Happy New Year!

Santa did have a surprice for me at Christmas after all...
A fever of 102 degrees, with a troath that made everytime swallowing a major event! Just what was missing.... Got on Cephalexin and two days later things returned to normal. Tuesday made for my first post-op follow-up visit with Dr. Williams. He took my left shoulder through a passive full range of motion and was pleased with the stability the SC-Joint displayed. Cosmetically it doesn't look like a Hollywood finish, as long as it functions good I'll be more than happy! I am allowed to mount my bike on the trainer, as long as my left shoulder remains retracted, (only right hand on the handlebars). I'll start 2010 with my first ride! In the mean time I'll have to put some meat on my bones, as my weight has dropped to a meager 160 lbs!
For now it'll be another 2 weeks with the left arm in a sling, just to allow the allographs to make adhesions in order to create a good stability at the SC-Joint. It was interesting to learn that the accident caused the joint surface destroyed, the disc to float underneath the joint and the anterior joint capsule/ligaments gone. I am so grateful for a great surgery result, with hopefully an equal rehabilitation result! Happy New Year to all, with best wishes for a glorious 2010 ;)

Christmas

Christmas has turned out to be a wonderful day with temperatures from low 30's up to upper 40's and sunshine all day! I had a great visit with Angiographer and his family, laughs, love and awesome gumbo to fill hearts and tummies. After this visit I followed Sammy's example and kicked back in my recliner and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.
Feeling blessed and content ;)

Merry Christmas

We have enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745).

Christmas Eve

I guess it must have been getting old looking at that incision day in day out. So here it is, just for looks "back on the bike"- photo credit: Jason Meaux. Just know this is just for show, I am a far cry out from action... The progress is coming slowly, with ups and downs. It looks like I'll end up with a very aero-dynamic SC-joint, which will have to be confirmed by John Cobb in the Texas A&M windtunnel. Tomorrow will mark the first full week post-op. I hope the progression will continue in a speedy fashion.


Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas + a Happy New Year!
Thanks for all your kindness, support and love, during this rough spot in my life journey ;)

Tuesday

This picture was taken on Tuesday evening, about four and a half days post-op. For no appearant reason a rough day and still a lot of swelling. Doing my best to follow Dr's orders, which means staying away of anything that is tempting me to become active with my hands...
Mostly confined to my recliner, letting the dogs out from time to time. Again nice visits, calls and messages from so many great people, for which I am so grateful, yet humbled at the same time! So much healing power in those moments ;) Thanks so much; 7 days till first follow up appointment............

Monday Monday...

Had a better night again! Awakened at 7:00AM, let dogs out, coffee, pipe and the Advocate paper... And sure enough, my 1st bowel movement since the surgery last Friday... Great visitations and support of many friends!!
To top the day, news that Karen got her certification for Pilates Equipment!!! WoHooooo!
Took my first full bath since surgery. As you can tell from looking at the picture, there is still a lot of swelling around the incision, but the pain is getting better day by day. Thanks to all for your warm and kind support!

Sunday

Had a better night with about 6 hours of sleep, thanks to Demerol. Nice visit with the Rhino, Jason Meaux earlier this morning. It is in times like this one comes to know his true friends and I am humbled by how many great friends I have.

Back home

After my 3 hour surgery yesterday and a rough night, back in the comfort of my home ;)
Getting ready to watch Ironman Kona, followed by the Saints vs Dallas Cowboys.
Thanks to all my dear friends for your prayers and support.

Boef

R.I.P. BOEF

After having given me years of joy, Boef's life has ended today...
He's been an awesome dog,
whom has 'boefed' many when visiting the Vuijsters' home.
I am saddened by the loss of a great companion,
yet at the same time happy for Boef,
as his health started failing rapidly.
He reached the amazing age of 13 years!!!
Sammy will miss her big brother....
as will we...
and all that had the pleasure knowing him....

Rouleur #15

Just in time for the holidays!

Sunday Morning Ride

We are riding, leaving from 118 Demas Drive, tomorrow morning @ 7:00AM. This will be an 'easy pace' ride, distance yet to be determent...

Location:Demas Dr,Lafayette,United States

Final Rehab Set-Up

Just tweaked the rehab center.
Decided to set up the Merlin Extra Light with the Continental Trainer Tire, just because the 'flat-top' carbon handlebar seems more conducive to trainer endurance for a 'one handed cyclist'..... Will provide mat&space for Rhino to train with me.....

Java

Two studies in the July 2009 issue of Journal of Alzheimer's Disease show that [the human equivalent of] five cups of coffee a day reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease. The coffee also reduced blood and brain levels of beta-amyloid,the abnormal protein that may cause Alzheimer's disease in mice and people. Other studies by the same researchers at the University of Florida show that caffeine lowers blood levels of beta-amyloid in elderly non-demented humans, and when given in early adulthood, prevents memory loss in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease in old age. Previous studies on rabbits also showed that caffeine may help to prevent Alzheimer's

Researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Committee plan to start studies in humans to evaluate whether caffeine can prevent memory loss of early Alzheimer's disease. Other experiments by the same group show that caffeine may prevent memory loss by blocking the enzymes that make beta amyloid

The amount of caffeine in two to five cups of coffee (200 to 500 milligrams) is probably safe, but more than five cups a day may cause insomnia, nervousness, irritability, nausea, anxiety, a fast or irregular heartbeat, headaches, breast pain or muscle tremors. People who have high blood pressure or narrowed arteries leading to the heart may be advised to restrict caffeine. However, the Nurse's Study showed that heavy coffee drinking is not associated with increased risk for high blood pressure. Unfiltered coffee raises blood levels of the bad LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels after eating. Pregnant women are advised to restrict caffeine since it may cause miscarriage or low birth weight

Many studies show that caffeine can improve mood, alertness and energy, prevent diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and liver cancer, decrease the risk of stroke and may help prevent skin cancer. It also increases endurance in athletes.

From Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health E-Zine (July 12, 2009)

Post-Op Rehab Center @ 118 Demas Drive

Trainer-Time

Just finished the set-up of my Sternoclavicular Stabilization surgery post-op rehab center. I'll have my pre-op visit tomorrow, after having done a CT-scan late this afternoon. It amazed me to learn about the level of arthritic/degenerative progression over a period of just 5 months! This in itself, aside of the persistent pain motivates me enough to leave the path of non-invasive therapy and pursue a more radical approach. Surgery is set for Friday December 18 2009. I've been told to stay off the bike (on the road) for a period of 3 months! In order to survive, I ordered a CycleOps SuperMagneto Pro trainer through Precision Bikes, (thanks Mark). It's set up in a corner of the living room, within viewing sight of a TV, which will be showing one of many Tour de France DVD's, in an attempt to maintain any form of sanity during my rehab. In spite of hating to be on a trainer, I consider it choosing the lesser of 2 evils, (the other one being a couch-patato). Even though my left arm will be confined to a immobilizing sling, I'll be able to maintain core stability, leg strength and cardiovascular condition.


My first choice is my Colnago Master X-Light Molteni. It'll be interesting to see which bike suits me better, my Colnago, Merlin or my Look 596 TT bike... I am realizing that this upcoming surgery unlocks a ton of memories of past trauma, surgeries and recoveries. Not only will it be a physical challenge, it'll test once more my spiritual, mental and emotional being.
It seems easier to preach (to my patients), than to practice (the good I'll have to apply to self)!
I am humbled by the support of Karen
and great friends I've been blessed with of the course of time.

Beyond all this, it seems this blogging turns out to be a healthy form of 'keeping a journal'...

How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road

This month's Scientific American has an article with the above title.

In the U.S., men’s cycling trips surpass women’s by at least 2:1. This ratio stands in marked contrast to cycling in European countries, where urban biking is a way of life and draws about as many women as men—sometimes more. In the Netherlands, where 27 percent of all trips are made by bike, 55 percent of all riders are women. In Germany 12 percent of all trips are on bikes, 49 percent of which are made by women.

“If you want to know if an urban environment supports cycling, you can forget about all the detailed ‘bikeability indexes’—just measure the proportion of cyclists who are female,” says Jan Garrard, a senior lecturer at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and author of several studies on biking and gender differences.

An article in their July issue (the abstract is online--full article requires a paid subscription or a visit to your local library) discusses the powerful link between physical activity and mental acuity. Staying fit helps us maintain our cognition as we age.

(uploaded from Ruminations on Life and Cycling)

Tiger

You'd think Obama would talk to Bill Clinton first.....

Sunday Morning Ride

In company of The Great Rhino and Dave Leblanc, (Strength Coach STM),

( who in my opinion can kick most anyone's A$$ ),

I decided to go for a nice 30 mile ride at 7 AM this morning.

Temperatures were reaching 36 degrees and I am sure the wind made it feel worse...

But what an awesome way to start the Sunday!

"We finally crossed that bridge, when we got to it...."

(been hearing about this for years now, ha)

This bridge on Robley has been closed for the better part of 2 years,

though recently I heard the good news it might open again soon ;)

Which will make it much easier to get to Woodlawn...
_____________

I learned in visiting with Jason, that Dockside Studio is located on the route,
that I've been riding for years....
Many great musicians have recorded their work here, such as:

B.B. King
Dr. John
Irma Thomas
Tab Benoit
Scarlett Johansson
Keb Mo
The Subdudes
Taj Mahal
Buckwheat Zydeco
Marc Broussard
Wayne Toups
Mark Knopler
BeauSoleil
Leon Russell
Gatemouth Brown
Sonny Landreth
Michael Doucet
Cyril Neville
Jim Keltner
Cowboy Mouth
It just amazes me to think all this great talent, right here in our backyard!!!

2nd Job

Since the economy has been on a decline, I am blessed to have found a second job! Mark Miller has been so kind to employ me as 'web-master' of his bike shop "Precision Bikes"...
The picture shows me at work in the office that is shared by most any patron at Precision Bikes....
All joking aside, PB is one of my favorite 'hang-outs', you can say; It feels to me like hanging out at the barber shop!
The best of people show up, while there is always a learning opportunity for me, observing Mark working on bikes.

I Raced a Harley Today..

I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed
to slip past the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really
twisting sections of mountain road with no straight sections to
speak of and where most of the bends have warning signs that
say "MAX SPEED 35 MPH".

I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those
big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be a place like this where
handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.

I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could
catch him, but it wouldn't be easy. I concentrated on my braking and
cornering. Three corners later, I was on his mudguard. Catching him
was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.

Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the
mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly
got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd
manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but
when we came out he'd get on the throttle and out-power me. His
horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me
more determined than ever.

My only hope was to out-brake him. I held off squeezing the lever
until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an
instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of
his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before
the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.

But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I
stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the
canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see
him in my rear-view mirror.

Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles
before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I
had no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the
tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more
than horsepower and deep pockets, I had passed him. Though it was
not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the mountain and I had
preserved the proud tradition of some of the best of Italian iron.

I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever worked so hard

in my life. And, to be fair, some of the credit must go where due; the money

had been spent well on the Campagnolo cranks and derailers…

Tolerance..

Saints 11-0!!!

SOWEEEEETTTT!!!

Fausto Coppi on the road

Photo credit: Phil Barnidge

This photo was taken during the Gumbo Ride, Sunday - November 22-2009.

Aside 2 flats (on tubulars)

and having to catch a ride home with 2 nice Cajun fellows in their small and packed pick-up truck,

it was sweet to feel the steel ride take on the mud-sprinkled Louisiana roads...

I have to say, after cleaning the Fausto Coppi,

she'll be saved for a ride to the coffee shop or around the block on a sunny Sunday morning...

She is just too precious to be subjected to 'Belgium Toothpaste'.....