Measure Once Cut Twice

That's all you're getting from me on this one.

Chris

Fit for Duty

Great news. As I predicted last week the doctor rubber stamped me today saying the bone is officially healed. He said I'm a good radiologist and an even better healer but qualified the "fit for duty" part by saying something about needing to strengthen the atrophied tendons to avoid re-injury or some such nonsense (Mom I'm just kidding). Weight bearing starts with the therapist next week.

I did treat myself to a fat-bike-road-ride when I got home so I could assess my fitness (I have none) and my wrist (it doesn't like bumps or the flat bar).

A couple other observations:

• My right hand is pasty white and the skin is softer than a baby's bottom. It is really weird when I rub my hands together, because one hand feels soft and smooth and the other hand feels rough and leathery. That's how it feels and it is really weird. 
• There is nothing quite like immobilizing your wrist in an anatomically neutral position for two months then going for a short ride to show you how anatomically incorrect flat bars are. I see some risers or maybe Marys in my future.

With the spring equinox just two days away I cannot over-emphasize how incredibly awesome this news is.

Chris

Declaration

I went for CT scan today and came home with a gazillion images on CD. I have carefully reviewed all of them and concluded that I am fully healed, so I am declaring myself fit for duty. Next week I will see the doctor for his rubber stamp. Looking good, the fat bike will get dirty soon.

Chris

I'm Getting Fat

The dark days of winter always mean weight gain and conditioning loss. This year's record snowfall has accelerated the decline and this broken wrist has dashed any hopes of even slightly bending the curve. But of course I can still drink beer (and I have found a limited supply of my new favorite Limbo IPA) so my spirits are high but it's bending the curve even further in the wrong direction. 

So I've had a few Limbos. I've cleaned and lubed the bikes twice since January 17th. I'm replacing the fork on the Inbred SS but that is a story I will save for another day. And today I am officially announcing that I am lazy, I am soft, and yes I am fat.

Yes, fat. 

So imagine my surprise this morning when my girls rolled out my birthday present. It was in a big box that looked suspiciously like a bicycle shipping container and on the side was printed "Part Number NB-BFAT" and all I saw was blah-blah-dash-blah-FAT. 

Yep, I am now the proud owner of a spanking new fat bike (or as Ruth would say, "clown" bike)! This XL porker weighed in at 38lbs with pedals (tubeless conversion, drilling the rims, and replacing the seat and post may drop that closer to 35). The steep head tube makes for amazing slow speed handling (in my living room at least) and the olive drab paint job is bad ass!  

Thank you ladies for making me glad to be fat. 

Chris

"I have too many bikes" 

     -- said by no cyclist ever

Unveiled

Corina asked "are you ready for the 'grand unveiling?'"

After ten days in those bandages with a useless club for a hand I was definitely ready. "Yes." And a minute later it was unveiled. What I found was a series of pleasant surprises:

1. The incision was pretty small. I will never know how he managed to get in there with the pin, k-wire, screw, and a cordless drill. I suspect there was some stretching involved.
2. The screw placement is pretty good on the x-ray, right through the core of the navicular. 
3. I can now wash my right hand.
4. I am back in the custom spica splint, but four times a day I take it off and do some therapy. Nothing terribly ambitious - wrist bends and touching my thumb to my pinkie -  but at least now I can do something.

Also lots of good material in the Rider Down forum on mtbr.com. Great advice for wrist (and other) injuries but more importantly a reminder that there are a LOT of people who are battling back from injuries and illnesses much worse that a busted wrist. MUCH worse, not even close.

Both sobering and inspiring.

Chris

"If you're lucky enough to be in the mountains, you're lucky enough."
     -- Unknown

A Plan

Cool composite image from today's
computed tomography (CT) scan.
Navicular fracture circled in red.

Today I went to the Exton Mall for my CT scan. Main Line Health has just opened a snazzy facility right in between Victoria's Secret and Radio Shack. It is a little weird and a lot genius. Check in, grab a latte at Saxby's coffee, get your CT scan, and grab a pair of socks at Macy's on your way back to the car.

The CT scan confirmed a break all the way through but non-displaced which is good, but still looks like I'll get that titanium I've always wanted. I was thinking ti bike frame but will have to settle for a ti surgical screw. I will get my titanium on Monday followed by 6-8 weeks immobilized in a splint then (hopefully) saddle up and begin training for The Tour duh on May 10.

At least now I have a plan.

Chris

"Safe biking is no accident"
     -- unknown

Torture

Business Plan took up the entire
back of the beer menu. So YES
Bryan we did pick up a pencil!

Yesterday I tortured myself by:

• Buying a new Reba fork from Merlin Cycles dot com for $276. That's a really  great price for a fork that I can't install on a bike that I can't ride.
• Meeting some fellow bike riders at Victory so we could start developing our business plan for "The Tour duh"

At the same time, I saved myself some pain (and a lot of one fingered typing) by stealing Mark's email summary for my blog post. I think he wrote it in the form of a list to make it easier for us to grasp (short attention spans):

1. Corinne will be our waitress moving forward.
2. MR now knows what FW means...again.
3. The "happening" beer is Dirt Wolf.
4. Next time go with the salesman, we are MTB racers.
5. Free alcohol from the table next to you is good.
6. Our enthusiasm for all things Cranston related is very much alive and can bring everyone off topic instantly. Special thanks to Chris R for this.
7. We are a tall group...well most of us.



Guest Blogger and future
Baja 1000 winner

8. Oh, we did agree on the date. The Tour Duh is slated for May 10 @ 9am. This means FW around 7:30 am.

Cinco

"You guys are so funny. I thought you were short."
     -- our favorite waitress