Setback...

Decided to commute in to work on the bike on Monday. It's only 9 miles each way (35 minutes). Had that familiar feeling in the outside of the knee... You got to be kidding me. After weeks and weeks of being off the bike and months and months of stretching and a month of PT I don't think its any better. Its basically the same as it was in October and November.

How am I going to get past this... Ugh... Only thing I can think of is staying off of it until I can get it to be more flexible than it is today? Damn it!!!!!

Best day on a mountain in a long time...

Never thought that my best day snowboarding in a long time would be at Liberty. Had nothing to do with snowboarding, but having my little girl go skiing for the first time. She attended a 4 hour clinic at Liberty. Was really cool watching her go down the hill with a smile on her face.

Once day we will get to go down the mountain together. As usual, Lynn's tells it better.

On the bike again

So the knee still feels weird, sore sometimes and sometimes shooting pain. Doesn't seem to be getting much different week to week so I'm going to get back on the bike. Going to keep things to the shorter side and will stop if I feel that familiar ITB pain. I guess I'm hoping that the healing process will continue as I get back on the saddle. Sunday was another 20 minute ride, next ride needs to be longer. Hopefully start commuting on the SS again.

First ride in a long while

Not really a ride since I was on a trainer. Only did 20 minutes at an average of 157 watts (pathetic, I know). Felt good to have the legs turn and felt no pain while riding but I could feel a slight twinge in the knee afterwards. Iced it... Disappointed, this thing isn't going away fast or at all...

Back from Belfast

Back from Belfast, felt like I spent more time on the plane than on the ground but I guess that's what happens when you stay less than 2 days. Belfast was always dark (much more North than I expected I guess), wet and cold. Typical January weather I guess. I didn't get out except on Thursday night when I got a chance to hit a few of the bars with two co-workers.

Started out at the famous Crown Bar for dinner and a drink. Dinner was average and the service was poor. I guess that's what happens at tourist traps. The downstairs (bar) was better and they had some pretty cool beers.


Went to Robinson's next door for a beer and then another bar further away.


That one was interesting since we had about 7 less piercings than the average customer. All the girls were dressed goth or in dirty school girl dress... Hmmm.... I guess the dance club next door was having a School Daze nights which explains the dress. A few beers there before we moved on.


Last bar was kind of lame and Scott bought whiskey instead of beer which pretty much ended the evening!


Full pictures and commentary here.

Off to Belfast and knee ponderings

Leave for Belfast in a few hours for a short trip. Going to be low 40s and raining the entire time, I doubt I'll do any sightseeing. I will update my world map to include the UK now though.

I'm starting to get the feeling that the knee isn't going to be 100% anytime soon. I still feel it every once in a while especially in the morning and get especially sharp pains sometimes. I'm starting to think that this year will be more of casual and short rides with no endurance races. We shall see as I get on the bike, but unless something changes I'm guessing that any long rides any time soon is going to aggravate the problem.

What a roller coaster of a game...

45 minutes of the skins doing nothing and then 4 minutes of believing that #21 might actually be on the field and then the meltdown at the end. Glad to see them there, shame it ended so quickly. They need to get some linemen on both side of the ball.... New season, new hope...

Ready to ride...

All set up, 7 more days until I finally get to try again...


But for now, its time to drink a few beers and watch the 'skins. I'm not much of a Seattle fan so them losing would be icing on the cake. Oh, and 3 more days till I go to Belfast. Got to pack sometime also.

Bike Plan

The knee feels better, but I still have occasional pain. My worst fear is getting on the bike and putting my self a step backwards in the healing so I'm going to stay off the bike for a while longer. Since I'm going to Belfast for a few days next week I figured that I could wait until after then. So the weekend of the 12th will be the day I try a short ride on a real bike again (although probably inside on a trainer...). My goal is then to slowly work up to the point where I can ride for 2 hours with no pain before I go outside and actually enjoy myself.

So a total of 38 days off the bike. Hopefully more than enough. :)