23 Days Later…

It was 23 days ago that I last rode, and exactly 21 days ago that I had the first of two rounds of excisions done to remove moles from my leg and scalp. It was only 14 days ago that the one in my thigh and scalp right over the temple were done. And only 7 days ago that the stitches came out of the head. But today, I said enough waiting was enough waiting. I threw my leg over my Gazelle Champion Mondial, clipped one foot into the pedal and started off. I was back in the saddle. It took the first few minutes for me to settle into the saddle, I pedaled softly and slowly just to see how the leg would react. Soon the initial roughness in the saddle disappeared I became once again accustomed to the feel of the saddle. The leg felt surprisingly good. I didn’t push hard, focused on keeping a smooth light spin and took advantage of the downhill slants in the road more often than I normally would. I went around the block twice, just around a 1mi loop each. Then decided I was good enough to make it to the local bike shop and back, which I knew was about another 5mi round trip. I remained focused on taking it easy, but still feeling out how the leg felt a bit. One new scar or another would periodically let me know that it knew what I was up to. Nothing more than a slight twinge though, that soon disappeared as quickly as it would appear. I certainly could tell the hit that my fitness took over the last 3+ weeks. Granted there was a decent head wind on the way back to the house, but I could tell that I was certainly not able to push the tempo nor gear that I had been able to a month ago. In time though, it will come back, I’ll ease back into it slowly, but I want to be ready for the summer and fall rides. Hotter’N Hell Hundred isn’t too far away – and that ride takes more than determination and insanity to complete.

Another weekend with 0 miles

Though hopefully it will be the last. 

Recovery from my surgeries is progressing well.  The allergic reaction I had to the steri-strip adhesive has started to go away and the incisions are healing well.  The area around them are still a bit sensitive to pressure and abrasion as one would image they would be still.  But over all they look nearly completely healed on the surface and I’m hoping they are getting well along with the healing process deeper down as well.  This week some time, perhaps Tuesday or so, I’m going to get on the trainer and see how the legs feel before committing to a full ride.  I also need to see how comfortable my helmet will be with the head scar.

I did spend a little time this weekend starting to build the Serotta up.  The shifters, brakes and rear derailleur is installed.  Handlebars and front brake line is run, but need to pull the stem off and grease it before I get too far.  The rear wheel is good enough to ride on in the short term, but the front tubular tire needs to be reglued before I do any riding on it.  Better to have discovered that need now rather than in the middle of a ride when the tire rolls off the rim!

I’ve been getting my required face in the wind time by driving with the windows down as much as possible.  It’s not nearly as nice as being on the bike, but it is a sufficient substitute for now.  The mornings, when it hasn’t been raining, have been very nice the last several weeks.  As I drive to work I have the windows down (and the radio up) which is really quite enjoyable regardless of the destination.  As I look around I’m quite bummed at the lack of other individuals enjoying the same cool air rushing in from the outside.  Seems the only windows I see open elsewhere around me belong to smokers pushing the tips of their cigarettes out the window.  It’s mid spring in Texas and everyone has their windows up like it’s mid August already or something.  Go figure.

Healing Update

It’s now been 6 days since my last round of incisions doing at the doctor’s.  The head and leg are healing up well.  The first few days were rougher than the first time around, but they seemed to get better a bit faster.  Likely as they are in areas that don’t get pulled on as much during normal activity. 

I hope to be able to get on the trainer and do some very light spinning on the bike by this weekend.  Just to feel out how the leg is healing up and to see where the limits are right now.  I’m more or less of pain killers, a Tylenol or two now and then just in case the head starts aching from too much noise around the office.  Other than that just taking the last of the antibiotics and waiting for the thing to fully heal.  With the Serotta build getting rolling again after the frame and fork is back from paint I’m eager to get it out on the road.  I suspect this bike is going to fit me with amazing perfection.  I can’t wait. 

Serotta – The Frame is home, the fork shall soon be

I’m not going to take the time to tell the whole story over again here at the moment.  But for those who might not frequent BikeForums.net often, or at least not the Road Cycling section, I got my Serotta Nova frame back from the painters on Sunday evening.  The full story and plenty of photos can be seen here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=295301

 I’ll add a full post about the bike when the build is complete, most likely this coming Sunday evening. 

The wheel build is complete

It’s been a long time coming.  The final build was done with the second set of rims and the third set of spokes to pass through my hands.  But thankfully the hubs remained the same. 

Specs are as follows:

Hubs: Shimano High Flange 333 – 36spoke.
Rims: Araya 27×1″ in NOS Condition
Spokes: DTSwiss Champion DB,  1.8/2.0
Freewheel: Shimano 7sp 14-28 (Same as on the previous wheelset)

Over all the wheel build went fairly smoothly.  Messed up the lacing on the front the first time around because of the drilling pattern on these rims vs the previous set I had are different.  Once I realized and figured that out it was all smooth sailing.

Trying to balance even tension and truing was interesting.  I wonder how close to an even tension I really have.  I should probably give them all another round or two on the tension meter, but instead I’ll just ride them as is for a bit.  If I have any problems then I’ll deal with that then.  For now I think they’re pretty darn close.  And they are quite true so I’m happy about that.

Not sure what wheel build task I am going to tackle next.  I need to replace a rim on the Serotta’s tubular set.  And if I want to build a clincher set of the Serotta I need to do that as well.  Got the summer to do both of those I suppose.  No need to rush that. 

Cabin Fever

I’m starting to get it.  No riding for a couple weeks, more or less no real time outdoors for that same time period.  I’ve only driven my truck 2 days in the last like two weeks or so.  And it’s starting to drive me a little mad.  The pain and pain medications are not helping in that either.  And I’m tired, really really tired.  The kind of tired where you can’t sleep, but aren’t quite awake either.  I feel like I am in a fog.  And not the cool spring morning fog that you’d enjoy a nice slow ride through.  No, not that kind of fog at all.

I need to get out of the house, tomorrow I will find a way, make the wife drive me somewhere, anywhere.  I just need to get out in the sun and enjoy the wind.  I’ve been too down, too slow, too lathargic this last week.  After as stressful and busy of a school semester I’ve had one would think I would have enjoyed the slow pace.  But that got old quickly. 

Now, I just miss riding.  And the sun, the happiness. 

Survived Round 2… so far.

Today I had round two of the incisions to remove the moles that came back as dysplastic during their biopsies.  This one is on my lower thigh and on my right temple on my head.  So far the leg hasn’t bothered me at all.  But the head is most certainly letting itself known.  This is going to be a rough couple days…

In other news, just what I needed after getting hopped up on pain killers – a huge thunderstorm moved through DFW this evening.  No hail this time around, but my oh my was the wind blowing.  A large limb from one of the trees in front of the apartment complex was  ripped off the tree just as I was looking out the window.  Glad there wasn’t any other damage that I’ve seen so far.

Time for some sleep and more relaxing tomorrow.  As soon as my head stops aching, I am going to get around to doing some bike work.  I think.