blast  of carving turns. I previously switched to the shorter 40mm stem that made a big improvement in my control. As an aside I spoke with Revel about stem length as their web site bike build shows the 40 is the stock length, my stem was a bit longer. Steering quickness followed. Well, sometimes good things come to an end as my knee sent unhappy signals. Back at the van I iced it and worked on stretches then more ball then more ball later. I put the fire out but not the base pain.

Badgers dig holes to what purpose right at trail edge. This one is on Storm King, dug right at trail edge.

Fall sun light is here, lower angle changes effect. Temp still in 70s and no precip.

I am rereading Still Life with Woodpecker written by Tom Robbins, who is still alive at 90, published in 1980. Tom Robbins is enough said. So far my eyes still work albeit this headache affects processing his words. CT scan this Fri and ENT exam next week. I bought this book when first released at a book store in Gig Harbor, WA. At that time and still Robbins lived in WA. How to make love stay?

30 degrees this morn at dark thirty slip out of bed time. Now 84 at 2:45 here in town. Still wearing shorts and Bedrock sandals but changing out shirts to accommodate comfort. Going downtown for a chocolate malt, Using recovery time to bulk up.

Figuratively my body. Why I call Bend a “Repair Stop”. I have done enough time and made connections here to go to providers, I am an established patient / customer. Van has new remanufactured transmission and drive shaft to enable its true 284,000 miles nature. Import Performance here is the van’s care giver with its history. I am known at chosen bike shops, The Hub Cyclist is the Revel dealer plus fixers of bike woes. Medical community: I’m am established patient now which opens access to specialists to further care. Elbow Dave is preferred PT as needed. Dentist.

Wobbling:

My headache continues. Head to be CT examined next week. Soon to be requested is Ears, Nose, Throat exam. appointment will be when? How far out? Presently on short term steroid to see if relieves pain from possible sinus infection. Head ache is annoying but not limiting or having a noticeable effect.

Big WOBBLE:

During Sunday’s solo ride up on Road 44 trails I tore a meniscus on my right knee. Maybe for years this knee would sometimes act like it was compressed like a finger that would respond by pulling on it. My leg seemed that way at times that if I would extend my leg the leg would “grow”. Suffice it to write that it has had a history of popping sounds. Mostly noticeable when pedaling with seat lowered and englishing a turn. which is when the tear occurred. Pain low level, no swelling or locking, or tenderness. Just pain. I rode Storm King climb etc listening to pain signals of which there was a slight almost constant pedaling burn. I needed qualified medical evaluation.

Discovery:

A local orthopedic clinic has an urgent care clinic to which I entered their system, now treated as a patient, on Thurs after laundry. X Rays taken and examined. PA manipulated my leg, learned of what might have happened, and read X Rays. 1) said my knees are in excellent condition for my age, knee is stable. One clinical move he made caused pain and grit. 2) Short story is I have a small meniscus tear on right knee. Suggestion is to leave well enough alone to learn if my to be gentler care will heal the tear. If not a look under the hood by MRI. I googled condition finding and reading many of them. Their take was see if tear heals, only if stronger knee signals are sent such as locking or swelling would suggest MRI. Treatment for me is to rest it 4 to 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Stay off my feet as a steady state and not use my leg. Maybe use it but at lower stress performance. Today I rode a piece of Catch and Release from anchor spot out and back listening to my knee. I have low level pain now this evening. Will the tear heal under reduced ride time maybe every other day and shorter miles. Or, will I really have to drop anchor and recover?

Prognosis:

I need to occupy my time from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. Mountain biking has been that time consumer and to the exclusion of just about everything else. I read a bit. I have completed three extended recovery episodes so I have experience. This one is giving me the willies as it affects my legs and my mobility. I am able to amuse myself in the small space of my van, carrying water is possible issue. Getting it is also added. I could anchor on my property to sit which spends no $ on expensive diesel. I could road trip tourist and spend money. Fall is here, winter is coming on. Bend is easy living.

To do:

Ride less frequently, shorter distances. And only pedal when seat fully up and don’t  english leg moves.

Still in upper 70s here and chilling enough for heater supplied comfort. 8:23 PM, 3932′ the temp is 53 degrees. No wind. Open side door that I will now slide shut and switch on heater at lower setting. Sundown 6:09, sunrise 7:03. October 7.

Cedar Creek fire is becoming more contained which is reducing number of fire putter outers. This fire is more create defensible space and let fire burn to it, back fire as conditions permit. Not all of periphery, there was line created either my backs or machines. Lots of fuel and steep terrain. Oakridge trails will be west of town. Appears that Dead Mountain trail burned again, hence the mountain’s name. Waldo is toast.

This spring after I destroyed my SRAM GX derailleur, it was replaced by SRAM NX, a lower level part. It is what it was as putting it on allowed me to ride the next day. And a bunch more. I put up with its slower shifting and more overshifting then back shifting to get the gear I wanted. I asked The Hub TJ to order and install a GX. Today I rode the GX. The ride was as great as driving the Sprinter with its remanufactured transmission. I knew what I had, I knew what I lost in the replacement, and I am reacquainted with what I knew.

So, that is all for tonight.