Rehab up-date. Looks like spring outside on Dec. 26.  The temperature hit 61 degrees.   Amazing that the day after Christmas it was so warm.  So I decided to increase my riding to a 15 miler.  That was an increase of 5 miles since my last ride.  A very windy 11-15 mph wind from the SSW had me riding from Goodfield to Washington.   It wasn't a total tailwind but no direct headwind, or at least that is what I thought.  Just to be sure it was a 15 miler I included extra roads to the ride.  When it was all said and done I actually travelled into the wind for about 5 miles and ended with a total of 16 miles.  I was sure I could have completed 20 but that was pretty close to what the knee would tolerate.  Amazed I am posting this level of riding given the thousands of miles I posted prior to the new knee.  But it's like I'm starting from the beginning.  The good news is there were no near misses and that's always a good thing.  More later.

Wow, 52 degrees on December 22 in central Illinois.. Feel the need for speed!! A bicycle ride to Eureka lake, a 10 mile sojourn, was calling me. Ha, you say. That shouldn't be too hard you say. That guy rides between 5,000 and 6,000 a year. What's the big deal? And yet, I was not entirely confident I could go that far because my longest ride was 5 miles since the new knee. Result....piece of cake. Not 100%, I would say about 80%, but getting closer every day.

The temperature hit 50 degrees yesterday, Friday the 13th.  After a morning therapy session, an hour and a half workout at the gym on the recumbent and upright bike, I decided to do a 5 miler outside.  Cruising along Wilmor approaching Chelsea, a car pulls out into my lane.  I was loud enough so that the car swerved to avoid hitting me and fell in behind me.  A pedestrian yelled at me "get that bike off the road".  It showed incredible stupidity on their part.  It is illegal for a bicyclist to ride on the sidewalks and I informed this individual of that fact.  I had almost forgotten how dangerous it can be to ride a bicycle in this area. but this episode reminded me of that fact.  I could have ridden further but decided to not push it.  And yes, it's not far compared to my other rides but at least it's a start.  I hope to ride a century by my birthday next September but we will see.  More updated later.

Rehab update-Physical therapy is finished.  Any more improvement will be on my own.  Currently I still do exercise to increase flexion at the gym using the recumbent and upright.  The therapist indicated I should continue my routine another 6 weeks so I do not lose what I've gained.  My last session on the upright was to be followed with a 5 mile ride outside.  However, the weather turned windy and cold so I cancelled it.  Looks like I won't be able to ride outside until the spring.  In the meantime I will continue  getting better using my trainer in the basement and the bikes at the gym.  In addition I do pool therapy once a week.  It's been 4 months and I am pleased with my progress.  Is the knee 100% healed? No, and probably will never be.  But as long as I am functional both walking and biking, I will be satisfied.  The holiday season is upon us so who knows.  I might just wander into warmer climate states and see how the biking goes.  Just so it is known, one of the people I rode with across country and on the east coast ride, Al Newman, is organizing a two week bike trip in Africa.  If my knee were up to it I would have signed up for that experience.  I have wanted to ride on the African continent for a few years and that would have been my chance.  But, alas, it was not to be.  Oh well... Updates later.

Rehab update-Took another baby step back to biking regularly.  Rode exactly 1.09 miles outdoors last Wednesday.  Yea, not a monumental amount of riding but, again, another baby step.  Looks like I have reached the limit of what the physical therapist can do so I will continue my own rehab activities that will get me back to the point I can comfortably ride those distances prior to my new knee.  But again we will see.  So, continue with daily therapy, ride the bikes at the gym and do water therapy at the pool.  Hopefully by Spring I will be fully recovered.  Stay tuned

Rehab update-Well it finally happened.  Took my first ride outside last Wednesday.  It wasn't much of a ride, just around the block, but at least I was able to ride.  My major concern wasn't whether or not I could rotate the pedals, but how my balance was effected.  As it turned out, the old adage, "it's like riding a bike"  is true.  My balance was not affected and my pedal rotation was consistent.  With no clips, I am able to move my foot to a position where pedaling without rotating my hip is possible and reasonably comfortable.  But, since the weather has turned harsh again, I will keep to my biking in the basement on the trainer and the stationary bikes at the gym.  Now on another note, I have just started aquatic rehab exercises.  And, this really makes a difference.  I will be going once, maybe twice a week.  So far, after aquatics, my knee really flares up.  I was told that is part of the rehab process.  It is taking the knee to a new level.  I'm looking for 120 degrees by Christmas. Stay tuned.

Rehab update-October goal accomplished.  Reached 115 degrees of flexion.  Doctor was quite pleased given how bad the knee was before surgery.  At the gym, I'm 35 minutes on the recumbent, 20 on the upright and walking half a mile.  So, coming up on the three month date I continue to improve.  On my trainer I'm doing 1,100 spins.  That's about half an hour of work.  The weather had been terrible but it wouldn't matter since I wouldn't have biked outside.  We had three inches of snow on Halloween.  But, the temperature is supposed to hit 52 degrees tomorrow so I just might take by bike outside to see where I'm at.  Stay tuned.  Until I'm back on the bike regularly I post pictures of the beautiful grand baby.

                                Couldn't resist.  Looking at baby pics after rehab removes all the pain
Rehab update-Knee flexion is at 110 and hopefully 115 by the end of the month.  120 is the goal and I will be there at some point.  The only one discouraged about this is me.  I had hoped to be there before this and I work like hell during my rehab.  Now the good news.  If I wanted to ride a recumbent outside I would be able to do so.  At the gym I ride for 30 minutes on the recumbent and switched to the upright for another 15.  The seat level on the upright is where it was before the knee replacement.  Now that doesn't mean there is no discomfort but it is manageable.  Plus I still roll my hip to get the full rotation. With my bike on the trainer in the basement, I have lowered the seat and do about 15 minutes.  It is more difficult than the gym but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel to where I could ride outside before winter sets in.  Stay tuned and wish me the best.

Rehab update-Two months into the rehab process and progress is being made.  I am not where I would like to be in terms of knee flexion but it is coming along painfully and slowly.  I should be at 120 degrees by the end of the month but probably won't.  I am able to spin on the recumbent relatively easily.  Yesterday at the gym  I rode the seated recumbent for 25 minutes and the  upright bike at the gym for 10 minutes.  I am decreasing the seat level and am close to my regular position.  On my bike on my trainer I can do full revolutions and I maxed out last Sunday at 30 rev.  So while I would like to be further along, I need to be satisfied with my progress and look forward to full recovery.  More later.

Rehab update.  My progress on the seated bike is going well.  I am able to do 10 minutes of full reverse and forward spinning.  Last week I went to the ICC gym.  Having done the seated bike for 10 minutes I thought I would try the upright bike.  After doing several reverse spins I decided to do a full forward spin.  Lo and behold I was able to do a full forward rotation.  Then I did another....and another.  I decided to not over do it and stopped.  Was it difficult?  You bet.  But at least it was a start.  So, yesterday I decided to try rotations on my bike I placed on a trainer in my basement.  I had done reverse rotations last week and felt it would be quite a while before I could accomplish a full forward spin.  I decided to give it my best shot and low and behold I was able to spin forward.  In fact I had Ronni video me doing forward spins.  When I showed my friends they cringed at the effort it took to do the rotations...but I had accomplished this.  I am still a long way from riding the bike but a least it is a start.  Stay tuned

First month following knee replacement.  I am able to do full forward and reverse spins on the seated recumbent at the PT's therapy center.  I'm getting a bit discouraged because I have plateaued at 95% flexion and can't seem to get more.  PT says it will come with time.  Rotation on my bike in the basement is difficult.  I got one reverse rotation yesterday and it was a killer.  I need to be sure to not over do in order to not set back my progress.  I will try to be more patient but it's difficult.  More updates later.

Third week of rehab.  My last therapy session I was doing half spins on a recumbent bike trainer.  By the end of the session I was able to complete one reverse revolution.  Still plenty of work but it was a start.  And, the good news, is the therapist indicated I could put my bike on a trainer and work on flexion and extension.  So I'm basically on the bike but obviously unable to ride since I can't do a full spin.  But again, it's a start.  Looking forward to more rehab.

Begins third week since knee replacement.  Today's therapy involved placing me on a recumbent cycle.  Not quite able to do a complete revolution but it's a start.  And, I went from walker to crutches and now I am using a cane.  Not bad for two weeks of rehab.  Be on the bike before you know it.

Finally got the knee replaced.  Cutting edge robotics used in surgery.  I asked if the computer were named Hal but I don't think the medical staff got the reference.   So now I start the rehab part.  No biking until permitted so who knows when.  Could be weeks, could be months.   Stayed tuned

Another 10,000 miles biked.  This took about two years but of that time I rode outside only 18 months.  The other miles were in my basement or at the rec center.  Those times were not added to my computer.  Hopefully this is not braggadocio but maybe so.  Anyway, that will be the last of my rides for awhile because I undergo knee replacement on Thursday.  That will take me out of commission for some time but we will see.  More later.

Reminder of the cold last winter because of all the whining about the heat.
Mad dogs and Englishmen.  Riding outside the last week was extremely hot 95 with heat index 110.  The good news is I would start out at around 7:30, do my 35-40 miles and get in before the extreme heat of the day.  My Friday ride was to Mackinaw, 20 miles, 40 miles round trip.  I got in around 10:30 just before the heat of the day set in.  Wind was from the SSW at around 15 mph but the trip back was fast.  Knee replacement surgery in August and I hope to turn my bike computer over to 10,000 miles. I should be make it easily.  My computer shows 9,776 so another 300 miles in the next 3 weeks should not be a problem.  Hopefully, I can do another century before my surgery but we'll see.  Stay tuned.

Wow, been over a month since my last entry.  I thought I had added some during June but they were never posted.  Anyway, while the rain has finally ceased to the point riding outside is once again possible, the heat and humidity have set in.  It seems like it went from winter to summer with no real spring.  And, the farm fields got planted as late as they have in a long time.  The 4th of July when the corn should be at least shoulder high was no higher than 4 feet and is some places shorter. This fall we will see how this effects the crops.  I am coming up on another 10,000 mile mark on my bike computer.  Hopefully I can pass it this month as next month I will undergo knee replacement surgery.  On the biking front, I am back to my usual 35-40 rides and have biked to Champaign (101.2 miles) once this spring.  I noted on my facebook page that my usual route to Champaign, state route 150, from Farmer City to Mahomet, about 15 miles, was in such bad condition I will need to find an alternate road in future rides to that destination.  Illinois roads are the worst!!  No big rides planned in the near future.  And, as stated earlier, I will undergo knee replacement in August.  Friends and family have told me time and time again to get the procedure since I appear to be limping more and while biking is not an issue walking any distance is problematic.  I will not be waiting so long to add to this blog so adios until next time.

So, when is all this rain going to stop?   While I haven't gotten caught in any this spring, my outside riding has been limited.  Many farm fields look like lakes and some even have ducks on them.  Currently the knee is problematic.  Looking forward to finally resolving the issue.  Until it happens I will do my best on the bike but I can tell something needs to be done.  Stay tuned

Finally got a few days of biking in the great outdoors.  Got to ride two days last week and once this week.   Two rides to Leroy the last two weeks were accomplished so things are going pretty good.  Monday I had planned riding my first century of the season.  While the temperature was supposed to be in the low 60's the wind was reported to be favorable.  So, Monday, I looked at the weather map and the temperature didn't get into the 6o's.  Instead of the wind being from the NNW at 15 mph it was, in fact, from the NNE at 10-15.  That meant I would be riding into a wind for the entire 100 mile trek.  Common sense prevailed so I cancelled my century and rode at the rec center.  What a disappointment but sooner or late the weather conditions will be favorable.  No big riding adventures planned for this summer but who knows, something always comes up.  Later Amigos.

Finished the 105 mile two day bike ride from Key Largo to Key West with the Champton Group (me, Fred, his boys Justin and Aaron and our lovely wives, Sue and Ronni.) The guys rode and the girls provided needed support. And trust me they were invaluable both days but especially on day one as the wind came from the west (our riding direction ) at a strong 15-20 mph all day. Justin thinks it may have been around 40 or 50 mph and since he was riding a beach cruiser it probab...ly felt that strong. Our first day we rode 50 miles to Marathon and after a 10:00 start time, our last rider arrived at 6:30 p.m. However, we did take several breaks and lunch lasted around 5 hours (well acutally only one, but it seemed longer.) Day two the wind turned around and was at our back all day. Balance in the universe prevails! It was great fun and I enjoyed my time riding the keys with the Hamptons. Enjoy the video crossing the 7 mile bridge. 

So on April 14 we had 4 inches of snow.  I have already mowed my lawn and have ridden outside several times.  Now this.  It's not going to last long but boy what a shock. Enough of the snow.  Lets get this Spring thing going.
Two good rides over the last 4 days.  Preparing for the Florida ride I rode my usual 55 miler to Leroy.  Without a strong tailwind my time was not as good as I would have liked it to be but it was 55 miles so objective achieved.  My recent ride was short but it was on a trail through Glen Ellyn and Wheaton Illinois.  The temperature was a balmy 78 degrees and the wind was howling from the south at between 15 and 20 mph.  The trail was mostly gravel and there quite a few stops.  Not my preferred ride but at least it was an outdoor trek and not the stationary bikes at the rec center.  Looking forward to the Florida trip and another biking adventure.

Finally......the weather was good enough for three days of outside biking.  I rode 120 miles over those three days.  After a 40 miler Sunday, Monday turned out to be a travel day.  On Tuesday, there was virtually no wind, the temperature was in the low 70's and my average speed was 16.5 mph for another 40 miles.  So, yesterday was another day in the 60's but the wind picked up quite a bit.  During my 40 mile ride I once again realized that bicycling, for the distance biker, is a metaphor for life.  There will not always be a tailwind.  There will not always be a downhill.  There will be obstacles.  When the wind is howling into your face, and the road takes an uphill turn, and some idiot in a car has come into your lane, drop the bike into whatever gear that will get you through and push on.  There are no obstacles on the biking road, or the road of life, that cannot be overcome with determination and effort.  Strive for excellence, never settle for less and at the end of the day you can look back and say "hey, who was that asshole on my side of the road"  or something as prophetic. Anyway, enough philosophizing.   Just sayin!

Wow, yesterday was my first ride outside since November. I forgot that riding inside all winter is vastly different than riding outside.  It was a little on the cool side, 50 degrees, and a tad windy at between 10 and 15 mph but at least I was able to go outside. My goal was 30 miles but I finished 35 so I feel good about that.  Now, a few observations.   For the first time since I began riding I was chased by 5 dogs.  One or two is usual but 5 is crazy.  In fact, after passing one particular farm house, two dogs double teamed me with one on each side of the bike.  The smaller bitch was actually catching up and I was doing 20 mph.  It got close enough to try and nip my biking shoe.  After much cussing and yelling they finally backed off.  I should have figured something like that was going to happen because the night before I was listening to.....wait for it......3 Dog Night.  And it begged the question....Who let the Dogs Out? 
Another observation from the ride,  was that every one of the motor vehicles that passed me showed a considerable amount of respect.  All gave me the entire lane when there were no approaching traffic.  For that I was particularly grateful.. It would be great if the entire biking season were like that.  But, as we distance bikers can acclaim, there will be close calls and that's just the way it is.  So, at the end of the ride, I was surprised at the soreness in my legs but after a warm shower and replenishing fluids I was fine.  Looking forward to more rides outside next week.  Need to get into shape for the Florida ride at the end of April.  Later!!

Another week and the weather is simply awful.  Temps in the low 20's and it is snowing with an expected accumulation of 3 inches.  I realize it's only March 5 but the weather needs to improve and soon.  I guess Paxatonny Phil missed another prediction concerning the length of winter.  Need to decide whether to take my bike to Florida or rent one down there when Fred and sons ride from Largo to Key West.   The cost is approximately the same so I need to decide which is more convenient.  I'm leaning toward taking my bike but Ronni thinks renting one would be better.  I will decide soon.  And, I'm getting antsy and need to do the outdoor biking.  Enough complaining.  Did the grand parent thing last Saturday.  Here's how it worked.  When the baby was smiling and cooing I held her.  When she was cranky Ronni took over.  Now that's grand parenting.  Okay enough foolishness.  More coming soon.

Another week of biking inside on the trainer and at the rec center.  Come on spring lets get going.  On another note, while my knee is still a concern, my left shoulder needs attention.  Got a cortisone shot and it is much better but the next step is a replacement.  Odd that I thought my next surgery would be the knee replacement but it looks like it might be the shoulder.  Plans are complete for the bike ride at the end of August from Key Largo to Key West.  Looking forward to it.  But in the meantime, I am enjoying my time this winter with the new grand baby. 

                                                             -22 and felling great!!
No riding the bike outside lately except for a minor episode in my driveway.   -22 degrees and three days below 0 meant no biking outside.  So, again, day three days  at the gym on the bikes and three days a week on my trainer in the basement.  The good news is that the local ground hog did not see it's shadow so winter will soon be over.  Ha!! Fat chance.  On another note making plans to ride with friends from Key Largo to Key West.  I did the ride three years ago and my Florida friend would like to do it again.  So in late April we are doing the ride.  Two days at 50 miles a day is our plan and appears quite doable for those on the ride.  Looking forward to it. More later 

Good news.  Fred, a friend who lives in Florida, with whom I rode from Key Largo to Key West 3 years ago, asked if I would like to do that ride again.  Sounds like a great idea so I agreed to do it.   Looks like it will be in April with his sons and his daughter-in-law.  Both Ronni and Freds wife, Sue, will drive the support vehicles. While it is only a little over 100 miles, we will take two days to make the trip.  No other distance rides scheduled at this time but it seems like something always comes up so stay tuned.  Also, visiting the grand daughter last week was special.  Look forward to spending more time up north.

Presented my Cross Country biking  program at the OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)program at Bradley University.   The OLLI group provides classes, field trips, study groups and other activities for active people over 50 years old.  The hosts provided a classy, professional experience.  It was a pleasure working with "those people" and look forward to joining the organization as a member. 
On the biking front, we just got 8 inches of snow.  I still plan on biking today........on my trainer in the basement.  Spring can't get here soon enough.  No Florida visit this year.

First outside ride since early November.  Drove down to Carbondale and the temperature reached low 60's and it is early January.  Rode a meager 35 miles but it was the hilly section of highway 51.  Weather is back to normal winter but at least I got one outside ride before spring.  "It don't get no better than this".

The holiday season is over and no rides outside since November.  Still riding at the rec center and on the trainer in the basement.  This weekend it looks like I will be able to ride outside.  Going to Carbondale and the temperature is supposed to be in the 50's.  So, I will be taking my bike and hopefully do a 40 miler.  But time will tell.  On another note, I am now officially a grandfather.  One of the reasons for not posting more was because of hectic holiday season.  My routine is getting back to normal.  Also, on Jan. 10 I will be presenting my bike program to the Bradley University ILLI program.  50 people have signed up at this time so it looks like a large group.  More later