The last day on my bike was March 29th.  We are now 4 1/2 months into the injury odysey that introduced me to a boot, crutches, and the infmamous kneeling scooter that I mastered as almost a new sport.  No running and no cycling has taken place since March 29th.  Only cycling sadness.  However, following my appointment with Dr. Majors this past Monday, I was cleared to get back in the bike shoes and get back on the bike.  In moderation of course.

“Something flat and no standing up out of the saddle climbing hills for the first few weeks.” she said.  In other words, none of my usual routes.  I would have to find something flat.  Not easy to do where I live.  In fact, my house is on a hill so that rules out anything from home.

Flat…where could I find flat in a area surrounded by rolling hils and mountains?  Ah, the rail trail of course.  A few years ago when a new light rail line went in to connect Escondido to Oceanside, the creators in their infinite wisdom also put in a paved path that will ultimately stretch the same distance.  Although it has not been completed all the way to Oceanside, there is a fair amount of very flat pavement in place. Flat it was, mostly traffic free, and literally a short drive down the hill from my house.

I packed the bike in the van and rolled down to the Albertsons parking lot near one of the access points to the trail.  Transferring my new orthopedic shoe inserts from my running shoes to my biking shoes, I slipped them on and tighted them up.  Snug, and no issues.  I grabbed my bike, shut the hatch on the van, locked it, and clipped my left foot into my peddle for the first time since March 29th.  A very satisfying feeling I must say.  I was very happy to be connected to my old friend again.  A little push with my right foot, clip in the right, and I was off wobbling and quickly trying to remember how all this worked.

The first few hundred yards was mostly a little bit of reactivation of my memory on how to work the bike and not hurt myself.  Finding a flat route was probably a good idea just because of this potential for danger.  I made sure to shift through a few gears and do some breaking.  The next half mile consisted of an easy ride listening to my left foot for any twinges or stabbing pains.  The only slight twinges were when I would have to unclip my right foot to balance when I had to stop before crossing a road.  That put more pressure on my left foot during the counter balance.  It wasn’t painful, but I could feel a little stress on the arch which could be blamed partially on the new inserts that I am still getting used to.

After about three miles, I picked up the pace a bit peddling faster.  A nice steady pace over a long stretch of trail to really get the feeling of things.  All was good.

The route worked out great.  9 miles round trip and only 190 feet of climbing total.  That’s about as flat as it could possibly get around here.

Only 9 miles, but a successful 9 miles.  A first step in the right direction.  Cycling sadness has left the building…