First ride since my accident
Discussion
Crashed while mountain biking in Morzine back in July. I was due to ride the Marmotte a few days later but instead spent 3 weeks in a Swiss hospital due to liver and kidney damage.
The Doctor recommended no riding for 3 months (risk of impacts). I was given the OK to use my turbo trainer, which has kept my fitness topped up but clearly not doing any long rides has knocked my fitness back by a country mile. I was in the best shape of my life prior to the accident, doing a 70-80 mile hilly ride each week and several hard turbo sessions for the previous 4 months.
Anyway, today marked the end of the 3 month 'rest'. Did a section of my usual loop, about 45 miles in total. My legs felt pathetically weak going up some of the climbs (incl. Norwood Edge for those in West Yorkshire) but I was actually pleasantly surprised that I rode the whole route without stopping once (except at junctions/lights). I'm guessing that all of the hard work earlier in the year wasn't totally lost and that my cardiovascular system has retained some of its fitness.
Anyway I'm jibbering...just wanted to say how good it is to be back riding. Also, what's going on with the weather? 18C today according to my Garmin - I was bloody baking in shorts, vest and a short-sleeve jersey!
The Doctor recommended no riding for 3 months (risk of impacts). I was given the OK to use my turbo trainer, which has kept my fitness topped up but clearly not doing any long rides has knocked my fitness back by a country mile. I was in the best shape of my life prior to the accident, doing a 70-80 mile hilly ride each week and several hard turbo sessions for the previous 4 months.
Anyway, today marked the end of the 3 month 'rest'. Did a section of my usual loop, about 45 miles in total. My legs felt pathetically weak going up some of the climbs (incl. Norwood Edge for those in West Yorkshire) but I was actually pleasantly surprised that I rode the whole route without stopping once (except at junctions/lights). I'm guessing that all of the hard work earlier in the year wasn't totally lost and that my cardiovascular system has retained some of its fitness.
Anyway I'm jibbering...just wanted to say how good it is to be back riding. Also, what's going on with the weather? 18C today according to my Garmin - I was bloody baking in shorts, vest and a short-sleeve jersey!
Kudos man (in a non-Strava way :-)
I'va had a few weeks off the bike due to work and family events, (No huge internal injuries to blame) I went out for what was my local loop of 35miles on Saturday afternoon, previously an easy ride.
Half way up first proper climb was passed by older bloke in trainers and running shorts (very 1980's) peddling a manky steel MTB, was totally ashamed and nearly blew my lungs out pacing him to the top!
It was a weird ride, all the speed and power was still there it just required more mental effort to extract it, was "treated" to a lovely cooling 20mph headwind back up the last climb home reducing me to 6mph wobbly steam train impersonator but I wasn't going to stop, cresting the summit was a great relief.
I'va had a few weeks off the bike due to work and family events, (No huge internal injuries to blame) I went out for what was my local loop of 35miles on Saturday afternoon, previously an easy ride.
Half way up first proper climb was passed by older bloke in trainers and running shorts (very 1980's) peddling a manky steel MTB, was totally ashamed and nearly blew my lungs out pacing him to the top!
It was a weird ride, all the speed and power was still there it just required more mental effort to extract it, was "treated" to a lovely cooling 20mph headwind back up the last climb home reducing me to 6mph wobbly steam train impersonator but I wasn't going to stop, cresting the summit was a great relief.
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