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First Ride in Over a year

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

First Ride in Over a year

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Old 05-30-09, 03:51 PM
  #1  
JSWhaler
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First Ride in Over a year

Well, to make a long story short over a year ago I was hit and then run over by a drunk driver. His truck crushed my left leg. Today was my first day outside on my bike. Over the last year I've built up a new bike and today I finally got to ride it. I took it easy only going 24.2 mi on the rails to trail. Long, strait, and boring, but it felt great to be outside. Attached are pics of my bike.
Blue bike- carbon
Dura ace 7800 components
FSA team edition carbon crank (compact)
Sram Red rear cassette 11-26
Bontrager carbon seat post and handlebars
Mavic Ksyrium wheels
Speedplay SS pedals
stem- crappy aluminum specialized due to my inability to flex my left leg properly
Cateye computer
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Old 05-30-09, 03:56 PM
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ILUVUK
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Glad you're back on the bike!

Nice bike and the NWs look cool!
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Old 05-30-09, 03:59 PM
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Congrats on being back!
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Old 05-30-09, 04:01 PM
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JSWhaler
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Thanks, the Northwave shoes are awesome. I'm not a big fan of the grip tape, but I wanted a particular style and all they had was the red. I'll eventually change it to black when I replace it.
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Old 05-30-09, 04:03 PM
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Glad you recovered and enjoy the new ride.
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Old 05-30-09, 04:07 PM
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Long road back...

May you have many miles ahead...

Nice bike...
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Old 05-30-09, 05:40 PM
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Thanks. I loved my ride today. Waiting till I can go out again.
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Old 05-30-09, 05:42 PM
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Like the bike.
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Old 05-30-09, 05:54 PM
  #9  
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Welcome back.

I'm sorry to hear about your incident, and I hope that law enforcement got the guy, and that you also were able to take him to court for all that he was worth.

I hope you have more good rides in front of you...I know that the long road back isn't over yet.
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Old 05-30-09, 06:04 PM
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Congrats on being able to get out again. I know what it's like to have to sit around and watch everyone else ride for months when you can't because of an accident.

It makes it oh so much better when you get back on though. Trust me.

Also, I'm stronger now than I was before my accident. So don't worry, your body will get back to where it used to be and beyond!
May there be many safe miles ahead for you!
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Old 05-30-09, 06:08 PM
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Nice bike! And welcome back - I am sure it feels great!
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Old 05-30-09, 06:28 PM
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Great bike!
Welcome back.......
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Old 05-30-09, 06:59 PM
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Were you riding when you got hit? I hope you sued him into the ground.

Anyways, sweet ride and welcome back!
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Old 05-30-09, 06:59 PM
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Sweet Bike! - Glad your back.
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Old 05-30-09, 07:36 PM
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Yes, I was riding and he was drunk. He blow through an intersection and creamed me. Luckily someone went after him and he was arrested. The lawsuit is currently pending. My bike was toasted. I'll have chronic pain, swelling, and I'm still hoping for more mobility in my knee and ankle.
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Old 05-30-09, 08:49 PM
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Congratulations on being back on the bike! Good luck with riding and your lawsuit.
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Old 05-30-09, 09:10 PM
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Welcome back!

What are your short-term and long-term goals?
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Old 05-30-09, 09:12 PM
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Back in the saddle again!
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Old 05-31-09, 07:22 AM
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My goals are to be able walk again without a prodimanent limp, run around with daughter. Cycling- to be able to once again knock out 100 mile days and get back to 200 mile weeks after work.
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Old 05-31-09, 07:40 AM
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Sorry about your accident. Just look forward to all the joy you will have in the future w/ that nice bike!
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Old 05-31-09, 07:44 AM
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I crushed my left knee (tibial plateau fx - one side sheared off, the other side crushed) in 1989, and it is still a bother. Stiff, hurts, limited ROM, limp, etc.

5 surgeries later, and almost a year off from walking, I think I do pretty well.

While it is still a PITA, it sure beats not having it.

A really skinny Physical Therapist tought me the meaning of real hate, and I love her dearly for it. Her name has become synonomous for screaming in pain, and real joy. It used to evoke laughter from the other PTs when I would keep uttering Jerri Steinmetz under my breath....

When I graduated from the University of Pain and Torture, under her tutelage, I might add - I finally realized the importance of "No Pain, No Gain!"

Usually, starting out, pedal rotation will literally raise me out of the seat. Warm weather helps a lot. I have also found that riding 30-40 miles every day definitely helps it stay as flexible as it can get. Also, the no impact of bicycling is the only hard exercise I can do well. Walking and standing is really bad, bicycling is good!

I have found, that the only place I can run, at all, is barefoot on the beach.

Keep at it - it gets better after it gets warmed up! And, my wife says that she doesn't notice the limp any longer, even though it is still there....... LOL

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Old 05-31-09, 08:46 AM
  #22  
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Wanderer- thanks for the advice. I defenitely know what you went through. I have therapy twice a week. As for my injuries: my femur was cracked, broken patella, torn maniscus, partial tear in my acl, and achilles, my skin was removed from my ankle (my wife threw up when she saw my bone) and the muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, were all crushed or torn. Everything is back together now. You're right if I ride each day it doesn't seem to hurt as much. It's been a long hard road. The thing that really sticks in my mind was that if I didn't have so much mass/ muscle in my leg I would have lost it.
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Old 05-31-09, 09:28 AM
  #23  
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Sounds like you have a good attitude toward it. Keep at it!

It gets better, and worse, but you get used to it if your attitude is right. At one time, I begged the Doc to cut it off, and he was right in making me go thru what I did. He really helped.

Attitude helps get by the rough times, and makes it feel better during the good.

A Bone Crusher (bone doctor) once told me - it will almost always be better than an artificial one, until you just can't stand it any longer, and then the artificial will be a Godsend. It's been almost 20 years now, and I am satisfied. Don't know when I will ask for a mechanical knee.

Just remember that you have to be very vigilant about working on the bad leg, or, you will hurt the good one. It will try to help too much!

If you need a shoulder to cry on, or a good swift kick (you know where) e-mail me, and I'll be happy to oblige.
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Old 05-31-09, 11:41 AM
  #24  
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Congrats - best of luck with the rehab. I'm guessing that the build was a strong motivator for you, I'll bet that's the most impressive 24mile ride we'll read about here for quite some time.
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Old 05-31-09, 02:01 PM
  #25  
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Great bike! Great story!
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