‘I started riding short distances as I was reacquainting body and brain to riding again. I lost 6 weeks of conditioning, the effects I noticed on first ride 13 days ago, for first pain were my sit bones that barked. My reflexes and handling skills seemed pretty sharp. My engine is where the loss was felt (of course). Rides until yesterday were under 12 miles, most were less than 10 miles. Sunday would be the ride to reward my effort. I passed, I pedaled all but the 4 unmakeable feats on Storm King, 20.4 miles climbing 1864’ pedaling for 2 hrs 48 mins, average bpm was 121. Average speed was what rides have become. Nice day, nice dirt, rewarding being able to ride my typical rides. Pedaling soothes the MCL and perhaps helps reduce knee swelling. Knee just feels like it is wrapped in a tight full leg sock. Even the recovery calculator is fewer hours, this ride was just 67 hours. My body was worked. Cardio recovery takes more time.
Sat morn at Swampy I was prepping my bike. I back cranked my drive train noticing more drag than normal. Yesterday I rode thru water that I suspected was the cause of resistance, most troubling would be the bottom bracket. I needed professional care. Sat, which shop would be open today and perhaps Sunday. Drove back down to town. Crow’s Feet was closest and met shop hours. Lacked the staff. They allowed the use of their hose I used to spray off trail litter. Pine Mountain is larger shop. Wrench put my bike in the vice and started evaluation. Freed chain from chain ring then spun the crank: Bottom bracket sound and spinning freely. He checked the rear wheel that also issue free. Nothing identified to be corrected. Peace of mind.
Afterwards I drove out to anchor spot off rd 41, scored the spot. Geared up for mid afternoon ride. Plan was to ride bigger loop up N Ticket to Ride then climb COD to Storm King down to Catch and Release to anchor. Wonderful dirt. My navigation error sent me up Grand Slam which is N of COD. Adjust. Grand Slam to Storm King. I shortened my ride by descending COD instead of continuing Storm King to catch of Catch and Release. Chilly producing no sweat. 11.8 miles pedaling for 1 hr 33, longest so far. Climbed 997′.
Sunday breakfast was scratch blueberry pancakes, I ate the entire batch. Then the ride.
The ortho clinic still has not called with repair date. Riding seems to decrease my pain. Yesterday’s ride did not send do not do this anymore signal. My focus has shifted back to riding and lessening house building focus. Today I am back on my property resting and waiting out forecasted rain which hasn’t happened, just overcast and infrequent sprinkles. I plan on staying here and riding waiting repair. If my riding becomes painful I will be here for repair. Should I leave for the road and my shoulder says enough, I would drive back.
Sat AM the sun was obscured by eclipse that Bend was blocked. Up at Swampy under cloudy skies. I did not look at teh sun but I noticed the light was different than just moisture cloud cover.
Fall scene at Swampy. Lodgepole pine cover. Light is flatter.
This morning I visited TJ at The Hub and told him about my bike. He said bring it in as he had time. He discerned that the rear brake drags. He removed the caliper and spun the wheel which spun like an I9 should. He worked over the caliper by restaging the pistons which eliminated drag. Bike will be faster and easier to pedal. He forced the pistons shut as the spacing of the pistons was not identical as it should have been.
Ponderosa Pine needles have a finite life, at death they turn brown remaining attached to the tree which can take on a brown color. A wind and/ or precip event weights the needles free to fall turning the ground brown from those needles. Tree regains primary green. I have no knowledge if leaf life is seasonal.
Dry, no precip. Warm, Bend temps rise into 70s this week, almost back to shorts, certainly lighter jersey. Sprinkles just started.