I had a great winter. I had the equipment I needed, new mountain bike terrain to explore, some riding partners when I needed company, and an excitement I haven't had in years. I left a band which gave me free evenings for rides and was looking forward to my season opening at Michaux Maximus, my favorite mountain bike series. On April 13th I got home from work and went to do my hill workout on the road bike. I just wasn't into it. It had rained the past few days which cancelled my normal MTB workout, but I still didn't want to train inside. Winter was over and I needed to harden up. I wasn't tired or rushed for time, but I still put my light on my bike for some reason to be safe just in case. Hindsight can be 20/20; have you ever had "that feeling" that you should be doing something else? Why didn't I want to be out doing what I love to do? I was about to get the answer. 30 minutes into my ride going down a steep hill I was coasting at about 40 mph when all of the sudden I see a tan blur under the guardrail... what is it.. a groundhog? ...Then its all slow motion... a THUD... chain-slap... my front wheel... the yellow lines coming closer... the texture of the gravel fast approaching... and FLASH! I hear plastic and metal scraping against the road and feel the heat buildup on my left side as I slowly grind to a stop. I lay on the road and look in front of me and see my house key, a five dollar bill, and an orange Nature Valley bar in a baggie laying on the street. I sit up, take my Oakleys off and get to the side of the road to inventory the damage. I have a broken helmet, ripped leg warmers and shorts, but the bike looks fine. Then I realize this isn't good... my spring glove is almost entirely gone on my left hand and I can see the bones and tendons of my fingers and knuckles... It all happened so fast. Early the next morning leaving surgery I still can't get "that feeling" out of my head. Sometimes you should listen to your instinct.
I am six weeks out now and working hard on my recovery; instead of training stress scores and intensity factors I am measuring degrees of bend and motion. Its time to plan a comeback. Like most athletes I have had my share of injuries and setbacks. There is a time to let go of things that could have been, and get busy on what is going to happen. Sometimes training seems too routine and boring; the same trails and roads, schedules, intervals, maintenance... now its all I can think about. A little time away can give you focus and drive that is incomparable. I'm still a way out, but can't wait to ride out of a parking area, hit start on my Garmin, play on my iPod, and open the rear shock for some good times!
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