Cyclopaat, an alter ego with a twist
Reports of my crashes, single-sided or involving cars
Yesterday I went to the surgeon for a check-up and he had two messages:
1) the recovery is actually going quite well, perhaps even better than expected and a full recovery is in the offing.
2) that complete recovery can take 9 months to a year…
Huh, WTF?!
After almost three weeks of cycling a thin line, yesterday it was time to pick up the thread.
On a brand new bicycle too, which Jos Feron had built with a lot of love.
I didn’t like the 2012 Columbus frame that much, so I opted for a Scapin Etika and the team members looked at the bike with approval.
For TeamAD6Tweets, the Stefan Willemen Classic was a kind of replacement AGR – I had been drawn in for the AGR, but had immediately decided not to start in Valkenburg.
After photos were taken at two local sponsors in Schijndel, the hometown of host Stefan, the five members of the team, supplemented by two guest cyclists, left for their 130 kilometer ride.
I was of course very curious to see how it would go, because Tacx-ing was not much fun, but that actually went well.
However, cycling outside is very different and so I would have to wait and see.
But other than some scares on the worse parts of the under-rooted cycle path, I was not disappointed.
Although any bump in the road was painful, so Paris-Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders is not yet an option.
We cycled via Oirschot and Bladel, clipped a part of Belgium and back at the Dutch border, we had coffee and apple cake.
We headed back to Oirschot, but as Bertram (van Galen) was nearing the end of his rope, the pace slowed down a bit.
We decided to shorten the route a bit and via Best and Sint-Oedenrode, Stefan’s house was reached again after almost 114 kilometers.
By the way, although there was concern for Bertram, I was also regularly asked whether things were (still) going well.
The team spirit is really great, as I know it would be, but it’s good to be reaffirmed.
This group of idiots “got to know each other” via Twitter, with the only – and very important – common denominator that they want to ride the Alpe d’HuZes for charity.
The fact that it has become such a great team is phenomenal and perhaps also proof of the binding power of the AD6.
Anyway, things went well for me, almost better than expected, although I was (secretly) quite happy that we were back.
A delicious bowl of pasta with salad and dessert to end this beautiful day: Stefan and Charlotte received us lovingly and pampered us, for which I/we thank you.
The thread has now definitely been picked up again and this gives me some confidence again.
On to Berchtesgaden!
And so 4 weeks have passed.
Another 57 days and I have to be ready, climbing the Alp preferably 6 times.
Some 14 million euros have now been raised in the context of the Alpe d’HuZes.
Cool numbers but my internal thermometer shows glowing readings…
In terms of preparation, these 4 weeks were crap, hardly little more than a waste.
(Pun not intended)
We went to the hospital yesterday and today and here is the CSA (Current State of Affairs).
Yes, crashing off your bike, wrecking it, is all fun and games, but recovering…
The last few days, I had to endure quite a bit more pain, but that seems to be ‘as expected’.
The body is in the clean-up phase and it is actually a bit like flushing lactic acid after a long training or tour.
In addition, I am trying to reduce the (addictive) medication and that probably has something to do with it.
Now, it doesn’t really help that with every further investigation a new problem is discovered.
After a CT scan of my shoulder, they discovered a fracture in that joint.
This one is also ‘neatly straight’ and the bruise hurts anyway, so it is not a real setback, but a bit of a mental setback nevertheless.
But, if you commit yourself to Alpe d’HuZes and then think about what (and especially who) you are doing it for, then you don’t sit and whine about a little (extra) fracture…
And indeed, it could have been a lot worse, so I am happy that – albeit reluctantly – I can still keep things on track on the Tacx and the spinning bike.
That doesn’t change the fact that it is quite intense, all in all, and the surgeon drew a parallel with the animal kingdom: if I had been a lion, I would be dead now.
Luckily I’m a cancer and I’m not a wimp.
So, we do laugh quite a bit, despite the fact that that also hurts!
After almost two weeks of being a coach potato, I got on the spinning bike again today.
After all, I was told that I can do ‘anything’ as long as it ‘doesn’t hurt’.
Well, until last Wednesday there was nothing I could do without ‘it’ hurting, but a few days of downing oxy’s works wonders, so it started to itch…
And anyway, I can’t do much with such a statement.
