Wow..... another week, another trip down the tarmac. This time at Crystal Palace. Being an obsessive cyclingnews.com reader, I always read how the pros test themselves before their target events. Using this theory, I thought it would be a great idea to do a lung bursting criterium to open up the legs and also test my knee with the newest diagnosis (see below) before the national champs. It started off well enough. My cornering was Menchovesque (after my previous crash) and my legs felt like dead weights after a full rest day, but I was comfortable in the group and gave a few attacks. With about 15 minutes to go, the organisers re-routed the course, I guessed because there was a crash in the other races. Coming around next lap some of the group thought we were following the new course and others the original. I was on the front of the group and turned left, just as someone attacked up my inside who was going straight on. I hit the tarmac hard and now have road rash all along my left hand side, a melon of a bruise on my left hip, and a bruised patella bone which is so painful I can’t straighten my leg (or ride). The only positive was that I was 10 metres away from the ambulance. I rode 500 metres yesterday and had to turn around and pedal one legged back to the garage.
To add to my frustration, I only recently had a revelation for my other knee problem. I met a Spanish sports scientist at work, who showed me that my problems were because by a poor pedalling technique under load. I was pedalling too heel down, which was not utilising my quads and glutes during the power phase. The treatment? Practice pedalling much more toe down all the time. It will take time to build up the muscles that have not been used for a year but I’ve got to be patient and I am convinced this is the answer.
Strangely enough, I am happier now than when before I met my Spanish friend. At least now I know how to fix everything, even if everything is broken at the moment. You may have seen me at the Scottish Road Race champs, and it was a terrible feeling to have my knee failing me yet again. I was struggling to hold the wheels in the echelons, yet my heart rate was ticking over at 150. I hope that I can be injury free before the end of the season and win a National B race
My ways for coping with such rotten luck?
1. I just discovered the song- September by Earth Wind and Fire
2. Keeping busy at work in Cyclefit.
3. An open uni French Course. Who knows when it could be useful?
4. Sympathising with the pro’s. I feel terrible being a funded rider and not being able to do my best, but guys like Haussler or Boonen must feel absolutely awful with so much pressure on their shoulders.
5. All in the same boat. It hasn’t been a good year for GB U23s. Pete Dibben has broken his elbow three times, George Atkins has been struggling with something similar to lepresy, Joe Perrett has had a dehabilitating knee problem, and Erick Rowsell has fractured his vertebrae...twice!
I’ll finish off with saying good luck to the Endura guys at the National Champs. I think Evan will surprise a few people. And also good luck to all the U23 guys.
there is basque old prover which said: where the aim, there the step. its very important to be constant in the recovery. you have just started, when i had see you going along Mcklain street. there is a intense road to the cycling efficience but the station is not so far for you. Go Sandy!
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