Riding Like a Turtle

I went out early Monday morning for a nice solo ride on the levee. I had every intention of keeping it down to a nice steady spin, but every time I spotted another rider up the road my legs just automatically picked up the pace. I had to keep telling myself to take it easy. So when I came across a turtle crossing the road (to get to the other side, I suppose), I stopped to turn him around and place him back on the river side of the road so he wouldn't get run over. I think someone had just told me that one of the guys had hit a turtle on the bike path recently, and Donald told me there had been a big King snake up there the other day. Anyway, it was a nice ride with a few little fast stretches.

Monday afternoon was another visit to the orthopedist. The collarbone is healing, a callus is forming, and he gave me the OK to ride as long as I promised not to fall. I didn't tell him I'd already been riding for a week. He manipulated the break in various directions and seemed satisfied that things were progressing as expected. We'll take another x-ray in a month, but which time there should be some actual bone, and see where it stands. Some relatively minor surgery to smooth out the fracture area might be in the cards at some point, but that would have to wait until it was more bone to work with. The alignment is, well, let's just say I've seen a lot worse! I should have taken a pic of the x-ray. Meanwhile, up in Iowa The Daughter's doctor cleared her for swimming, so she was happy about that. She's already been back in the weight room and will probably be working half-days soon.

So Tuesday morning I made it out to meet the long ride group. I spent some time hanging off the back, and a little time in the paceline when it seemed safe, and then when we got out to the parish line I dropped off. I was feeling pretty good, but I didn't want to find out how bad my conditioning was halfway back from the turnaround, so I figured I'd ride easy and catch the on the flip side. So I rode easily out to the dip, turned around, and rode back really slowly, looking over my shoulder for the group. Finally I saw riders coming up from behind, so I sped up and latched on, only to discover that it was an earlier group, so I dropped off of that one again. Eventually, my group showed up toward the end of the ride and I finished up the ride with them, except that when we got to the playground John and Brady eased up and I stayed with Dave. It was good to get in a couple hours of saddle time, even if some of it was at turtle speed. Anyway, I enjoyed being back in the paceline, although I think it will be a couple weeks more before I feel like I can relax and ride as close to the wheel in front of me as I'm used to.