Back on the bike

During my recovery, I was told by the MDs that I needed to be cautious for a while since another concussion would be a "bad thing" so soon after my accident. The medical folks said that I should stay off the bike for about 6 months to a year! That would mean no riding until August 2009 or, best case, until February!


Over the Christmas holidays, I decided to give myself a present. With a garage full of road and mountain bikes that had been calling to me every time I walked by, I finally gave in and took my first real bike ride on December 27, 2008. I got the hardtail out, trued the wheels, added some Stan's sealant to the tires, lubed the chain, and took my first real ride since 8/9/08 when I got punched out by that truck mirror. I jumped every curb on the neighborhood circle route I could find and even did a short trackstand.

I must have looked like a real geek with my running shoes and jeans, but it was the best ride I have ever taken! It brought back memories of my first 2-wheel bike ride down the sidewalks of Brooklyn on E14th Street with my dad running behind me.


Every day I would venture farther from home and started to ride my old training route. I added more miles every day and have worked my way up to 60 miles. While this sounds great, I still have a lot of training to do before I am race-ready again.

You really need to listen to yourself and weigh all of the "advice" and recommendations you receive. Here's a sampling of what I heard in the past six months:

• I would never ride a bike again.


• I will fatigue easily. Therefore, I will need to look for another sport since endurance racing is out.


• My balance will be crappy.


• My racing days are over.

Endurance racers know how to keep our bodies going when our minds say "STOP!" This has been a tremendous help to me as I go through this funky ordeal. It takes a lot to stop me. I can keep going even when I am tired.

My next challenge: fighting off the munchies. Right after my ordeal, I lost some weight but it looks like have gained about 5 lbs. of baby fat. This is not uncommon in the winter months after the race season ends but I am usually in race shape by now. I can't pass up a cookie. While I still eat healthy, I find that my appetite is tough to satisfy. Next test: lose the weight before July 1.

Welcome!

First, about the name.

8/9/08 was the day that my world was rocked. I was doing a 55-mile training ride in preparation for an up-coming 24-hour mountain bike race with a friend (more about my riding "habit" later). We met that morning at my house and rode to Sierra Peak in the Santa Anas. We combined some road riding and dirt trails on the way there. It was going to be a five to six hour hard effort.

The ride was mostly uneventful. I was on my Giant XTC-2 hardtail. It was a good push. During our descent to Blackstar Canyon Road, partner Tim ran out of water. We still had about seven or eight miles togo so I was doing a recon for water as we headed back.

As we passed Irvine Lake, a local fishing spot, I glanced at the entrance to see if there were any sources of water. Seeing none, I quickly returned my focus to the bike lane and saw a gray pickup literally about a foot away. I saw the right front fender pass dangerously close... and then nothing.


Three days later, I awoke in the Western Medical Center Neurological Intensive Care Unit surrounded by the doctors, nurses, my wife and my family. I never got this much attention on the podium after a race! Apparently my accident had caused a subdural hematoma with diffuse axonal injury, commonly referred to as a Traumatic Brain Injury. In more simple terms, I had a severe concussion with bleeding and some swelling.

I was connected to an IV drip, oxygen, and to several sensors monitoring my condition. Being the rebel that I am, I ripped all of the leads out. This move was not received well by the hospital staff.

My speech was slow and deliberate as I struggled to find the correct words. As soon as I was conscious and able to respond, a physical therapist had me up and working out on a stationary bike. During my first bike "interval", my wife, Mary Ann, and the therapist were at my side. My vision was blurry and I started blindly pushing buttons on the exercise cycle. The therapist looked at my wife, wondering what I was doing. Mary Ann had seen me on a LifeCycle before and knew exactly what I was doing: I was inceasing the resistance. She then called me a "Show off!" Head bump or not, if I am going to be bored out of my mind on a stationary bike, I wanted to make it worth my while.

The past several months have been a trip! I am back on the bike and I am training for my next race. I wanted to share my story and my experiences.

This will be my first race since 8908.