Bruce's Bike Therapy

They closed the Jim Thorpe Fitness Center for the month of July without notice, Gentle Readers of This Blog.  That's kind of how things work at Haskell Institute.  So I'm working out at a fitness club a few miles down the road with my coach Will.  So rather than drive to work--so I can drive to go train--well why not just ride the bike to work and then the Club?  That's what I did.

After weight training, I made my way home--and I as I got to the streets I know so well, I thought, what the heck?  I'll just go downtown.  I was warmed up, had a good workout (Will makes you work-out that's for sure) and when I got to Mass Ave, I thought I'd ride on this usually busy street as the traffic was light--and I'd have about a two-mile, flat, straight shot into old downtown.

So I put it in high gear and pushed my legs as much as I could.  Big Sexy is such that once I get going, I can really move on this bike!  Well, leg has a ways to go--but I did get the heart rate up, which is good.  So I just rode into downtown Lawrence and here's some photos for you!

Local Bike Shop.  If you have money to spend on the most expensive trendy gear--this is your place!  The mechanics are the best though, and do it right!

Most inhabitants can't afford the Madones and the expensive Specialized carbon fiber beauties that have in the shop.  Bikes in this town are no-frills and practical--short distance errands, riding to the pub, going to class at KU, and getting to work.  You cannot get away with creative parking, mes amis--you will get a ticket.  You must feed the meter if you can even find a spot to park--if not, you will get a ticket.   If you're a student at KU you can pay several hundred dollars a semester for a permit, but good luck finding a spot!

I enjoy Liberty Hall--its a film "Art House" and also has an awesome video rental store too.  The Liberty Hall you see above is the 100 year old version.  The original 1850-ish building burned down, I believe in 1863 during Quantrill's Raid.  I've also heard that this was a stop on the Underground Railroad--the residents of Kansas Territory ferried runaway slaves through this area, and there are said to be tunnels under the Hall to hide slaves.

The Eldridge Hotel right across the street from Liberty Hall--rebuilt after it was burned down by the Quantrill's Raiders--but not until William Quantrill is reported to have had his breakfast--then they set fire to the establishment.  Gee, my kind of Scum!

There are all kinds of businesses going up--and coming down here on Massacusettes Avenue, Gentle Reader of This Blog.  You can't tell from my photos, but there were a lot more people about this early July evening than normal.   There was some kind of conference at the University, and all the attendees were on Mass going to the pubs and the restaurants.

I haven't explored this block yet.

It was cooler this evening as some rain had come in and blown out the hot thick air that's been here for a few weeks.  It was nice to be outside and not like in an oven.  I liked riding faster on a road bike rather than the heavy Desert San Campus Bike.  My hope is I can ride to the Fitness Club, and Physical Therapy--I started that, and really liked my therapist.  Her name is Sandy.  She went through an evaluation of my injury and well--it turns out that I'm not as strong as I would have liked.  Its obvious I have a pretty seriously injured knee--and the muscles are weak.  But everyday, as I've said--I get feeling better and better!

Cheers!  Bruce

Test Ride Post Injury

69 Centimeters of Terror!

I wasn't sure about clipping into pedals, but I did have regular pedals on Big Sexy.  I think I did that back when I brought rollers to Celebrity Spin as a way to save from crashing if I lost balance.  Big Sexy, as the nick-name implies, is a huge 69 cm frame steel road bike from the 80's.  Its so tall I have to kind of jump up on board and then scoot to get going.  I figured if I could saddle up Big Sexy and not crash I'd be doing okay.

I wanted to get on a road bike to one--see how it felt with the knee, and two--get where I want to go faster.  Because there's no pedals to clip in and out of--just regular pedals--I figured I'd be okay if I started to fall.  Trouble is that the bike is so tall, you have to lean way over and plant the leg on firm ground--to get on or off--otherwise you smash you nuts.  The left leg being weak, I was not sure I could hold my own weight, but ended up I could.

When I first tried to saddle up Big Sexy, I thought I'd use the height of the curb to help me out.  This proved a mistake as I ended up almost falling over--my left leg is weak and it strained and hurt for a moment--but I righted myself.  I was probably just nervous, mes amis, and afraid.  After a couple of tries, I was on the bike and able to pedal, stop (planting my injured knee) and start back up again.

Back up on a big road bike, I made quick work of a few miles to downtown.  It felt good to fly down the road again!  When I made it to Liberty Hall, my destination to drop off rented DVDs, it was a bit more awkward to stop, go,stop and get up on the side walk.  Because of the slope of the sidewalk I found things precarious--plus with a concert about to start at the Hall (an old Opera House) there were people around waiting to get their seats, having that last cigarette, etc.  A couple of blokes waiting for the show came over and commented on Big Sexy, the hugest bike they've ever seen, they said. 

Physical Therapy evaluation was today.  I was disappointed that I wasn't as strong as I thought.  Sandy, my therapist, had me do some moves to test my strength--right leg strong, as you would imagine, left leg has a long way to go.  The good news--complete recovery back to 100% Gentle Readers of This Blog!  Sandy said short trips to work and for errands would be okay, but really I need to wait awhile before going out on the road for any regular riding.

Cheers!  Bruce

Back On My Campus Bike

Biking to work in the morning.

I'm happy to report that I've begun riding to work again!  My left leg is gradually getting stronger and I'm not so afraid of falling.  My muscles were so weak in the left leg that I was not able to support my weight when I'd swing my right leg over the bike.   I still have to take things very easy, Gentle Reader--but pedaling loosens up my leg and the muscles get to move and "wake up" after being supported on crutches for a month.

Cool in the morning but not for long!  

Starting out early so there's not so much traffic, and taking it easy the mile and a half to work has built up my confidence and the strength in my leg.

The streets around Haskell have been repaved!

There's been a lot of construction right around Haskell, mes amis, and people (mainly Haskell employees) are impatient and race through short-cuts.  Neighborhood streets have been repaved, and Barker, the road that leads to Haskell, is brand new.  It sure was a rough, torn-up road--but like other streets around Haskell, they're putting in speed humps--big speed humps!

Riding on Campus.

Hiawatha--built in 1898--the Girl's Gymnasium, in need of restoration.

Students I've met have told me that they've been in discussions with the administration to restore and put some money into many of the buildings on campus.  Old and New buildings are getting repairs, new furniture, and like Hiawatha--one of Haskell's iconic buildings--money for restoration.

I wanted to tell you that this past May, Haskell graduated the largest number of students in its over 125 year old history--budgets are low, but recently staff have been working hard writing grants and planning for a make-over of the campus--All Good!

Campus Bike

Its easy to store the bike inside the office in an out-of-the-way place.  My car bakes outside in the parking lot on these hot over-100 days.  I'd get off work and open all the doors, and then let the breeze push out all that hot oven-like air before I could get in and drive home.  I'd leave the garage door open at home so all the heat could dissipate.

I sure missed the days riding to work--its hot now but I leave my shirt un-tucked, un-button my collar, and ride easy.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Cheers!  Bruce

July Effect Part 2 (go back and read Part 1)

Driving to work sucks

To be fair to the Residents concerning the "July Effect" Gentle Readers of This Blog, what the literature revealed was not so much the beginning doctors being incompetent--it was more a matter of learning how the hospital works and how the pecking order played out.  When they arrive, they're pretty much the low-man on the totem pole.  If they're lucky, they'll have good mentors.  They will also have to prove themselves to the nursing staff.  If you're a jerk to the nurses, they can eat you alive--and make your life a Living Hell.  If new Residents are smart, they figure this out pretty fast.

Inside "The Jim"

Before my accident--in which I still wake up every morning not able to believe it even happened--I was working out at the Jim Thorpe Fitness Center.  Its the old power plant for Haskell and everyone knows it as "The Jim."  

In Mid-December, I had just gotten back from hauling everything cross-county from Tucson back to Lawrence.  I did this move with a rental truck, packing up our house there in Tucson and then bringing it back and then un-packing in cold wet Kansas.  It was a long, tough couple of weeks, mes amis.  My body was shot and I was about to start a new job.  

I was a train wreck--fat, out of shape, stressed, and in the dumps.  My first few weeks at my new job I faked it as my back was shot and I was in a lot of pain.  I just went to work, come home and went to bed.  I decided to see what was up with the Jim and that's where I saw an advert for a certified personal trainer--Will.

The Jim Thorpe Fitness Center on the Haskell Campus

Will had been on the KU Rowing Team, and then later one of he coaches of the Team.  I met Will and we hit it off right away--and then got started.  The best thing about the Jim is that its Federally funded, which means its fee to everyone.  Its Haskell's best kept secret.  You don't have to be a Haskell Student, and you don't have to pay a membership fee, etc.  So I end up paying Will my Coach for his expertise and not both of our membership fees.  It makes it very affordable--thank goodness.

So we got started and I was working with Will along with going to Celebrity Spin, which was three days a week.  I got steadily got stronger and felt the best I've ever felt in years, mes amis!

Keeping my upper body strong

My fitness saved me from what could have been a pretty ugly situation.  Although I was injured, I kept my routine of two days a week lifting weights for the last few months, on crutches then limping over to the Jim. 

I did squats to strengthen my legs for Brevets

I don't know when I'll be able to resume squats--not for many months.  I discovered to my surprise that I could lift a lot of weight, and could do all the different types of squats with much more weight than I thought possible for a guy my age.  I had very powerful legs, a strong back, and I had gradually built up my upper body strength over the course of my workouts.  Squats are the best workouts ever--done correctly that is.  Having a professional there to help you is a good idea.   

Working out the kinks

I don't know when I'll be able to ride the bike again.  I'll start some sort of physical therapy soon and Dr. S. told me first thing is to gain range of motion--and then work on strength.  Will had me pedal backward on the recumbent bike to work out my hamstrings.  When I tried to pedal like riding it was a bit painful and I could tell the muscles are weak and sore.  Still it felt good to move them without fear of falling.  I'm not sure yet if I will be able to ride that mile to work yet, as its a gradual up-hill climb--maybe sooner than I think!

Cheers!  Bruce

The July Effect

Rico's band, "Up the Academy" playing at the 8th Street Tap Room, Lawrence, KS.

You don't want to have any type of surgery in the month of July, Gentle Readers of This Blog.  The reason, and a review of the medical literature will support this, is that medical errors soar in the month of July--the month when new Residents (kids right out of medical school) start their residency at the hospital they've been matched to.  This is when they begin their practice, and believe me you don't want them to practice on you.  If you must have surgery make sure you get in writing that your surgeon will be the actual guy doing it--not watching or talking a resident through the procedure so they can learn how its done.

I had this document prepared last week to hand to Dr. S. as I tossed and turned for a few nights awaiting my visit to his office.  I had a MRI and got bad news--my quadriceps tendon was 2/3rds torn.  A nurse Belinda called me and she stated this finding to me in a monotone robotic fucking dead-pan voice--which offended the fuck out of me.

"Is this a recording?" I said.  There was a long pause.
"Dr. S. will discuss with you surgical options at your appointment."  Nurse Belinda coldly stated...

I need to back up about a week when Little Egypt was back from Kuwait for a few weeks, mes amis...

Little Egypt got home and she and Rico and I debated what to do about our vacation and her time off back for R and R.  At first I wanted to try and go, and then it was decided that she and Rico would go and I'd stay back in KS--or maybe we'd all stay and just rest and go to NYC some other time.  From where we would be staying on Staten Island, we would have a mile walk to the free ferry that went over to Manhattan every day.  Feeling strong but still on crutches, we decided that I would try to walk to downtown Lawrence to have dinner just to see if I could do it.

It was a disaster, mes amis--I couldn't even get two block before I was exhausted.  So we decided we'd stay home and we'd all rest up.  Rico was planing a three week tour with his band and before the road, he wanted time by himself and to rest and re-charge.  School has just gotten out and it was a busy semester for him.

We also went to go see the Avengers.  Aliens come down to NYC and start a rumble.  Little Egypt and Rico joked that I would have probably been toast--unable to run away from the death beams and falling debris as the Avengers fought to save the planet.

Little Egypt and I went to see the Surgeon in Kansas City a few days later.  It was not fun for me--the place was super busy and people were hurting and damaged; much sicker than me.  I tried to hold myself up and have some dignity--one, by not wearing a sleeveless shirt showing off all my tasteless tattoos--and two, not texting or blabbing on my cell phone in some ill-mannered fashion.

The thing I observed about Medical Industrial Complex USA is that on one extreem you have the sick: for the most part a blue collar, obese, cigarette-smoking lot of folks with mullets and tattoos.  And then on the other end the smug tight-asses in scrubs--The clinical staff.  They tend to be fit, handsome, and clean people.  In particular the women favor athleticism--but they treat you like a sub-specis.  To them you are the unwashed masses--cattle mulling around in the great public feedlot of America.

I actually get them to help me, sometimes even look at me, by being polite and well mannered...

Anyway, so we see my surgeon after waiting two hours--the poor man is busy, very busy.  He apologizes that it has taken three weeks to get in to see him.  With my kind of injury its important to have surgery right away for best results.  I let him know I was a staff medical librarian at Tucson Medical Center--so I knew what kind of stresses he had every day.  He was able to relax a bit and then he said, "So you probably know what's going on right?"  and I said I had a good idea.

The real test to see if I needed surgery was if I could lift my leg up--lying on my back, and then lifting up my leg.  I was able to limp around without crutches, stand okay, and had no pain.  I told him about my cycling and weight training (Will my coach at the Jim Thorpe Fitness Center had me training to do squats to strengthen my legs for the Brevet Season) but when the test came, I could not move my injured left leg at all.  This meant the tendon was torn and I'd need surgery.

But as I seemed to be pretty strong and Dr. S. couldn't feel a hole or space where the tendon had separated from my knee--he asked if I'd be up for him taking all the fluid off my knee; that might enable me to pass and then we'd know if it was just a bad sprain--or torn tendon.  Little Egypt quickly volunteered me, bless her heart--while I started to get nauseous--Dr. S. was going to give me a couple of shots to numb my knee, then take a LARGE syringe and drain the fluid off my knee.  And then give the knee a steroid shot.   I got through all this by keeping my eyes shut and concentrating on not passing out.

After a few minutes I tried to repeat the leg lift--I could not do it.  I was devastated, mes amis--it meant surgery.  Dr. S. seemed a bit disappointed as well.

About ten minutes later as we were getting ready to leave and waiting for paper work from the nurse, Little Egypt had me try again.  Holy Shit!  I was able to lift my leg!  I had done it!  The nurse ran got Dr. S. and he was like, "Okay what now I'm so freakin' busy..." and I repeated the feat.  His expression changed to one of satisfaction.  "This is good.  The MRI I'm ordering will tell us--Later..." and he was gone.

What a difference bloody goo being sucked off you knee can make, Gentle Readers of This Blog!  Each day I got better and better--stronger and able to walk, now without crutches (although with an awkward limp) but I was sure that the knee was going to heal, and I'd soon have physical therapy on top what I what I was already doing at the Jim.

MRI Results, June 20th

Back to the call from Nurse Belinda.  A torn tendon 2/3rds damaged was a let down.  This perplexed Will, my weight training coach as he felt for sure that I'd get by without surgery.  So we began to prepare for yet another six to eight weeks of recovery post surgery (it was now going on six weeks after my fall) and my weight training resumed to get my upper body prepared to lug my fat ass around on crutches some more.

Back in KC and at Dr. S.'s office, I was prepared for the news.  Dr. S. came in and sat down, and then explained the MRI and the tear--and then he said, based on my fitness and over-all ability to walk, etc--that no surgery would be needed--I had made it, Gentle Readers of This Blog!  The tear would heal, much in the same way if he went in and sewed it together.  The 1/3 of my tendon left attached was holding things together and I would recover.

It was still going to take some time, and I'd have to have physical therapy--but without surgery (in July even) things were looking good!

So I texted everyone in the parking lot of the sports medicine complex, and then as I drove home I got a call from Little Egypt from Kuwait.  She was wanting to know if she was going to have to fly home on emergency leave to take care of me after knee surgery.  I gave her the good news!  And she was happy because she just got back to Kuwait and it would be a logistical nightmare to fly back to KS again, and then fly back to Kuwait--just to fly back to KS at the end of her deployment.

It just so happened that Rico and his band were on their way back from Chicago for one night at the Tap Room downtown this same day.  We'd get home about the same time and we decided to have lunch--I'd tell him about my good fortune, and he'd tell me about the tour so far.  We had lunch, then came home and he did laundry and slept while I sent an email to Little Egypt.  I slept the rest of the day (I took the day off from work) and I'd meet Rico later at the show.

So I saw the show (they played last) had a beer, and felt like I had lucked out--but really, as you all know, it was due to my cycling (spin class) and weigh training (at the Jim) that saved the day.

Cheers!  Bruce

Road to Recovery

X-Ray



My leg was not broken, Gentle Readers of This Blog.  I did suffer a severe sprain--and possibly a torn quadriceps muscle.  Its been a long haul this past month of May.  What can I say?  I've dealt with frustration and depression.  I've been on crutches for almost a month.  Still I can't believe this has happened to me--but again, having a cyclist's legs--I was spared worse.  I received the images and as you can see--no break up there on the femur.

Inside of the knee is good--just the torn muscles and maybe tendons.  Pretty much my left leg has been useless--like dragging around a tree-trunk.  Slow-going getting around too--but I have been going to the Jim Thorpe Fitness Center (The Jim as we say here at Haskell) and lifting weights for my upper body.  I can do push-ups too!

You can see that the left knee is swollen, and you can see that bruise on my inner-thigh.  The swelling has gone down and needed to go down so they can do a MRI. 



Here's the Douglas County Courthouse where I slipped and fell down the stairs.  The structure was built in 1888.  The steps I slipped on were worn and grooved.  The County told me recently that the steps were "safe enough" so they are not liable.  The hard and stressful part of this journey is that I may have to hire an attorney if the costs start getting up there, mes amis...

Rico the afternoon he picked me up and drove me home from the ER.  He's been a big help to me but really, I am fairly able to do everything I need to do.  With Little Egypt in Kuwait, he's run errands, done the grocery shopping, and helped keep my spirits up!  I can't ride a bike yet, and I can't drive a stick-shift.  I drive the SUV to work (just a mile and a half) but that's another post, mes amis!

 In the ER they gave me a leg-brace--but it would not stay on--so I don't use it for walking. Now I'm just down to using one crutch. Everyday I get a little stronger! It has been a long month, but I am happy to report a good outlook for the future!

Cheers! Bruce

Could Have Been Worse

Yesterday I slipped on a step and fell down a flight a stairs, mes amis.  It was quite a shock to me and still is a bit now as I write.  I had gone downtown to the County Courthouse, a stately old building from the 1880s, to pay for license plate and registration renewal for the car.  As I was going down the first few steps to the desk in the lower level, somehow I slipped and then went tumbling down the stairs.  And when I hit the bottom of the stairs I heard a loud snap like a tree branch.  I laid there for a moment and realized--My God, I've broken my leg.  Then after a few seconds--incredible pain.

I suddenly broke out into a dripping cold sweat, couldn't move, and started going into shock I guess.  Luckily for me, one of the clerks had had some trauma training, and she keep me just hanging on to a conscience state--asking me my name, b-date and all that--as a wave of pain came and went, and then came back over me again.

I could not believe this was happening to me, Gentle Reader of This Blog--slipping on step?  Falling down a flight of stairs?  My left leg above my knee, the femur--the big leg bone, felt like a car was parked on it.  I could hear the ambulance on the way--and all I could think about was some surgeon waking me up to tell me all the screws and plates were in place.  I also clung to the notion that I was a cyclist--an athlete--not some careless idiot.

Got and IV with some magic in it I suppose, but no pain killer because of blood pressure or something like that the Paramedic told me.  I'd just have to hang on a few more minutes until they got me up and out to the ambulance.  "Any thing else?  Did you hit your head?  Your neck okay?  Are you allergic to any drugs?" and all their questions.

So I got to the hospital, the ER, and got some pain medicine, and got down to the X-Ray.  Which I have to say was pretty tough, because every time they moved me, man but it was really really painful...

The good news--and I mean really good news from the x-rays--my leg was not broken.  What a relief I have to tell you, Gentle Reader--and about this time, although I was in a funk-state--the pain started to retreat.

By this time Rico was there and I was able to relax and try to un-clench my self.  With all the IV and fluids they pumped in me I had to piss like a race horse.  With some negotiations with the nurse, a plastic bottle was procured, and she and Rico helped me sit up, kind of stand on my right leg, and while the nurse went out I was able to pee.  I was also able to steady myself on my right leg and stand, and hold myself up by holding on the rails of the bed.

Getting a bit scolded for that, the nurse got me back to bed and then the doc came in and I said, "Give me the shot or pill and let me outta here, man." He was still a bit concerned about that snap I heard when I fell.  He poked and squeezed around my thigh, saying, "That hurt?" "What about here?" "How about there?''  "HOLY F_UCK!!!"  to that spot was my reply.

Well, maybe my quadriceps were torn--a tendon maybe torn--they would know from a MRI.  That would be from a specialist he set up for me.  Your quad is that big muscle from your knee to your hip--the one that as cyclists we use for all our power (which I hoped I'd still have after this) Actually he was very impressed, as were the nurses, that I had not broken my leg--or anything else for that matter.  I fell down a set of 110 year-old granite steps so it was a hard fall.  The doc said my cycling, and the weight training I'd been doing at the Jim Thorpe Fitness Center definitely saved my leg from breaking.  Surgery to fix a torn quad, if that was it, he would not speculate.

My nurse got got one of those big leg support straps on me to keep my leg straight, and then, just over an hour from falling down the stairs and writhing in pain,  I was hopping around and able to go back and forth on the crutches they gave me.  Again the doctor was like, "Dude you lucked-out on this one."

Tired-out now and feeling dopey from pain killers, I took the wheel chair to the car Rico had waiting for me, and I was able to get myself in and sit down.  From the weight training I could tell those muscles were there for me--the squats I had been doing, and the push-ups, and the lunges I'd been slowly building up with at the Jim had payed off, mes amis.

I'm not saying by any means that I'm some  kind of power-house--I'm just saying that the weights I'd been doing since January when I started at Haskell, on my lunch hour, gave me some stability.  When I started I couldn't even do one push-up and had no upper body strength--I mean none--seriously.

Celebrity Spin class helped me out too I know--heart-rate and power training for 10 weeks probably saved my leg from breaking.  Just got to hope the damage, if there is any to my quadriceps, is not severe (no surgery) and that I can get back on the bike here soon.

Well, wish me luck, mes amis.  As I know more, I'll let you know--but really, I'm feeling strong and I'm going to try and go to work in the morning.

Cheers!  Bruce

Tale Wind

After a 50 mile ride in a 30 mph head wind.  

Everyone in the Bike Club was excited about going out on a perfect Sunday.  But as the time to meet approached, clouds, cold, and gusty wind arrived howling.  You know, Gentle Readers of This Blog, I considered bagging this one and going back to bed--which would have been the smart thing to do.  Instead I suited up, clipped in, and headed downtown.  

So there I was just moi and thinking maybe I should just head back home cause this is insane and no one is gonna show--and then suddenly this other rider appeared and I did not recognize her at first.  "Hey Bruce!" she said with a smile--Holy Head Wind but it was Karen, my coach from Celebrity Spin Class!  Whoa--Karen is a celebrity around these parts--and I'm riding with her!  Wow!  So we're giving it a few minutes to wait for anybody else--and Tommy arrives.  "Sorry I'm late!  Let's go!" so we were off.  

Okay, mes amis, let me tell you that the head wind going out was brutal--cold, blowing and gusty and gritty!  We took turns pulling and very very slowly made out way to Lecompton, KS via the old Farmer's Turnpike.  I always use the Farmer's Turnpike as a fast dash to get back to Lawrence as its mostly down-hill from the village of Lecompon.  This time we were going West, a way I've never gone--so it was up-hill with lots of long slow climbs, and with a headwind of 30 mph--maybe even more.  

It was a struggle for me.  I'm the big Clydesdale and working extra hard to stay with my mates--I pushed my heart-rate to almost max several times trying in vain to keep up.  They dropped me on the steepest hills, but on the down-side I'd catch up.  My big-ness keeping me on the road while they felt like they had to work hard just to stay on their bikes.  

Finally finally we made it to Lecompton all leaning against the wall of this local restaurant looking exhausted and beaten.  It was after church, and the place was packed with everybody.  We were just slumped there, as I said, propped up against the building--in a stupor. 

Then this well-dressed older gent came out of the restaurant with his wife.  He was, as I could sense--the preacher.  He had a preacher suit on, a preacher hair-do, and his tie--mes amis--glowed with the image of shinning simple silver cross.  He looked upon us and smiled.  "Well, you're going to have one Hell of a ride bike with this wind."  "Yup--"  I was the only one who seemed to have energy to speak.  And so the Man and Wife got in the Lincoln Continental and drove away.  Tommy said, "Let's go--" and so we did.  

You can only imagine the tail wind, Gentle Reader.  It was like I had on a freakin' jet pack!  With gravity on my side, I sped down the road like a freight-train--Big Sexy in the Big Gears.  

Finally back in Lawrence--my ears ringing from the roaring both ways, eyes burning from dust in the wind, and every ounce of strength drained.  Oh and it was still cold as we stopped in the parking lot at the park downtown to say our farewells. 

Butt massage compliments of New York St., Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Good To Have Bike Friends

Bob, Sally, Tommy

Still trying out the new interface in blogger.

Wearing my cold weather stuff today

Lone Star Lake.  A bit cold for swimmers and fisherman today, mes amis

Mighty Trek

Our fast pace-line for the ride back to Lawrence

Gwen

Tommy "The Tornado"

Sally--a long-time Tucson resident like me

Bob--we became friends during Celebrity Spin Class--the Man is Fast!

Leg warmers can finally come off mes amis!

These guys are fun to ride with and though it would not seem the case, all of them are fast!  And I have to work to keep up.  They've all been riding together for many years so the pace is smooth, fast, and fun.  I enjoy this kind of riding, mes amis!

Where food comes from my children--they were telling me that this is corn...

Yours, Bob, Gwen, and Tommy

The Singing Dynamo Hub

Rain and cold on the 300.

I'm finally posting Gentle Readers of This Blog--the 300 didn't go as planned for me I'm afraid. Possibly I could have made it but with the rain and cold, and hypothermia coming on--I had to DNF late in the ride in the middle of the night.

I got lucky and had an escape plan that worked--this time. But I have to say this was a hard brevet for me. Pretty much the first 15 to 20 miles were okay. I was with the group and when we started to spread out, I could see everyone up ahead so I felt good. The roads were pretty much deserted--fast and smooth rollers endlessly in front of me.

Wind and dark clouds soon arrived--with lightening too--and all of were caught off guard because within seconds a down-pour soaked us--soaked me before I could dismount and get on my rain gear. That was the tough part, mes amis--having all my gear wet so early. I'm glad I brought everything really because I almost left stuff behind--booties and rain pants--things that I bought early in December and January for just this kind of brevet. I was carrying what seemed like a ton of stuff--and I would use all of it...

I really will consider building a brevet bike. Fenders would have been a big help to me. Oh and on some fast rollers with the group, I hit a bump and one of my water bottles flew out and rolled into the high grass. I did not stop to retrieve it as I wanted to stay with everyone--plus I had packed an extra in the Carridice bag just in case.

Pretty much the ride was a slog in heavy rain. The route was remote and scenic, through rich green farmland--best I've ever seen. But the miles took their toll--and I just want to say that, again--I felt that the cue sheet was kind of vague--as I got lost a few times--and rode way off course and had to back-track. It didn't help that I was cold, tired--and probably confused and not thinking clearly.

Totally lost with cold and darkness setting in, I weighed my options and made a call to Ricky to come fetch me in Marshall Missouri. The thing was, Gentle Reader, is that I was so off-course that the cue sheet really would be of no use--I pretty much rode to the what I figured was Marshall, MO as I could see the city lights reflecting on the clouds lumbering above that locale. I have to tell you it was a cold long lonely ride. Man, I was so tired too...

Ricky and I made it to that fair city within minutes of each other--about two hours from when I called him. I had ridden almost 50 miles more than where I would be on the cue sheet. I just wanted to get the hell outta there--I was wet, frozen, and exhausted.

Schmidt Dynamo Hub and light set up for the 300.

I wanted to let you know that out on a test ride, I started to hear a click up front. I thought it could be the hub going out, and this really worried me because I had phoned up Peter White Cycles in Vermont, and talked a few minutes with Linda when I was ordering replacement bulbs for my light. I had wondered if I should need to send them the hub and have them service it--but Linda said only if I started to hear a grinding sound. Well I wasn't sure and I called her right away when I had the chance. Also want to tell you when I got the replacement bulbs--I ordered five--the first one I tried with the Dynamo flared and burned out. With only a few days before the ride, I was worried I'd have no hub--or it would go out. So after calling Peter White Cycles again, and talking to Linda--and she talking to one of the mechanics there--they thought it could be the spokes and to get them checked-out.

This position worked well for me--really was trail and error to get just the right beam the way I liked on the road mes amis.

Sure enough later after work, Chad at the local bike shop found the problem--but the real diagnosis was that the wheel was shot. He spent 20 minutes working away, trying to get the spokes tight. The wheel was true but pretty beat up. Would it last a 300? Not sure and only one way to find out.

I can report that the Lumotec worked fantastic on the road, and the hub was the least of my worries--but it creaked, clicked, and moaned on those mile I rode. Sometimes it was like riding by a house and hearing people talking on their porch outside in the cool air. Other times the sound was like a hum or someone singing silently to their self. It was eerie a few times in the middle of the night on a dark rolling road in the country.

I still use the bulbs and don't have LED yet, but even in the worst conditions, this light with the hub is extremely reliable--and it was bright. A bit about my hub--it was given to me by the legendary Randonneur, Gerry Goode, of Boston Massachusetts. The hub and the wheel had seen many brevets and was used at least twice for PBP and who knows how many times for BMB. With all these miles on the wheel, well time to have another built (being built as I write) and the hub, from what Linda tells me, will last from many more years.

Riding over the Missouri River into Glasgow, Missouri.

I photographed the bridge going over the Missouri River and going right into the town of Glasgow. From here I'd have 14 miles to Fayatte, MO for the turn around and controle at mile 97 (which would be mile 107 for me because of a missed turn and back-track in the town of Slater...)

Captains Lewis and Clark and the Voyage of Discovery crew stopped here in 1802.

Glory Days.

I will say that the small towns in Missouri seem to be fairing much better than the ones I've seen in Kansas. The landscape was rich and beautiful (when the rain let up a few hours anyway) and as you can see, the people that farmed this land prospered. I believe there will soon be a shift back to the more organic farm, and the greedy, poisonous way corporate farms do business will not be tolerated by consumers much longer.

Trying to dry out my clothes--but not much luck.

So I have been wondering if this brevet riding is worth it, Gentle Readers of This Blog. But really, the problem was not my fitness level or my gear--it was logistical. Problems with cue sheet and missed turns--also weather. I really believe its time to build up a brevet bike with fenders, etc. That could have helped me more. I also believe that I will attempt the 400 on April 28th. Then the 600 in May 12th. After Little Egypt has comes home for R and R--and then heads back to Kuwait, I can try and make up a 300 in Iowa later in mid-June.

Cheers! Bruce