After last weeks first club run back post op (yeah ok, I know, knee blah blah knee blah blah knee, but I'll tell you anyway), I had a few days where I really thought my knee may not even get back to how it was before, let alone be better
. I was suffering with a terrible achy pain in the outside part of the joint until wednesday when I went to see Alan, who was back from his trip to Florida. As I took a step out of his house, my knee gave way for a fraction of a second and went click with a horrible sharp pain right in the middle of the joint. All of a sudden the pain had gone and the whole knee felt quite good
. The rest of the week was good too and I was looking forward to today's club run, until last night when a few clicks and cracks reappeared when planting the foot while walking
.Not good.
Went with the 16s again this week, not wanting to push my luck too much, which was the correct decision. I may try the 17s next week - fingers crossed.
We had a good size group, but fair to say it was not the best drilled group ever to grace the surrey country side. Riders hanging off the front, riders hanging off the rear, huge gaps being left in the middle of the group, people talking too much and not looking what was happening, no communication, people not rotating, and that was before we had even left Coulsdon
I'm not totally in favour of the very strict regimented group where everyone has to stay perfectly in line for the whole ride, but some are and that's fine. I think that in all groups you are going to get different abilities and I think that on all the drags and climbs everyone should be able to push themselves as hard as they want to, and then regroup on the flat sections. I think this works well, but today, regrouping wasn't a word that anyone seemed to understand
.
Anyway, no one got left behind - I think! A group turned off at Partridge, leaving about 8 or so to carry on to the cafe via the Lambs green turn off. Sean seemed to sneekily make his way off the front of the group as we approached the plane spotters area, gaining about 80m before anyone really noticed he had gone. I looked up and realising no one was chasing him, I decided to give it a go myself - seated mind you, no out of the saddle stuff yet. I was really pleased as my powertap read 800w as I caught Sean shortly before the sign - sorry Sean
.
Tea, cake and a T-shirt, and it was back out in to the cold. Where did everyone go
. I'd missed the boat again
So me, Matt D and Sean set off with a few others on a 'chase' to see if we could catch any of the riders in front. Matt and me did most of the front running, with Sean taking over my spot a couple of times. Matt looked pretty strong and was probably riding well within himself, whereas me and sean were pretty much sh*gged by the time we got to the church, where the main group were waiting.
So on to the Merstham drag. Sylv, Matt and Phil (riding really really strong) pulled out a gap. My knee was feeling ok but my lack of fitness was telling. I made a conscious decision to go with them for as long as possible and then drop back, but two thirds up I was still there but well into the red. Can I hold them to the top. My heart rate was now 186 (my max is 188) so it would only be a matter of seconds before the inevitable. I held on by the skinniest skin of my teeth and managed to drop the HR a bit once over the top
. This effort took its toll halfway down the run in to Coulsdon as I watched the others riding off into the distance
Good ride and pleased with my knee (I'll know tomorrow if it's really making progress)
Roll on next week
Steve