Sadly it has taken over 8 1/2 months to finally provide an update. This year has been full of ups and downs on and off the bike. Too much to provide details but will offer a general summary and once again pledge to be more consistent with updates. The year started with a delayed trip to the southern training camp in early January due to Mom’s hospitalization. Made the trip once the crisis passed but it rapidly accelerated her decline and she passed away prior to her 82nd birthday. Decided with the Missus to once again put the property on the market and successfully sold the property in mid-spring. Spent over 3 weeks in the United Kingdom completing the 1000-mile LEJOG (Land’s End, England to John O’Groats, Scotland) route with Saddle Skedaddle tour company with a few extra days at the beginning riding in Surrey Hills (e.g., Box and Leith Hills) and the end cycling around Edinburgh. Had a low speed crash that resulted in spending my birthday in Walter Reed hospital recovering from a total hip replacement necessitated by a shattered left femur. As a result, forced to pull the plug on cycling trips to Alaska and Portugal in 2026 and Australia and New Zealand in 2027. Will provide recovery updates and the return to cycling activities. Will also provide select photos and link to my You Tube channel which has short videos of each of the cycling days in the UK.
The road to cycling recover has commenced following receiving medical authorization to resume cycling, stationary only, at an intensity not to exceed Z2 until the next follow-up in 6 weeks. Had grandiose plans of riding for 30 minutes at a high Z1/low Z2 effort. Reality often creates humbling experiences – 15 minutes on Zwift with Bernie the Robo-pacer was enough to call it quits on day 1. Duration and intensity improved over the next several days but still haven’t consistently reached, let alone maintain a Z2 effort for any appreciable amount of time. But it’s all ok. Spinning has become more fluid and approaching a steady, 90 rpm cadence for 30-35 minutes.
As mentioned above, short videos of my LEJOG adventure are posted here: https://www.youtube.com/@bretslater8089
The recovery continues with structured, short, low Z2 interval Zwift workouts. Feel more like a cyclist but still a long road ahead. Daily walking sessions continue with slow progression back to 3-mile distance. Cycling has made a difference with smoothing out the walking gait. Unfortunately, the pesky ischial tendinapothy has made a return appearance after a 5+ year absence. Recurrence usually coincides with an attempt to return to running. Still miss it after mostly giving it up 15 years ago. Hip replacement has precluded running as the reason for its return but maybe the surgery itself or the subsequent physical therapy is the culprit.
Adding food pictures from the UK.
Cycling and Culinary Flavors 