Only 4 more biking days until surgery... - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-18-2005, 10:31 AM

Monday is a holiday, no work. So Tuesday through Friday are it for
commuting by bike for me. I have my elbow operated on on Monday the
28th. Then, according to the surgeon, no biking for six weeks. Youch.

I sort of knew that this was coming. A smart person would have
scheduled it for early January and missed the worst of winter. But I
was curious to see how well I could commute during the worst of
winter. Well, that is pretty well passing by now. So, moron that I am,
I get to miss the winds of March and part of the April showers.

Oh well. It gives me two or three weeks to get back in shape for Bike
New York, always the first Sunday in May. This year I doubt any kind
of weather will keep me from doing it. I used to wuss out if it was a
little cold or wet. Not this year. Not after what I've been going
through. Today was around 30, a veritable heat wave.

No tennis for up to 10 weeks. I'd better make sure that the gym
membership is still paid up.

02-18-2005, 10:49 AM

dgk wrote:
> Monday is a holiday, no work. So Tuesday through Friday are it for
> commuting by bike for me. I have my elbow operated on on Monday the
> 28th. Then, according to the surgeon, no biking for six weeks. Youch.
>
> I sort of knew that this was coming. A smart person would have
> scheduled it for early January and missed the worst of winter. But I
> was curious to see how well I could commute during the worst of
> winter. Well, that is pretty well passing by now. So, moron that I
am,
> I get to miss the winds of March and part of the April showers.
>
> Oh well. It gives me two or three weeks to get back in shape for Bike
> New York, always the first Sunday in May. This year I doubt any kind
> of weather will keep me from doing it. I used to wuss out if it was a
> little cold or wet. Not this year. Not after what I've been going
> through. Today was around 30, a veritable heat wave.
>
> No tennis for up to 10 weeks. I'd better make sure that the gym
> membership is still paid up.

I hope you have a speedy recovery. I'm sure you will.
A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it before
I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you don't
want to miss that.

I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be my
first real ride which I participate in with people who actually know
how to ride.

My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next year.
Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
All Good Things,
Maggie

02-18-2005, 10:49 AM

dgk wrote:
> Monday is a holiday, no work. So Tuesday through Friday are it for
> commuting by bike for me. I have my elbow operated on on Monday the
> 28th. Then, according to the surgeon, no biking for six weeks. Youch.
>
> I sort of knew that this was coming. A smart person would have
> scheduled it for early January and missed the worst of winter. But I
> was curious to see how well I could commute during the worst of
> winter. Well, that is pretty well passing by now. So, moron that I
am,
> I get to miss the winds of March and part of the April showers.
>
> Oh well. It gives me two or three weeks to get back in shape for Bike
> New York, always the first Sunday in May. This year I doubt any kind
> of weather will keep me from doing it. I used to wuss out if it was a
> little cold or wet. Not this year. Not after what I've been going
> through. Today was around 30, a veritable heat wave.
>
> No tennis for up to 10 weeks. I'd better make sure that the gym
> membership is still paid up.

I hope you have a speedy recovery. I'm sure you will.
A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it before
I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you don't
want to miss that.

I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be my
first real ride which I participate in with people who actually know
how to ride.

My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next year.
Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
All Good Things,
Maggie

02-18-2005, 11:34 AM

Maggie wrote:
> dgk wrote:

>

> A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
> where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it
before
> I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you don't
> want to miss that.
>
> I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
> won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be
my
> first real ride which I participate in with people who actually know
> how to ride.

Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some of
your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep a
straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.

I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.

Andy

>
> My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
> Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next
year.
> Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
> All Good Things,
> Maggie

02-18-2005, 11:34 AM

Maggie wrote:
> dgk wrote:

>

> A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
> where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it
before
> I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you don't
> want to miss that.
>
> I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
> won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be
my
> first real ride which I participate in with people who actually know
> how to ride.

Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some of
your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep a
straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.

I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.

Andy

>
> My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
> Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next
year.
> Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
> All Good Things,
> Maggie

02-18-2005, 11:50 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Maggie wrote:
> > dgk wrote:
>
> >
>
> > A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
> > where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it
> before
> > I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you
don't
> > want to miss that.
> >
> > I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
> > won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be
> my
> > first real ride which I participate in with people who actually
know
> > how to ride.
>
> Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some
of
> your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
> friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep
a
> straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
> goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
> Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
> pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.
>
> I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.
>
> Andy
>
> >
> > My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
> > Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next
> year.
> > Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
> > All Good Things,
> > Maggie

Gee you make it sound like a nightmare. Maybe the MS ride will be
better. I just realized I am in a March of Dimes Walk on May 1st. My
trip to New Orleans is in April. So I will be walking in a peaceful
park with alot of people pushing strollers raising money for babies
born prematurly. I already have my website but I did not edit it.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
I want to put a picture of myself and my little great nephew Dominic on
it. He was born too early and now he is a healthy, happy little guy.
Thanks for your take on RIDE NEW YORK. I will be sure to stay away
from it. I think I would probably die.
All Good Things,
Maggie

02-18-2005, 11:50 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Maggie wrote:
> > dgk wrote:
>
> >
>
> > A friend of mine just told me about Bike New York. Is that the one
> > where you ride through all Five Boro's? He wanted me to try it
> before
> > I did the MS ride. It sounded like a lot of fun. I am sure you
don't
> > want to miss that.
> >
> > I am going to New Orleans for my anniversary the first of May, so I
> > won't be around, but it sounded great. I guess the MS ride will be
> my
> > first real ride which I participate in with people who actually
know
> > how to ride.
>
> Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some
of
> your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
> friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep
a
> straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
> goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
> Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
> pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.
>
> I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.
>
> Andy
>
> >
> > My friend showed me pics from last years ride and they had a blast.
> > Everyone from his office in Manhattan ride in it. Well maybe next
> year.
> > Good luck with the surgery and recovery.
> > All Good Things,
> > Maggie

Gee you make it sound like a nightmare. Maybe the MS ride will be
better. I just realized I am in a March of Dimes Walk on May 1st. My
trip to New Orleans is in April. So I will be walking in a peaceful
park with alot of people pushing strollers raising money for babies
born prematurly. I already have my website but I did not edit it.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
I want to put a picture of myself and my little great nephew Dominic on
it. He was born too early and now he is a healthy, happy little guy.
Thanks for your take on RIDE NEW YORK. I will be sure to stay away
from it. I think I would probably die.
All Good Things,
Maggie

02-18-2005, 12:02 PM

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:50:25 -0800, Maggie wrote:

>>
>> Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some
> of
>> your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
>> friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep
> a
>> straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
>> goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
>> Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
>> pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.
>>
>> I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.

>
> Gee you make it sound like a nightmare.

I've never done it, but everyone I talk to who has done it agrees that it
is a nightmare. An experience, but also a nightmare. There is something
cool about the city closing down traffic on bridges so that the ride can
use them, but the number of riders (and the variety of skill levels) is
unmanageable.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "Business!" cried the Ghost. "Mankind was my business. The
_`\(,_ | common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance,
(_)/ (_) | and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my
trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my
business!" --Dickens, "A Christmas Carol"

02-18-2005, 12:02 PM

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:50:25 -0800, Maggie wrote:

>>
>> Imagine riding through NYC with 50,000 of your closest friends. Some
> of
>> your friends can ride 25mph others can't maintain 10mph. Some of your
>> friends will be able to ride a straight line while others can't keep
> a
>> straight line on a railroad track. Some of your friends are mountain
>> goats while others will only be able to walk the ascent up the
>> Queensborough Bridge. All in all Bike NY will make you wish for the
>> pleasantries of riding in NYC traffic.
>>
>> I'd say the MS ride will probably be a better first ride for you.

>
> Gee you make it sound like a nightmare.

I've never done it, but everyone I talk to who has done it agrees that it
is a nightmare. An experience, but also a nightmare. There is something
cool about the city closing down traffic on bridges so that the ride can
use them, but the number of riders (and the variety of skill levels) is
unmanageable.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "Business!" cried the Ghost. "Mankind was my business. The
_`\(,_ | common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance,
(_)/ (_) | and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my
trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my
business!" --Dickens, "A Christmas Carol"

02-18-2005, 02:49 PM

: Monday is a holiday, no work. So Tuesday through Friday are it for
: commuting by bike for me. I have my elbow operated on on Monday the
: 28th. Then, according to the surgeon, no biking for six weeks. Youch.

: No tennis for up to 10 weeks. I'd better make sure that the gym
: membership is still paid up.

When I had my surgery, I arranged for the 24 Hour Fitness Club to put my
membership into medical suspension. Why don't you try that? They didn't
charge me while I was recuperating. I needed a doctor's note, but I took it
to them after the fact and they were really nice about it. I just alerted
them before the surgery that it was upcoming, and they put a notation in my
file--and just said, "Please bring us the note for our files".

If you have an opportunity to get one of those electrically-powered ice
thermos arrangements, by all means get one! My insurance paid for it 100%.
It is a square, gallon sized thermos box that you put ice and water into.
Then, a cuff fits around your arm with Velcro. The pump is plugged in and
it pumps ice water around the joint continuously. Not only does it help
tremendously with the pain, but it actually speeds up your recuperation by
keeping the ice water circulating around the surgery site. I don't remember
the name of it, but I'll bet the people at the surgery center know exactly
what I am talking about. Polar Care 300 is its name.

May the whole experience be as minimal as possible and may you recuperate
rapidly.

Pat in TX