Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 27

My knee feels great! I do 30 miles today beginning on Double Culvert at US 25 to Luke to Davis to Hinton Sadieville to NE Countyline to Dryden back on Dryden to Whitson back on Whitson to N. Dividing Ridge to Davis Turkeyfoot to Rogers Gap to Double Culvert. I climb just about all the hills without walking. I take a lot of pics today which really slows me down but there are so many pretty things out here. See all the flowers.

Dryden and Whitson roads take me into Harrison County. Wiley and Juanita, a very nice couple on Dryden at White Oak, fill my empty water bottle and even put ice in it! We have a nice chat about wild pig hunting in Florida (Wiley is from Polk County, FL) and clearing trees and brush from a fence-line. I invite them to visit Scott County Public Library.

I take a lot of pics today. I will post them in subsequent days. I won't need to take my camera. No more excuses about running out of time for that 50 miler.

My orthopedic doc releases me from his care. Today is also my last appointment with my physical therapist, Chad, at KORT. Chad and his assistants did a great job healing my knee. A KORT T-shirt is my graduation gift.

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 14

Okay, I do today what the doc said to do--work my banged up knee with an activity other than biking. I run for 30 minutes on an elliptical treadmill. My knee feels fine. Yahoo!

Maybe I need to adjust my bike seat? (But my leg is almost fully extended with my bike's present seat height.) Hmmmmm.

I think it's really considerate of the county transportation department to warn motorists about the high school's substandard highway entrance.

While on the treadmill, I watch a History Channel feature about how some scientists are taking seriously the Seven Signs (Seals) of St. John's Apocalypse. There is much discussion about mankind being wiped out by asteroids, man-created plagues and mega earthquakes. I don't worry about such things. Do you?

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 10

I see the orthopedic doctor this early morn, June 24, about my banged up right knee. The bad news: he'll have to amputate. The good news: my double-duty pedaling left leg will soon be a dead ringer for limbs seen on Kentucky Derby thoroughbreds. Nah, not really! Doc says I might have some bursitis. And get this--HE WANTS TO TREAT ME LIKE AN ATHLETE and see a physical therapist. Cool huh? Doc says to stay off the bike for awhile and try different activities that work the knee e.g. hiking, swimming, treadmill, to determine if it's just biking that is the culprit.


This fella was one of two bucks I saw near my house yesterday. He was the smaller one. His big brother had an impressive rack. These guys better watch out come bow hunting season.