Semi-retired

Not me. Not even close to being retired, semi or otherwise. No, it is my thumb splint, my constant companion of the past 25 days that has been put into semi-retirement. I saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday who, after taking a couple of photos and doing some poking and prodding, pronounced that the thumb was healing well and it was time to let it out of the splint during ‘normal activities’. He warned I should wear it if I engaged in activities where it was likely I could take an impact to the thumb (if taken literally that is anything for a klutz like me), so I took that to mean that most of the time I can live without that hard plastic shell. Yippee!

Yesterday evening I took a fast 20 mile loop up into the Los Altos Hills to give the thumb a test. Still cannot shift the thumb lever on the right side, so Wente RR is now officially off the table, though unofficially I had been resigned to it being unrealistic for the past 10-12 days. The goal now is to work towards being ready for the EBC crit two weeks from tomorrow (10 May 2008).

Madera Madness

Wow, sometimes by ignoring on-line discussions you miss out on some good cat-fights. There was some real head butting about the Madera Stage race over on the ncncaracing list. Some folks get fairly dogmatic that they have seen the truth and cannot understand when others do not agree. Sheesh. Oh well, hopefully now that the full moon has come and gone that little battle is finished.

Last Saturday I was at a birthday celebration for Mintie Linsey, who finished 3rd in the GC for the Women 4 at Madera, and I was asked when the photos I had taken at Madera would be on-line. Ooops, apologies to Mason and others who have been waiting. I finally retrieved the camera from the bag last night and will now go through them and post some to the gallery RSN (Real Soon Now).

A quick scan of the photos provided some evidence of what I had suspected. Not long after The Wife completed her ITT I noted that the rear wheel was flat. That raised questions about if it was going flat during her event which would have increased rolling resistance. No longer supposition; it is clear that as she crossed the finish the part of the tire beyond the tan sidewall is compressed down and barely visible. The replacement tires will be glued onto those wheels this weekend so The Wife can get accustomed to them before the Women’s Stage Race at Kern in three weeks.