Ti Designs- Warning

[Sandy]

Ok Ti designs. You once were pronounced dead, but somehow seemed to return. I was never anywhere remotely close, but I might be your crowning achievement (or worst result) if you use poor judgement and dare to take me on again as a coach.

I have only one way to go, probably. After not cycling for almost 10 months, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips and back. One of two orthopedists stated- "You need two hip replacements, and back surgery", rather prematurely I believe. I have zero as in none, cardio fitness, and have lost remarkable amount of muscle mass and strength, especially in the quad area. Have gained back all the weight I lost.

Am now going to an chiropractor for the first time ever, who specializes in sports injuries and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. I mentioned you to him several times and he seems impressed by your approach.

Today I am starting on the trainer- just 5 minutes per his instruction, maybe a few times a day, at first. I am planning on following your instruction on developing the proper technique first and incorporating different muscle groups at the correct time in the cycling stroke. Easy at first with really low gears.

So if you dare, how about being my coach (again)? I believe in you. It will take some time. My goal is to become fit, lean, learn how to pedal and incorporate all relevant muscle groups, leading to some rides next cycling season with Smiley, some Serotta forum members, and the bike club in which I used to particiapate. My speed and what level I ride at is no longer of much importance. I just want to get back to one of my passions- cycling. My dog King gives me the other one already- dogs.

Do you dare??????


Snail Slow Slug Serotta Sandy

[palincss]

I have only one way to go, probably. After not cycling for almost 10 months, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips and back. One of two orthopedists stated- "You need two hip replacements, and back surgery", rather prematurely I believe. I have zero as in none, cardio fitness, and have lost remarkable amount of muscle mass and strength, especially in the quad area. Have gained back all the weight I lost.


I hope the first thing you do is get another opinion.

I've known a few people who had hip replacements, and they were in such acute pain they didn't need anybody to tell them something was wrong. One guy came back to work a week after the surgery, and when asked wasn't the pain excruciating he said compared to what he was experiencing every day before the surgery, this was almost entirely pain-free.

As for zero cardio fitness - you do still have a pulse, right? I'm willing to bet you're way better off than that. Much better off, too, I'll wager than people I've known who had cardiomyopathy and were barely able to walk around.

[regularguy412]

I think you're right on about trying to improve via therapy and fitness instead of caving in to surgeries. I have a couple of bad things going on in my lower back due to a very old injury. Early in 2007, things got worse. I thought I had developed a Morton's Neuroma on my left foot. However, the pain and pressure went away, then came back, then went away again -- over the course of a few days. Morton's Neuromas don't do that. Eventually, the pain turned into numbness in my middle toe and ring toe on that left foot. It's that way almost all the time now and I don't really notice it, except when I think about it. I also had Sciatic pain down both legs from time to time, especially when I was in my position on my bike. The pain did not start immediately upon beginning each ride, but gradually came on. About two hours was about all I could stand.

Then I decided I should visit a chiro and get some therapy. Chiro's x-rays showed a compression fracture of L-3 and the disk between L-3 and L-4 had slipped somewhat. Also, the L-5 / S-1 interface was out of whack, too, as well as the T-3 / T-4 / disc between being marginally 'out'. All of this led to any 'extra' length in my spinal cord being taken up. Consequently when I bent forward , it pulled on my spinal cord and either caused pain, numbness or tingling in the skin on my legs or 'vibrations' in the underlying musculature.

After 18 months of chiro and daily sessions on my inversion table, almost all the pain on the bike is gone. I still have toe numbness, but my body seems to have adapted to this new state of being. I think it takes about six months for nerves to 'grow'. That's about how long it took before I noted any improvement in my symptoms.

I'm glad I put off any surgery, at least for the time being.

Mike in AR:beer:

[Ti Designs]

Sandy,

You've made the mistake of asking for my help in front of hundreds of witnesses, so I'm going to hold you to it this time - no excuses.

Step 1: Before we even get into pedal stroke work, we have to get you set in a routine, and we need to make sure nothing gets in the way of making that routine as much a part of your lifestyle as walking King (or maybe you should flip around the words "you" and "King" and show him this post...). That means a dedicated area with a trainer, a bike, a tv or monitor and a fan. If you just jump right into the pedal stroke program you're just going to give yourself tendonitis at the hip flexor - we don't need that. You need to get on the bike twice a day, start at just 5 minutes and build from there. Light resistance, moderate cadence, just pedal the bike. If you feel you can do more, your limit is 10% more than you did last time. It's going to take a few weeks before we can even talk about the pedal stroke program - it's November, you have time.

I expect feedback, I want to know that you're doing the workouts, I want to know how the workouts are going, I want to know if there are ANY problems. You have my e-mail address, my phone number, you know where I work... You need to take this seriously, we're talking about your life here and Serotta doesn't make rocking chairs...

Last year I had a 75% drop-our rate in my coaching program. People say they're going to work on their riding, but when it's 12 degrees out and there's snow on the ground they forget what a bike is. This year I decided to sign up four times as many people as I can handle, expecting lots of them to drop out. The riders I did work with last year did very well this season, people could see that. The down side is that I'm looking at 13 hour days between coaching and my regular job, and nobody is dropping out! Add to that my own training (they've talked me into racing again) and it's going to be an interesting winter...

[Ozz]

This has the makings of a "reality" show...

Sandy should post his daily reports to you here so we can follow (and encourage) his progress!

:beer:

[fiamme red]

Sandy, why do you need a coach? Why do you need to perfect your pedal stroke? Just get outside and ride your bike, it's that simple.

[FMS_rider]

Ok Ti designs. You once were pronounced dead, but somehow seemed to return. I was never anywhere remotely close, but I might be your crowning achievement (or worst result) if you use poor judgement and dare to take me on again as a coach.

I have only one way to go, probably. After not cycling for almost 10 months, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips and back. One of two orthopedists stated- "You need two hip replacements, and back surgery", rather prematurely I believe. I have zero as in none, cardio fitness, and have lost remarkable amount of muscle mass and strength, especially in the quad area. Have gained back all the weight I lost.

Am now going to an chiropractor for the first time ever, who specializes in sports injuries and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. I mentioned you to him several times and he seems impressed by your approach.

Today I am starting on the trainer- just 5 minutes per his instruction, maybe a few times a day, at first. I am planning on following your instruction on developing the proper technique first and incorporating different muscle groups at the correct time in the cycling stroke. Easy at first with really low gears.

So if you dare, how about being my coach (again)? I believe in you. It will take some time. My goal is to become fit, lean, learn how to pedal and incorporate all relevant muscle groups, leading to some rides next cycling season with Smiley, some Serotta forum members, and the bike club in which I used to particiapate. My speed and what level I ride at is no longer of much importance. I just want to get back to one of my passions- cycling. My dog King gives me the other one already- dogs.

Do you dare??????


Snail Slow Slug Serotta Sandy

YES!!!

[paczki]

Sandy, why do you need a coach? Why do you need to perfect your pedal stroke? Just get outside and ride your bike, it's that simple.

It gives you a further goal, not just riding but being a good cyclist. Works for me. Which is not to say that it's any better than just riding in the grandest scheme of things, but different people need different motivations sometimes.

[Sandy]

Sandy,

You've made the mistake of asking for my help in front of hundreds of witnesses, so I'm going to hold you to it this time - no excuses.

Step 1: Before we even get into pedal stroke work, we have to get you set in a routine, and we need to make sure nothing gets in the way of making that routine as much a part of your lifestyle as walking King (or maybe you should flip around the words "you" and "King" and show him this post...). That means a dedicated area with a trainer, a bike, a tv or monitor and a fan. If you just jump right into the pedal stroke program you're just going to give yourself tendonitis at the hip flexor - we don't need that. You need to get on the bike twice a day, start at just 5 minutes and build from there. Light resistance, moderate cadence, just pedal the bike. If you feel you can do more, your limit is 10% more than you did last time. It's going to take a few weeks before we can even talk about the pedal stroke program - it's November, you have time.

I expect feedback, I want to know that you're doing the workouts, I want to know how the workouts are going, I want to know if there are ANY problems. You have my e-mail address, my phone number, you know where I work... You need to take this seriously, we're talking about your life here and Serotta doesn't make rocking chairs...

Last year I had a 75% drop-our rate in my coaching program. People say they're going to work on their riding, but when it's 12 degrees out and there's snow on the ground they forget what a bike is. This year I decided to sign up four times as many people as I can handle, expecting lots of them to drop out. The riders I did work with last year did very well this season, people could see that. The down side is that I'm looking at 13 hour days between coaching and my regular job, and nobody is dropping out! Add to that my own training (they've talked me into racing again) and it's going to be an interesting winter...

We have a deal. I have had, since last year, a dedicated area with my bike, the trainer you wanted me to buy, a TV, and a CD player (like to listen to music, not the tv when I am riding on the trainer). Put air in the tires last night I am set to go. The chiropractor also said 2-3 times per day starting at 5 minutes. He likes to go slowly. He likes your approach of using different muscle groups and firing them at the right time. I have 7 sets of exercises to do, most twice a day with just reps.

You must know your stuff. My biggest concern is starting back on the bike is my hip flexors. I was told by a physical therapist at one of the orthopedists that my hip flexors were tight, especially the one in my left leg. My left hip has worse arthritis than the right and I have much less movement about the hip in that leg. My hip flexors have been a real problem. I also knoe that they are critical in a critical part of the pedal stroke.

Ti- I know that it is serious. Smiley knows me quite well and has been saying such for about 10 months now.

Thanks............Thanks................


Sandy

[sc53]

OK Sandy add me to your cheering section on this new reality show! I expect video clips of you on the trainer--get King to film them. I haven't ridden in about a month myself. I think I'll freeload on Ti Design's program for you and get started tonight!

[Smiley]

I just Fox to cover the whole thing live, or maybe U tube with video feedback :banana:

Go Sandy Go :banana:

[Chris]

Why do I think this is going to be like watching the footage of the Kennedy assassination. I have seen it before. I know how it is going to end, but I feel compelled to watch again.

[Climb01742]

sandy, i think you're on the right track. a good chiro, with emphasis on good -- just like with any professional -- is worth his/her weight in gold for helping an athlete. if you do the exercises -- and stretch!! -- and follow a slow gradual increase in workload, you'll make progress.

one caveat, though: do you have a support "group", or even just smiley? :beer: what i mean is... there will be setbacks, soreness, even minor injuries along the way. they're all just part of the package. do you have someone to psychologically help you over the bumps? i say this with love... you can, um, get, you know, er, well, discouraged. is there someone you trust and will listen to who can... support you when needed and kick your butt when needed?

if you commit both your body and heart to this, you'll do it. just don't try to do it alone, ok? good luck, sand-man! :banana:

[Ti Designs]

one caveat, though: do you have a support "group", or even just smiley? :beer: what i mean is... there will be setbacks, soreness, even minor injuries along the way. they're all just part of the package. do you have someone to psychologically help you over the bumps? i say this with love... you can, um, get, you know, er, well, discouraged. is there someone you trust and will listen to who can... support you when needed and kick your butt when needed?


+1


When I first moved to Boston I hooked up with a few other racers to ride in the mornings. As it got colder we kept riding 'cause I knew that mark would show up and he knew that I would show up. That scenario has always worked for me. On my own I would wait 'til it got warmer, then decide there wasn't enough time for a good base mileage ride, and just not ride that day. If I know someone will be there, I have to be there on time. I'm writting this at 5:30 AM 'cause one of the riders I'm working with is going to be here at 6:00, we're both going to get on the trainers in my basement and work on pedal stroke. That's the "gotta do it" end, and there will be days you so don't want to, but there's no giving in. There also needs to be a light at the end of the tunnel, some goal you have in mind, some trip you want to take...

[Oirad]

This has the makings of a "reality" show...

Sandy should post his daily reports to you here so we can follow (and encourage) his progress!

:beer:

Yes, there is much to be learned here from Sandy and Ti Designs!

[soulspinner]

Good for you Sandy. Ti D, you are a good guy to be so busy and take him on.

Never, ever, ever give up(Winston Churchill?) :beer:

[rounder]

From what i have seen, Ti always gives good advice. If problems should show up along the way, i expect that he will adjust the program. This is interesting, someone who already knows how to ride his bike and is experiencing problems, and a proven coach who is willing to help. And also, a dog who is willing to offer support without question.

[Ti Designs]

One of the riders on the Harvard team is injured, caused by starting out way too hard, way too soon - it's all too common with young, new riders. My advice is to get off the bike and deal with the injury. Problem - she can't. Too much energy, must do something, anything to burn off extra energy...

As a past racer and coach my job is to guide new riders around all the mistakes that I've made in 15 years of racing and almost 10 years of coaching. I've extended a 6 week injury to 4 months, I was young and stupid (there's a cure for being young, the stupid part goes on and on...). If you take away all the mistakes in training, you wind up with really good riders in far less time. As odd as it make sound, I credit a lot of my sucess to having done a lot of really stupid things back when I was racing.

I've started back on the bike from rock bottom. I had injured myself weight training, spent a few months relearning how to walk and finnaly put myself back on the bike. When you're at that point you know one thing - you have to do it right. Having planned out my program for the next three months, I wrote "you know how to do this" on my stem and proceeded to bring myself back into shape.

Sandy is no different. My only fear is that he knows what my pedal stroke program involves, but that's for someone who's been on the bike, and he's not there yet. There's no skipping steps. A decade of coaching and that's about all I've learned...

Wait, am I the coach or the dog???

[capybaras]

This should be good ... :banana:

[palincss]

OK, so how is the program going?

[Ti Designs]

Hey, can someone who lives near Sandy go bang on his door and let him know that he's way overdue for sending his coach an update?

[zap]

I'll stop by

With a dog

That makes King

Look

Like

A

Mouse............................. :banana:



That should get Sandy on a bike in a heartbeat.