Yea, back on the bike

[MichaelH]

It has been a couple of weeks shy of four months since a back strain
knocked me off the bike. Lots of PT, chiropractic visits and yoga
since then, but yesterday afternoon I threw a new chain on the bike,
pumped up the tires, and headed out. Spent about an hour, coerd about
15 miles and enjoyed a sunny, brisk Nov. afternoon on the bike. The
legs felt pretty good; no power but they spun nicely. No pain while on
the bike, but a little sore right at the sacra illiac joint today. I
have to work on Thursday but am thinking about commuting, at least one
way. What a cycological boost it is!

Michael
Westford, Vt

[Mike]

Michael, which bike did you reach for?

--mike

[LouisvillePatrick]

This is inspiring! Nice work.

Patrick
Louisville, Ky.

[Ken Yokanovich]

Congratulations... what a relief. I don't know the circumstances of
your injury, but try not to get discouraged if you wind up yo-yo'ing
in how you feel over the next several months. (I say this as much for
you as me.)

I was injured in October 09 and I find that there are lots of times
where the only reason I feel like I can get back on the bike is out of
sheer stubbornness and historical experience with the love of riding.
The last year-plus has had lots of moments where I find myself getting
frustrated with not being able to ride the miles that I once did. I
try to balance that with the appreciation of being ABLE to ride, let-
alone even being alive.

Enjoy your rides, appreciate them however they come, be patient, and
keep us posted.

[MichaelH]

My Ebisu commuter had been sitting on the porch for the past four
months. Since I live in a town without paved roads, except for the
state highway, which is in abysmal condition, that bike, with 32 mm
Pasellas seemed like the natural choice. The Rambouillet comes out
for the longer, leisurely rides on better roads. BTW, the four
months on the porch did in the chain.
michael

[Seth Vidal]

On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 9:22 PM, MichaelH <mhec...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My Ebisu commuter had been sitting on the porch for the past four
> months.  Since I live in a town without paved roads, except for the
> state highway, which is in abysmal condition, that bike, with 32 mm
> Pasellas seemed like the natural choice.  The Rambouillet comes out
> for the longer, leisurely rides  on better roads.  BTW, the four
> months on the porch did in the chain.

That poor ebisu. All alone unloved.

If it needs to find a new home where it will be loved and it is around
a 58-61cm, let me know... :)

I wouldn't want it to be unloved.

-sv

[MichaelH]

Sorry Seth, it's a 62 ctr to ctr, and its not unloved, just unridden.
That's why it sat on the porch where I would see it every day. Of my
four bikes I love my Rambouillet the most, but the Ebisu gets the most
miles simply by dint of being the commuter-shopper. No point in
riding 3K miles a year on a bike you don't love.

Take a peak http://gallery.me.com/mhechmer/100029

Michael

On Nov 24, 9:34 pm, Seth Vidal <skvi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Seth Vidal]

On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 10:07 AM, MichaelH <mhec...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry Seth, it's a 62 ctr to ctr, and its not unloved, just unridden.
> That's why it sat on the porch where I would see it every day.  Of my
> four bikes I love my Rambouillet the most, but the Ebisu gets the most
> miles simply by dint of being the commuter-shopper.  No point in
> riding 3K miles a year on a bike you don't love.
>
> Take a peak  http://gallery.me.com/mhechmer/100029
>
>

It's a beauty. I've also heard that orange is the fastest color. :)

-sv

[Rene Sterental]

Michael,

 

Where did you get, or how did you adapt that light holder to the front of the Nitto rack? I'm on the lookout for good/great ways to use lights on the Nitto front racks and I like your setup very much.

 

René

[Angus]

Rene,

I'll see what Michael says...but it looks like the center section of a
set of handlebars bolted to the rack.

A great idea...

Angus

> > > Take a peak  http://gallery.me.com/mhechmer/100029- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[MichaelH]

Exactamundo. An old Cinelli HB for which I no longer had a matching
stem. Drill a hole, stuff wine corks in the ends and bolt it to the
bike, pop on the lights, ride away.

> > > > Take a peak  http://gallery.me.com/mhechmer/100029-Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Rene Sterental]

Wow! How ingenious!

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[Angus]

Well done Michael, recycling and wine corks all in one!

Angus

> > > > > Take a peak  http://gallery.me.com/mhechmer/100029-Hidequoted text -

[Phil Brown]

On Nov 24, 1:20 pm, LouisvillePatrick <flightofthebomba...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> This is inspiring! Nice work.
>
> Patrick
> Louisville, Ky.

You want inspiring, I got it. 4 weeks ago I had arthroscopic knee
surgery to repair a damaged meniscus, remove a marble size bone chip
and in general clean up the arthritic damage. I took my first ride a
week ago-not long but I'm back on the bike.
The thing is, I had almost the identical surgery on the other knee 9
years ago, was on crutches for 2 weeks and at this point I was still
walking with a cane and not on the bike yet. This time I walked out of
the hospital and never used crutches. It's unbelievable how much the
art has advanced in 9 years.
Thank God for the government run health care that I receive from the
VA.
Phil Brown

[MichaelH]

Bravo. I'm jealous! I was on crutches for almost two months after
having a cyst removed from the bottom of my foot. I suspect the time
on crutches was also the final straw that threw my back out of
alignment and kept me off the bike through 4 months of PT.

People who say the govt can run a health care system are simply
denying the reality that is right in front of them.
Michael
Staff Chaplain, Fletcher Allen Health Care
Burlington, VT.

[Bruce]

Perhaps, in light of the national day of Thanksgiving (and a re read of Lincoln's words on this would be good for those so inclined) we might limit our comments on the RBW list to being thankful for our return, from whatever challenge it was, to cycling. Opinions for and against the various sides of the ongoing health care debate run deep and strong in many quarters, and there are other venues to tease out the pros and cons of your/your opponent's arguments.

I'm off work today, the Rambouillet is loaded in the car to go to the meeting place, and I hope I have on enough wool for the 34F....

Tailwinds

---

From: MichaelH <mhec...@gmail.com>

People who say the govt can run a health care system are simply
denying the reality that is right in front of them.
Michael
Staff Chaplain, Fletcher Allen Health Care
Burlington, VT.

Vs.

> Thank God for the government run health care that I receive from the
> VA.
> Phil Brown

--

[Mike]

I like riding my bike. I hope everyone gets out for a good ride this
weekend. I worked yesterday and am working through Sunday--4 12hr
shifts. Uggh. But I'll have 3 days off after that and the weather is
supposed to be nice.

--mike