Yesterday, at the start of PT for my knee, I was started on the warm up bike, that 13 days ago I could not make a complete spin, I spun in complete circles for 5 mins. Exciting. The hematoma is loosing its effect. Went thru previously given exercises. Yesterday was the exercise bike. Tomorrow perhaps my bike? I thought about the test forth coming: if I could swing my right ( hematoma knee) over the top tube I figured I could pedal a real bike. I thought about.
This morning forecast wanted showers in AM with clear skies in afternoon. I put off learning result. I drove into town to refill water. Back at my address I ate lunch. I wanted to learn but then again I did not want to learn if I could not ride. I dropped the bike off the carrier and pumped up the tires. I changed to bike riding gear minus my hydration pack. Moment: left foot on pedal, push off, then lift my right leg. Success: Flexible. I felt my way to the gravel road listening to my body. My knee allowed spinning. 41 days since last ride. I pedaled on network of non maintained FS roads 4 doors down. Flat, jeep roads. I pedaled for 50 mins. I made my heart rate speed up, average bpm was 133. I can pedal and felt comfortable on bike. Passed first test, tomorrow will be more of same on road to reconditioning.
However, I am not pain free: my shoulder spoke up as did the meniscus tear in that right knee.
Yesterday PT Dave restated importance of having my shoulder repaired: reverse shoulder. Yesterday afternoon I made the call to the repair shop. I have no rotator cuff allowing ball to move around in the socket. I have come to grips that I need to pay the price for my past actions. Today the ortho office called and started my process. I asked person when I would be fixed, she was not knowledgeable but said figure 3 months out. PT said arm will be in a sling like previous repairs.
When I know the date of repair I can make plans.
A new chapter is opening. Riding is outside Bend, about 28 miles away. If I go back to riding like 4 days a week I would want to sleep up there for next ride. I so like living here as opposed to public land. Diesel is like $5.25 / gal, van gets like 23 miles / gal. It’s just money that slips thru my fingers. I spent almost $300 to round trip over to Victor. What was 1 day at a time waiting for knee to work meant waiting. Now that I am able to ride and a future months long repaired shoulder recovery time to start when, how do I spend that time? I need to regain fitness before venturing out. Driving is expensive. While writing this I am in a perplexed state: Muscle tone slackened, I memory recalled rides minus the huffing and puffing expended during those rides. Going back to riding will real life cause that effort. I have lived a bit of down time, is the drive still inside me?
It is said to ride every ride like it is your last. Fine and dandy if you have planned that ride as your last. However, you never know if the ride you are on is your last. Should you make it back to the start without injury, the next ride could be your last. And so on.
And so on.