Type: First Ride after the Crash
Distance: 25.22 miles
Time: 1:22:38
Average Watts: 156 watts
Normative Power: 193 watts
Average Heart Rate: …
Total Work: 772 kJ
Average Speed: 18.3 mph
Normative Power: 193 watts
Average Heart Rate: …
Total Work: 772 kJ
Average Speed: 18.3 mph
I”M BACK BABY! It was a slow ride, but it has only been three weeks since my bike wreck (read about it here) and it was just nice to be back in the saddle. I rode with a couple of friends who took it easy on me thank goodness and I survived. The hardest part of the process was not the physical but the mental.
My personality is such that when I try something and fail, I am more than happy to try again until I am successful. But the crash and the broken elbow had me a little spooked this morning. I got my bike back from Canyon Bicycles yesterday and they did a fantastic job putting her back together. The top tube had cracked and Cervelo — bless them — replaced the frame under warranty. The best thing about the rebuild is they were meticulous about marking the fitting, so my new bike fit like a glove.
As I got on my bike this morning, I wasn’t extremely nervous, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of my head to stay a little farther back in the paceline, slow down at every corner, and give cars a little extra space. Now none of these things were the cause of my crash, but I just didn’t want to go over the front again. I can’t really explain it, but the feeling was there the entire ride. It is something I will have to get over to gain back my edge. I am not educated in the psychology of returning to activity from a traumatic event, but I will be reading up on it and writing about what I learn here soon. Leave a comment if you have had a similar experience on or off the bike and give me some insight into how you gained back your edge.
I gotta think since it is all mental, it will just take time to rebuild that confidence that I had.
The ride was great. Physically I felt fine. I know we could have gone faster, but there will be time to get my speed back. I start travelling for work next week and will be on the road for a lot of the fall, but I should maintain fitness levels by running. Running during my injury has helped me keep something of a fitness level in my legs. Thank goodness for that!
Here is the chart from this morning:
I have been participating in running and triathlons for 10 years and love the feeling that training provides. You may not agree with me, but you know you just can't look away...
Very sorry to hear about the crash. I can empathize completely.
I know exactly what you mean about that nagging in the back of your mind while riding. I crashed back in March, after a car ran me off the road. While I suffered only mild physical injuries – bruising and road rash (thanks to my helmet, mostly!!) – the mental damage has been more extensive.
Since then, it has been a slow journey back to confidence on the bike, which was just starting to grow at the time of the crash (I'm a runner-turned-triathlete).
While I successfully finished IMLP a month ago, I still haven't completely regained my mojo on the bike. (For e.g., I still cannot get back into aero b/c of my fear of losing control around a car, etc.) But, with each ride, I gain just a little bit back – and you will too.
You are already doing the best thing: getting back on the bike and riding, despite the nagging fears and anxiety.
Some other things I've done to help the anxiety:
1) positive visualization (of racing, riding, etc),
2) mental reminders that out of all of the time I've spent on my bike – I've only had one bad crash. Those odds are definitely a winner in Vegas
3)riding with others. For example, for several of my 6 hour+ training rides, I did organized century rides, so that there would be others on the road. This makes me feel like it will force cars to be more alert.
4) ride roads that aren't busy
5) force myself to ride even when I really, really don't want to (some days, the anxiety is worse than others – like when it's raining…)
Rest assured, though, it will get better and you'll find your edge. I'm glad the injuries were not as bad as they could be and you are back to riding.
One positive thing about a crash is that it makes you more aware and cautious – and that's a good thing
Yay! I'm so glad your first time back on the bike went well. I still can't believe what happened to you! Consider yourself lucky!
This past weekend at my relay race 3 people were hit including one guy on the a bike who died!
@Maria — your IMLP was fantastic and I had no idea following your journey that you were dealing with that baggage.
@Nicole — it is always nice to see you poking around here. Tell your husband I am going to steal that pic of his abs and put it up here to appeal more to the female demographic…