Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 24

Turkeyfoot Christian Church on Rogers Gap near Double Culvert.

Nicholas doing some biceps work during a break on Rogers Gap and Double Culvert near Turkeyfoot Christian Church.

Nicholas descending a steep hill on Double Culvert near Luke.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 23

Nicholas-the-biking-weatherman commenting on the heat along Double Culvert near Luke. We decide to turn back. For some reason we are both exhausted after only six miles! I guess it's the heat. One thing is for certain--the Tour de France boys have nothing to fear from us.

Nicholas tells me he didn't want to be the first one to admit defeat. He is relieved when dear Old Dad prudently seeks relief in an air conditioned home supplied with homebrew.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 22

This is Nicholas ascending a steep hill on Double Culvert to Luke. Listen carefully and you can hear him change gears. We get a late start today and it's hot. We turn around here and total only 12 miles today.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 21

I ride 22 miles this evening down Rogers Gap to Double Culvert to Biddle Pike past Indian Creek and back averaging 13.8 mph. Not great but not bad considering I have to walk some of the hills. Make some doggie buddies on the return trip while walking up a hill near Luke. Nice doggies. I guess that's the secret to Biker-Doggie peace--walk the bike. Puts a slight crimp in things doesn't it? My knee feels pretty good. I'm discovering the joy of climbing hills while standing up in the bike. It's easier than trying to stay seated but it "burns" more.

Nicholas and I will ride 50 miles this Thursday--Keenland to Frankfort and back.

I see Chad, my physical therapist, tomorrow. I've been faithful about doing my daily stretching exercises.

Please sponsor either Nicholas Key or Mike Key or both of us by donating either online or by printing off mail-in donation forms at Ride To Conquer Cancer.

Thank you.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 20

This is what happened to a tree that got too close to our 42.9 mph biking descent on Hinton Sadieville Road! And to spare the tender feelings of our little readers, I won't show the pics of all the roadkill we left in the wake of our Pig Skulls killer sonic tsunami. It ain't a pretty sight.

No bike riding today but I do 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 19

No, that's not me. And no, it's not Nicholas. That's Lance my old biking buddy. I taught him everything I know. World's quickest lesson, don't ya know. Tour de France starts today. Hope to see some of it.

Nicholas and I rode yesterday evening, July 3, down Rogers Gap to Double Culvert to Luke to Hinton Sadieville and back. A total of 20.5 miles. It was Nicholas' first time on Hinton Sadieville Road. We set a record top speed of 42.9 mph descending Hinton Sadieville. Wow! I like speed. What a rush! My knee continues intermittently to ache and tighten up even with the seat set back. I particularly notice the discomfort after we do a sustained sprint along Double Culvert on our return trip. We lose track of time and are riding in the dark. It's 9:40 PM when we get back to the truck.

I'm really impressed with Nicholas' hill-climbing ability. He stands up in the bike and really powers up steep grades. He says he feels the burn in his legs but forces his body through the climb. Me? Hills I was able to power up before the May 28 accident are now occasions to take short walks. No matter, I'll be back in shape before the September bike event.

We meet a Boxer (dog) while returning on Luke. I give him some Pig Skull beef jerky. We are friends for life now.

Happy 4th everyone.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 18

I'm back! And I'm celebrating with a pint of homebrew Pig Skull Ale .

Today is the first day on my bike since Chad, my physical therapist, said it was OK to resume riding. I do an easy five miles to get a feel for the moved backed bike seat. My knee feels fine. I'm concerned about the longer arm reach created by the moved backed seat. Can the handle bars be moved back too?

I do my stretching exercises after my bike ride. Man, some of the exercises REALLY pull on my quads and hams! I'm at least one inch taller now.