So many things movin' and shakin'. PT has begun and progress is being made. I still can't really rule out there isn't some nasty underlying issue causing all this but it definitely seems like I'm going to be able to get myself to a better place doing these various stretches and exercises regularly. I've got all kinds of cool PT toys now and I'm doing things like the 'reverse waiter' and 'the chipmunk game'.
I'm also crashing my cross bike and getting covered in road rash. Does that count as therapy? I didn't put my hands out to break my fall so no setbacks in that department. Just a bunch of annoying scabs on my elbow and knee. This was the first time I've crashed on a 'road' ride since I got pinched out of a B2B ride peloton into a parked car. It was a pretty classic dirt road goof on my part. Too much speed into a 90 degree turn and choose the wrong rut to commit to.
I was probably only 2 miles from home at the end of a 55+ mile ride. I was pretty gas'd and just trying to limp back in. I had a few options on how to get home and I choose the one with a bigger early descent instead of finishing off a bigger climb. Whoops. That steep descent led to the turn in question. Dove into the turn and the dirt just disintegrated and my wheel dug in. Luckily it sloughed a bit and I didn't endo and explode. I tried quickly to muscle through but I was just too tired and flopped into the ditch. It was relatively "controlled" but it doesn't take much for that gravely dirt to shred all your skin off.
I am thoroughly digging these mixed dirt/road rides I've been focusing on lately. Getting in some new routes and locations that I've been missing out on all these years. Dirt roads around here seem to be guaranteed hilly and many of these rides have been chock full of vert.
On the MTB front the mods continue. Finally got around to installing my new cockpit setup. Shorter stem, riser bars and (although not in this pic) I re-found my Ergon grips that I ran a year or two ago. I had totally forgot I had them and remembered that the only reason I stopped running them was because I couldn't get them to grip my carbon bars and they would spin under higher SS torque. Bar is aluminum now and there will also be less torque due to my second mod decision which is GEARS.
I know. Blasphemy. It was a hard decision to make. But I think it was the right one. At least for awhile. Sitting and spinning at times will be much easier for my wrists and gears will actually allow me to do some of the longer format rides I like to do a bit easier and more time efficient by being able to actually pedal the flats etc.
Bike is at Chainline now, parts are ordered for the 1x10 conversion. Just waiting on a new dropout with a hanger from Spot and hopefully I'll have it converted and ready to ride for NEMBAfest. That will be my first time back on dirt in weeks. Cautiously optimistic.
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