Hurts

On the things, you have to do after a crash is to get back on the bike.  I had already planned to take the day off on Thursday to go over to Dallas to ride with my college friend, fraternity brother, and former roommate Bob Jung.  (Who I hope reads and clicks on the ads in this blog) 

Bob rides, not at the level that I do, but has one Hotter N Hell under his belt.  I was allready to ride him in the ground, show off my new bike and the skinnier me.  Of course, my crash on Monday did a wonderful job of humbling me.  

Bob and I did a very nice ride on a beautiful blustery day around White Rock Lake.  It became very clear to me that I banged up my shoulder much more than I thought I did.  It was quite painful to ride and my back got real tense trying to take the load of my shoulder.  I had envisoned a much longer ride. 

Bob and I got in a good visit.  In no means did I ever push the pace.  One of the cool things we did do is stop at the Dallas Bicycle Café that just opened by the lake. 

As a cycling geek, it was really cool and I hope it succeeds.  I am already plotting one of my infamous urban centuries .that will make it a destination. 

Crash

One of the problems with riding the bike as much as I do, you will eventually crash.   I have a few falls over the years.  These crashes caused me to end up with broken bones. strained muscles and road rash. Some think foolishly, I still get back on the bike and ride.

This past Presidents Day, I met the concrete again.   I was riding with my cycling buddies Mark Wessels and Dennis Farris.  We were traveling east bound on 3^rd Street coming out of downtown Fort Worth, actually in a bike lane. 

The lane was far enough into the road that it allowed for cars to parallel park between the lane and the curb.  I was leading us out of downtown so I was focused on driver sides doors flinging open to block our path.  Because of this,  I missed the expansion joint in the concrete that was running in the middle of the bike lane.  My bike dropped into the joint and I lost control.  I tried to write myself, but it was too late.   I distinctly remember thinking as I was flying through the air, “This better not mess up my cycling season.”

As I tumbled to the ground my right shoulder took the brunt of my fall.  Instantaneously, as I skidded to a halt, the fear of another broken collar bone hits home.  As Mark and Dennis gather my bike and my sunglasses, I laid motionless on the ground out of anxiety that it was going to hurt if I move.

This confused the numerous cars that stopped to check if we needed any help.  As Dennis and Mark asked me I was able to get up, I expressed my concern that I did not want to move.  Dennis, in his normal wit, acknowledge at some point I needed not be in the road.

I sat up, and with the help  of Mark and Dennis stood up.  I discovered that my shoulder, although sore, did not have any sharp pains as if it was broken.  We assessed the damaged on my bike, made sure I could ride and headed to Dennis’ house where Mark would give me a ride home.

It was a painful and unpleasant ride but we made it.  I would like to note to all those that think bike seats are uncomfortable, when I chunk of padding is missing, you notice.

During the ride I debated the whole emergency room visit.  On the ride home in Mark's SUV, Carol, who as come accustomed to these phone calls from me, suggested I make an appointment at our Doctor’s Clinic.   Hanging up from Carol, I made the appointment.

Mark, as all good cycling buddies would do, dropped me off the house volunteered to take my bike to the shop.  Later in the day, Mark texted me that he told the manager to spare no expense.

I received three stitches in my right elbow and the x-rays confirmed that I had no broken bones.

Austin Half Marathon

One of my goals in life is double up my time commitments as much as possible.  Last year when Little Troop 5 went down to Austin, I realized it was the same weekend as the Austin Marathon.    I hatched this grand plan of combining the two events.    This past weekend we pulled it off.

I challenged the whole troop to participate in LIvestrong Marathon Weekend.    I was not quite as successful as I had hoped, but I believe that the troop has been inspired more participation next year.

5 boys and one ASM (Mack McKee) did the 5k in the morning.  Mike Reilhe and I did the half marathon.

The boys doing the 5k got to watch the start of the Marathon and Half Marathon, but more importantly see and hear Lance Armstrong welcome everyone to Austin and the race.  This was the second event I had been at that he spoke at, the first being Ride forthe Roses in 1999.

I have been training and set my goal to set a personal best for a half.  As readers of this blog know, I am far more of an exerciser than I am an athlete.   I set an optimistic goal of a 1:45 half, or about 9 minutes faster than I ever run one.

All dressed in my Texas Tech running gear I set to the streets of Austin to achieve my goal.  I kept my pace steady and monitored my heart rate.  I pushed up the hills (there were a lot it seemed) and coasted down them.  When I saw the State Capital towards the finish I was at 1:35 with less than a mile to go.  I kicked it into whatever gear I had left and crossed the line with an official time of 1:43:17, with my “Guns Up”  

Each of the boys did very well with the 5k and Mack is the current reigning adult Troop 5 adult 5ker.

Much thanks goes to Keith Cottrell for driving a tired bunch of tired scouts home after a long weekend.  

APO UT Merit Badge College

Little Troop 5 went down to Austin for a Merit Badge College at the University of Texas this past weekend.  This is our second year do this event.  I believe we are going to attempt to make it part of our routine from here on out.  

A merit badge college provides the boys in the troop to get a merit badge outside the normal scope.   The Troop has counselors for all the Eagle required badges, plus the old stand byes.  The boys get exposure to merit badges like cinema, aviation, and oceanography. Although,  ironically; it was Dave Britton, ASM Troop 5, teaching oceanography.

We once again stayed at the Texas Motor Transportation Association headquarters, thanks to my college fraternity brother John Esparza.  This makes the campout doable, do to travel and the unpredictable weather of Texas in February.  Last year's post.

The Merit Badge College is organized by UT college students.   I think this is an excellent program for Alpha Phi Omega, the national scouting fraternity, to run.  They do a great job and just like the rest of us, wait to the last minute to do anything.   That allowed for a panic email to Mack McKee late last week to ask Little Troop 5 to do the opening ceremony.

The boys did an excellent job and it was cool to represent the Longhorn Council at a Capital Area Council event.  Scoutmasters like such things.

Scout Sunday

This past Sunday was Scout Sunday.  Little Troop 5 is not sponsored by a church, so we tend to let this Scout Sunday slip by and not do anything.  This is not a good thing, just a fact.  It has a lot to do with the fact my current animosity towards organized religion.  Organizations are reflections of their leaders and I am not setting a good example on this item.

Mack McKee followed up with an invitation from Troop 421 to participate in Scout Sunday at Grace Presbyterian Church.   I had every intent to skip this event, but my phone started ringing on Sunday morning for directions to the church.

I was awashed with guilt.   Not supporting the troop, my boys and backing up Mack for stepping up and providing a program.  Off to Church I went.

A Scout is Reverent.

2012 Super Bowl Ride

I was very pleased that the Super Bowl ride was not canceled this year.  I find it extremely ironic that the year the Super Bowl was in Arlington last year, the weather did not allow us to ride.

It was a cold and crisp ride with the wind out of the North West.  The crew from Arlington was a third of the size that it normally is for the ride.   However, most of the hearty souls that did the ride are part of my cycling world.

We head to the Westend of Dallas and meet at Dick’s Last Resort.  It turns into a 64.8 mile ride for me round trip.   The Arlington crew is not as social as the rest of DFW Cyclists and we do not stay and eat; but just take a break and turn around.   I was allowed a very short time to visit with my other cycling friends from around the metroplex.  I was yelled at to stop “politicking” and get on the bike. This caused me to fail in letting Carol know I successfully made it to downtown Dallas.

Although I did get good visits with the Arlington crew, particularly with the tailwind headed south.