Saturday, June 28, 2008

FINS, Roof Racks and De-Stitching

For some unknown reason I got myself into a rut with the FINS trail. Whenever I went to ride there I took essentially the same route. Mike and Spencer had complained that the trail was getting boring and I was starting to agree. Yesterday Mike had to work so it was just Spencer and I. We decided to take a different route this time and went up a part of the trail Spencer had never rode and I hadn't rode for probably six months. All at once the trail took on new life as we explored new parts of FINS and rode sections different directions. This morning I went back to FINS and again mixed things up. I even found a new little section that I had never ridden. Both rides were great and I was left wondering why I had ever allowed myself to only ride the trail a certain way. It won't happen again.

I purchased another bike tray for my roof rack today. We usually take Mike's van or Spencer's Tahoe when we go ride, but yesterday Spencer needed me to drive. I realized that the Volvo only had one bike tray on top and the back door is jammed shut, so there was nowhere to put Spencer's bike. Anxious to not miss a ride I went to Target, of all places, at 10 pm to purchase a trunk rack for the Honda. As was to be expected with a bike rack purchased from Target, it's a flimsy piece of $#!* (junk). But it got us where we needed to go. (Today I will take it back to Target.) When I got home I got onto Craigslist and found somebody selling a Saris roof rack with two bike trays. Since Saris doesn't make their roof rack anymore this is the only way to find accessories. I called the guy up and asked if I could just buy one of his trays. This morning I went over and picked it up. I may have even found a new riding partner as he is interested in hitting the trails together.

I am pulling my stitches out tomorrow. I had the doctor look at them on Thursday and he suggested I leave them in a few more days. I didn't want to stop riding simply because I had a few stitches but I also didn't want to prolong the healing process. Fortunately based on the location of the cut the stitches are not stressed when I ride a bike. But there is a chance of smacking my shin against something on the trail. Since I don't have any biking body armor I decided to improvise. I pulled out an old pair of soccer shin guards that I got while living in Virginia. It worked perfect. It came up just high enough on my leg to cover the wound, but did not restrain my riding. Even though I'm yanking the stitches out tomorrow I think I'll wear the shin guard for a couple more weeks on the trail, just to keep protecting my leg until it is completely healed.

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