Happy anniversary. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the worst crash of my cycling life over in California, resulting in major shoulder surgery, plenty of titanium and more painkillers in a year than I’ve taken in the rest of my life combined. The first few months of rehab were pretty rough, a crazy ride in … More The long road back: Part 20
Getting physical Dragged myself out of bed early the other day and caught up for a post-ride coffee with my usual Wednesday bunchies for the first time since the crash. It was great to see so many familiar faces again, even if I’m still a long way from riding with them. It was also good … More The long road back: Part 12
Stretching the elastic I’m very fortunate to have good mate who’s a great cyclist. And an even greater physio. I won’t name or embarrass him, but if you know me, chances are you’ll know him. And he’s good. In fact, after only one consultation I can vouch he’s bloody brilliant. No nonsense and straight shooting … More The long road back: Part 11
Fling that sling And with that, ladies and gentlemen, the sling is gone. I saw my Orthopod on Monday and, amongst many other conversations, he revealed he was quite happy for me to stop wearing it, effective immediately. Other things revealed include the slightly unfortunate positioning of the solitary 50mm screw in my coracoid process (apparently … More The long road back: Part 10
Part 7: The wheels start turning. It took a few days to work up the courage to try. But finally got back on the trainer this morning, after figuring out how to get my knicks and jersey on without crying out in agony. In the end I spun for all of 22 minutes and covered … More The long road back: Part 7
Part 6: Paranoid android. So I saw my surgeon for the first time since my shoulder op yesterday. He poked. He prodded. Tore off my dressings without any warning (bastard!). Then made me ditch my sling for 10 minutes and perform all kinds of tiny movements with my left arm that, frankly, scared the beejaysus … More The long road back: Part 6
Part 4: The grind begins. Right then. I’m bored, bored, bored. And I hate it. I’ve been on a few short café-related outings recently in an attempt to feel normal again, and to a degree they have helped lift my spirits – especially yesterday when I caught up with a dozen or so of my … More The long road back: Part 4
Smells like New Year’s Eve OMFG. I walked into a doorway with my bad shoulder yesterday. Nearly passed out. That’s the danger of starting to feel better. You get careless. Will really have to watch that. One week has passed since the op so headed off for x-rays yesterday. It was the first formal milestone in … More The long road back: Part 3
Confinement, Xmas 2015 After a rough ride through Xmas day the pain in my shoulder is definitely beginning to recede. Only needed the one painkiller and ice pack last night. Also managed to get out bed three times without assistance; which right now is cause for considerable smiling. There’s no doubting the heavy-duty meds get … More The long road back: Part 2
Few cyclists tempt fate by talking about it. But the simple fact remains the longer we ride – and the more time we spend on our bikes – the more likely it is we will fall off the bloody things and hurt ourselves. Having now coming off far more times than I care to remember, including a recent race fall from which I’m still recovering, … More The six laws of crashing
