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Monday 26 March 2012

Back on the Road Again

As I mentioned in my last post, I was involved in an unavoidable and surreal collision with a car on that extra day in February. This sent my carbon thoroughbred to the grave and left me with a torn ligament in my shoulder and a prescribed six weeks from two wheels altogether. However the doctor put a silver lining on his treatment, saying I am able to use my shoulder to its full range of movement that doesn't cause pain.

In the first week, I was unable to do much and my arm was constantly in a sling as a trudged around the empty house in a dressing gown complaining that I was missing out on racing and vital points and that my fellow competitors were putting in extra miles just to make it that little bit harder when I donned the race number once again.

However, I was only unmotivated in the depths of the night when I couldn't sleep from lack of exercise and a constant sharp pain in my right shoulder whenever I wanted a bit of variety in my sleeping position. Due to this dilemma, I spent a few nights sleeping on my face.

After a week or so I had regained some movement in my shoulder and was now able to serve the handpull ale at work, albeit slowly. Writing also became a possibility and I was ordered back to school.
The shire horse also came back from the stable with a brand new bottom bracket so I had something to look forward.

After two weeks I was able to put slight pressure on my shoulder, enough for a predictable turbo session. I took the torture device out of the shed out set it out on the patio, and put myself through an hour of boredom and 2 minute intervals.
The next day I bought a gym membership.

For the next week, I went to this fine establishment and worked on my legs and core, for a very wise man once said that the pro's are better than everyone else because they have an amazing set of abs, amongst amazing natural talent and many another thing.

Finally, after 3 weeks, I decided to cave in to my withdrawal urges and risk an easy ride to school. Signs from the gym were positive and I was able to ride the stationary bike and run without any pain in the shoulder. The ride was uneventful but I was more wary of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction and feathered the brakes maybe a bit too cautiously. The damage wasn't just physical.

After this minor milestone, I started riding to school again and I gradually increased the movement in my shoulder up the short sharp hills to test my limits. The joint passed these tests and decided to do the cafe race on the Saturday.

Ive been riding for a full week since then and pain is only noticeable in my shoulder after 70mile plus or if theres been a few too many sprints. However, I still don't have a full range of movement and cannot 'windmill' like we used to do in primary school P.E. I am able to throw a ball short distances but my leisurely hobby of squash still causes considerable pain.

I have since been putting in some big miles and long hours on the bike in preparation for my next big race, the Dirt Wheel Road Race along the famous Penny Pot circuit. The 70 mile jaunt has already attracted some big names and will be an early indicator of who's on form this year.

Saturday 3 March 2012

Early Season Update

As some of you may know, one of my goals for this year is to gain my first category license. To do so I have to accumulate a huge 200 points over the course of one season and so, I've started early. Ive already done three races, all up at croft. In my first one I came 13th, no idea where I came in the second one. The race splintered and we were lapping people all the time, not to mention that a sizeable break got away. My latest on was the North East Trophy, where I came around 25th out of 156 starters. This was a big race and had a large Elite/1st scratch. I was in the 3rd group. 


When the race started, I attacked almost straight away, to try and make an impression with the judges towards the most aggressive rider. A friend from Dirtwheels Cycles came across and together we stayed off the front for a few laps. When we got caught, I took a couple laps recovery and tried again. Once again, the same rider came across and we stayed away for a few laps. When we got caught the second time, the scratch had almost caught our group. When they did, the pace really picked up. A few of them had come straight through the group and where now tapping away on the front, determined to catch the rest of the race. This wasn't too bad, but the strong winds really tested your group riding ability and whether you could swing from one side to the other without knocking someone off. I also took part in a proper racing echelon, a first for me. 


A this point, basically all the Elites and come to the front, making a small group, with the rest of the field trialling behind them, a bit like a comet. Every now and then, there would be a split up ahead, and I took it upon myself to bridge across, often with a strong cross or tail wind. I really was surprised at my ability because this time last year I wouldn't even be able to sustain one attack, never mind two and the occasional bridge. Anyway, the constant attacks from the Elites was too much and a group got away, and once that happened everything splintered. I was in the group maybe 2nd or 3rd we were going hell for leather. We never caught the lead, but we were passing weaker shelled riders all the time that managed to sneak into the break. At the end of the race, our once sizeable group of around 30 rolled across the line containing only five riders. I later learned that at the end of that 2 and a half hour ordeal, only 29 people finished. Not bad for early season work.


Today, I was meant to be racing the national season starter, the Eddie Soens Memorial. Unfortunately, however, I was knocked off my bike on Wednesday by a car driver that was turning right from coming the opposite way. I slammed into him and my racing bike was written off. I also sustained injury to my right shoulder in the form of a torn ligament as well as bruising over my body. I'm off to the trauma clinic on Monday so they can fully assess the damage and recommend an appropriate course of action, not to mention the all important statistic of how long I'm going to be off my bike. 


Well thats all from me for the time being, hopefully I can add another race report here in a couple of weeks time.