In A Deep Compression

I've been rocking a swollen leg for a few days now. It was swollen pretty good and Wifey was convinced that I had everything from Deep-Vein Thrombosis to some rare blood disease only found in whales off the coast of Alaska. Hell she even had ME worried I was jacked up. But I always get this stuff after a bigger race effort and wasn't too worried. Granted it was about a week after the race when they first swelled, but I didn't exactly take a huge amount of time of the bike and I ate like shit the following days. Doing that "reward eating" with wings, beer, pizza, beer, pizza, beer, beer, etc., etc., Then I got sick and the body was doing some odd things. I think one night I was speaking in tongues! Ooop, no! That was the night I bought the Storm King!

On top of all that stuff, Sunday when I did that suck ass road ride, I found myself thinking "hey I should really lower this saddle a smidge, 'cause I'm locking my leg out when I try to climb seated". But did I lower it? F no! So as a result I really aggravated my calf muscle and the area behind my knee. Blah, blah, blah, long story short- Today on the way to work I stopped at the G.E. Pharmacy and headed straight to the Old Folk's Socks department (they have one?) and invested $10 in a pair of compression socks.

They're black. They're high. And they are tight! And they rock! Not only did the sock reduce the swelling 1", It also put some pressure on my sore calf muscles and allowed me to walk pretty pain free. Sweet! As a bonus, wearing them out to eat scores me the Senior Discount at Stan's! Ca-ching!

I figure if Aaron can rock these socks...

Then I can rock THIS....

I hope that the leg is close to 100% this weekend so as to explore more on the mountain. This time I think I'm gonna hit the stuff off of 31 and try to figure out how to get to the turnpike bridge off of Tunnel Road. Once I do that, I can link the forest roads/single track/snow mobile trails of Laurel Mountain up with the stuff by 31. I'm seriously smelling that smell of 50 or 60+ miler in the future. Then maybe even hook that up with stuff at Hidden Valley and or Seven Springs. Could I smell 100?? Might not be this year, but next for sure. I know I can figure it out. There's a lot of knowledge from locals, riders and hillbillies out there, and I'm hoping tot get it dropped on me in the coming months.

I got the word today from the peeps at PVP that I should have my night permit by the end of the week. Thus allowing me to legally night ride the short, but sweet trails of PVP. Big deal, I have to do three or 4 laps to get some ride time in! In the long run it will pay off with better night riding skillz and of course allow me to become more deeply intimate with my Princeton Tec Switchback III (which I love).

Time to take my teeth out, elevate my legs and maybe strap on some Depends. Then I think Golden Girls comes on.

Later.