Knee Replacement Day October 12th 2021

Your decision to get both done instead of one at a time looks like a winner!

 

Thanks Robbie!
Yeah I had a lot of folks try to convince me to do one at a time. Even sports specialist had shared they would never do both knees at the same time.

I think the best research I found was go into the surgery in shape. The more training on the front end, the better the end results.
I owe SO MUCH to mountain biking. It has kept me young (also lead me to many hospitals with broken parts, lol!) But all in all, I would not trade in all the disasters of broken pelvis, ribs, collarbones, wrists, and worn out knees in exchange for no mountain biking.

My PT guy is absolutely blown away by how agile I am and how fast I have recovered and doing things others he says have never accomplished, even years later in therapy. I owe it all to mountain biking, will power, and a positive attitude.

Thanks Man!

 

And Tailwindz, don't forget the Tailwindz!

 

…and Tailwindz’s…
…and the amazing imtbtrails Hooligan Support Team!

 

Fantastic!

 

Not worthy enough for the “I Rode My Bike” thread yet, but working on it!
Today’s journey takes us on the California Aqueduct. The California Aqueduct is a canal waterway that snags a significant amount of Northern California watershed to supply the gluttonous Los Angeles County. During it’s construction it was often blown up with dynamite by Northern farmers and ranchers.

The project was “Sold” to the California taxpayer as a source of water by including it as a recreation facility. Stocked with fish for fishing, paved on the north side for walking, jogging, and cycling, it stretches well over 400 miles.

But then… some dumbazz on a bicycle dropped a drop like we did today and lost control of their bike, crashed… and became paralyzed either a paraplegic or a quadriplegic and sued the State of California and won millions! Thus cutting large sections of this promised recreation off to cyclists and the removal of really nice roofed picnic areas along its path.

NATURALLY… The stretch that CJ and I live along has the closed section to cycling. However, if you know my Hooligan nature, why would that stop US from riding it anyway. imtbtrails Hooligans have a pass to ride where we want dammit! ( I kid, I kid! Lighten up Francis! )

We did however at mid point run in to an Aqueduct patrol. I smiled my biggest smile and said “Happy Thanksgiving!” She was nice and said she did not care if we rode the aqueduct. Just as long as we were not terrorists! I told here, “We were good!”

So we putted down in the Honda Civic to a spot on the Aqueduct and we took a spin heading East. Weather perfect with a ever so slight headwind making it nice for the return trip. Did a 6 mile out and back that would take us to Shea’s Castle.





Yup! I “dare” to claim a “Life Behind Bars” pic on a paved road… the atrocity!


A real castle. Built in the Antelope Valley in the early 1900’s. Built by a Scottish man in effort to entice his wife to move from Scotland to the United States, so... he built a replica of a Scottish Castle. Naturally as the story goes once complete his wife did move there and then died shortly afterwards which “NATURALLY”… now the castle is… you guessed it… HAUNTED!

We had close friends who bought the Castle many years ago. My brother was friends with the kids growing up there through school spending many nights there. My brother and the two sons who lived there swear that the place is indeed haunted. One of the son’s is still currently in a mental institution. No BS on this story!


If you are looking for a great Antelope Valley spin… it don’t get any better (and safer) than the California Aqueduct, provided it’s not a day of hurracinous winds!

 

I had no idea the aqueduct was open at one time to the public. I would love to do that on my gravel bike.

 

There are many sections that still are Ed. I think the no bike signs are up, but the employees don’t really enforce them. Pick a good day with no wind and get you some!

 

Hail yes breaking the law tells me you’re healing just fine. Those are some pretty pics. I’d like to cruz some of that. The desert has so much to look at if you just know where to look.

 

@Mikie you leave me speechless. You are already posting numbers that equal my typical rides! Well, almost.

I N S P I R A T I O N !

 

Excellent!!! Great report. Impressive ride!

 

So…
I’m back to a working stiff again starting today. Meaning daylight is gone on both ends of the day.
Tossed the DV9 in the trainer and spun some…

My current weight is 191 lbs. I think that’s the lowest I have been in a while. I’m convinced that operating in the fat burning heart rate zones is most effective.

 

Everyday is progress brother @Mikie

 

Back to work? That is pretty amazing. Way to fit in some trainer work too.

 

Thanks Gentlemen!
Great moral support and Hooligan healing vibes, Impatience, superhuman strength, Tailwinds, and I can imagine most would allow me to say in this situation faith in the mightiest physician of all, God who I owe everything!

 

well the good news is you gain the same elevation on the trainer as you do on the aqueduct. So just think of the trainer as a warm up for the long canal ride. That sucker goes on and on.

 

The wind makes it like climbing though. Uphill both ways.

 

Got my first "After Surgery" call today from my surgeon.
Apparently he connected with my Physical Therapist.
He asked how I was doing, and then promptly told me to throttle da hail back! Throttle it back? He said they don't podium Top Achievers in Physical Therapy!

No more weight training, only beach cruiser rides (Hmmm... N+1?) for a minimum of 3 months. Said I'm structurally sound, but my muscles and tendons (soft tissue) is raging through healing which I can concur.
Shared that I can either listen to him and ride for years, or damage myself and give up on cycling.

He said he was all in for serious mountain biking but that is to be evaluated no earlier than 6 months out. Six months?!?!?
I only get to do maintenance stretching, trainer and flat land cycling with no getting up out of the saddle (meany).
He said I was the kind of guy that he has to tell to cool their jets.

So my cycling season is screwed! Again! Yay... me.

Paging @OTHRider ...

 

I bet he gave your PT an earful!

 

Speaking from experience!

 

He has that monotone voice so have no idea. I see my PT guy on Friday. It will be interesting.

 

Funny, that's the opposite of my knee surgeon and PT guy from my first ACL surgery. At my 10 day follow up following surgery, the surgeon told me the knee is structurally sound, no need for crutches anymore. He approved me to start PT and PT guy promptly put me back on crutches and told me to slow it down.

 

They will tell you no serious uphill cycling or hiking, also. Over-stressing the joint will simply wear it out faster. You do need to let it heal and settle in before you assault Everest.

Yeah, real life gets in the way of our fantasies. I'm with you on that. But, it's reality.

 

well I was almost 4 most in and fell in my barn, that was not too good. I tried the bike and did an uncontrolled dismount on the left side, that was dumb. So risk management suggested I wait it out and I did. It is best allowing things to rebuild and re-attach. Then suffer with the lack of performance. But the improvement scale is much steeper than it is when there are no issues to overcome

 

ACL repair is just a little different than TKR.

 

I got the same smack upside my head. Only I didn't follow too well. I had to look up my knee diary.

I was released for EASY outdoor riding on flats on week six. On week seven, I returned to work. By week 10, I was doing two 10-mile rides a week and felt so good I wanted to just ride all day. The next week I rode into Chino Hills and confidently pedaled 23 & 1900' ....... what a colossal mistake.

I felt awesome until I woke up the next morning. I was more swollen than after the surgery. Every single fiber, tendon, nerve and soft-tissue mass was on fire. I was wrecked and got another stern talking to. I couldn't ride for three weeks. My knee just wouldn't bend enough. I was also a reject at work as I had to use the cane for a solid week. Yes, I was really stupid and set back my PT.

You will be fine and the miles will come quickly. By six months I was back to all of my regular rides with no issues or pain. To this day the only thing that gets me is climbing a ladder to trim palm fronds. Leaning into the ladder and reaching out while cutting really puts me into the old "You overdid it again" club for a day or two. Not hobbled, just sore.

Keep up the good work, be patient and you'll be up and flying soon enough.

 

This too shall pass! Seems like a pelvic fracture was awhile ago. Be patient grasshoppa

 

Six months is just enough to remind you how much you like riding, Mikie. It'll go fast. Follow conditions...heal now, ride hard later. It's all progress.

 

Thanks bud! This was REALLY helpful!

 

When you’re right, you’re right! And you are both right!