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50 miles on Jessica J and it felt good!
Last Post 07/10/2013 10:40 PM by Mike Madvax. 7 Replies.
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 07/07/2013 11:45 PM |
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Today was my first ride over 25 miles since I crashed 6/5 and first time not riding gears. Did my usual flat out and back on county roads west of Portland. Rode a 43-17 with an 18 as a back up but didn't use it. Raised the stem 2 cm. (Man I love quill stems!) Never went hard, just rolled along. A little under 3:25 with one bathroom stop (by the clock in my kitchen).
(Most of you know I crashed hard a month ago, braeaking my collar bone, cracking a rib and slamming my hip. Enough bandages to do a mummy (well not quite). It was not a given I'd be able to ride or want to given my injuries. So what I did today, even though it looks like a milk toast ride, especially in July!, really was big.)
The ride felt really good like it was just what I needed. I knew I had to do something because I am signed up to ride the weekend Cycle Oregon ride next weekend. Now I know I can do it. I won't do it fast. No pacelines! (Man, a touched wheel whould hurt!) Breathing deep still hurts a little from the rib. But whatever Cycle Oregon is likely to throw at us, I am game to try. (Doesn't hurt that they provide enough and really good rest stops. Not as much go food (sport drinks, energy bars, etc., but the local berries this time of year to die for! (Last time they had hand picked berries that were too ripe to sell. Blackberries in water because they were too ripe to handle! Totally to die for! All from local farms wanting to show off there best stuff.)
I'll report back!
Ben
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 07/08/2013 08:51 AM |
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/but the local berries this time of year to die for/
Yes, it is raspberry time here in SE PA also. A tasty break from riding on a hot day.
Good luck with the continuing recovery and the rides, Ben! |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 07/08/2013 12:27 PM |
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Yo, one of the treats of Cycle Oregon is how well we are received by the local communities and businesses. This is in large part a result of Cycle Oregon's reason for existence. It was conceived as a way to bring money and attention to ailing rural communities, ailing because logging, fishing and the taking of other natural resources were declining so catastrophically. Cycle Oregon works very closely with the local communities and businesses. And in return we see towns turn themselves out for us.
At the week-long ride in September, we regularly are greeted with a "finish line", perhaps a floral arch to ride under and a tier of cheerleaders greeting us and handing us treats to eat. Our bags are lugged by enthusiastic high school football players competing for the best tips, all of which goes to the local cause they are working for. (It could be new turf for their field, for example.) Cycle Oregon works with each town to find a real need that town has, then contributes a large sum to that cause. This it has been doing for 25 years. This weekend will bring in about 1/3 of a million in rider registration. A large part of that will go to the communities since the vast majority of the work to put the rides on is by volunteers, businesses take pride in providing the resources, schools provide the football fields we sleep on, parking lots for the even, etc. At this weekend ride, for a small sum, we can sleep in beds in the Oregon State University dorms. (The University will be our base. Showers in the athletic facilities (and always enough! One of the joys of Cycle Oregon. During the week ride, we use the same semi-trailer showers the wilderness firefighters use. Each trailer has 16 showers 7 trailers follow us around. (An exec of the fire-fighting shower company branched off to a Cycle Oregon specific shower company years ago after drought caused fires conflicted with Cycle Oregon and showers were scarce for all. Now Cycle Oregon has those specific trailers with the same drivers year after year. That outfit now also provides showers for many other events year 'round so lots of folks win.)
Al this to say that the towns we go through and the business and farms in the area turn themselves out for us. It's a treat!
Ben |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 07/08/2013 01:41 PM |
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that is good news Ben!!
when I was hit almost four years ago, it was 2 weeks after that I was on the trainer, then I hit the MTB on some forest roads at the 4 week mark, and then at six weeks, I hit the road once again to see if I still had the cajones to ride amongst cars |
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vtguy
Posts:298
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| 07/08/2013 02:26 PM |
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| Glad to hear that you're back on the road. |
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 07/08/2013 05:13 PM |
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Wow, what a great thing for Oregon cycling, and for the communities that host the rides. Wonderful synthesis of public and private that is an obvious Win-Win for all. I'd imagine some ride participants return at other times of the year to follow up on what they've seen and experienced on the bike tours - with or without their bikes.
Please do post updates...... |
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GJanney
Posts:76
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| 07/08/2013 07:17 PM |
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| Really glad to hear that you're back on the bike, Ben. Enjoy the Cycle Oregon ride and do post a report after. |
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madvax
Posts:50
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| 07/10/2013 10:40 PM |
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| Ben, Glad to hear you're doing better. I'm signed up for Cycle Oregon again this year (This will be my fourth). Hope to see you there. |
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