Laura's Comeback

After nearly three months of hard work, my wife Laura did it. She got back on her bike today for her first outdoor ride since her accident. And just as I expected, she did more than just gingerly spin around the block, she rode 20 miles -- and loved it!

I have to admit I was relieved to see her pedal back home safely, and not because she made it back without incident. Rather, she returned on her road bike, clipped into her pedals, with an enormous smile on her face.

You see, she headed out on her hybrid, thinking she'd be nervous about clipping in to her much more responsive road bike. I left to take the kids to their swimming lessons and didn't notice when I got back that she'd switched bikes. She told me her hybrid just didn't feel right -- her feet kept sliding off the pedals and the bike felt sluggish. So, after riding around Lake Calhoun she headed back to change bikes (and shoes).

We both love the look of her blue and black carbon Fuji road bike. Even after her accident she was thrilled to have it back in the house. As soon as she was able she was back up on it on the bike trainer. But I was probably more fearful than she that taking the bike back outside would bring back memories of her accident.

I really do have visions of us riding off into the sunset on our road bikes together. Sunsets here in the Twin Cities (like those we watched last year coming home from our "bike dates"). Sunsets after long full-day rides together. Sunsets while riding across Europe when the kids are grown.

So I was relieved to see her riding confidently again. And so happy for her. Cycling had quickly become such a positive thing in her life, and it still is.

And being positive is what has most amazed me about Laura during this entire experience. I've been around a lot of people recovering from sports injuries, and I've experienced some pretty serious ones myself. I have honestly never seen someone so focused on the positive every day.

When she could get up and down the stairs by herself, sitting and resting on every step, she didn't complain about how long it took. She was simply happy to be able to get out of the bedroom and downstairs. When she found a rolling cart at Target she could push around the kitchen so she could make herself lunch (with one hand) and push it to the table, she felt so independent!

Just about every night she'd show me the incremental progress she'd made. One or two more degrees in the range of motion in her wrist was cause for celebration. Being able to go from two crutches to one, or one crutch to her cane, produced true jubilation.

I, on the other hand, would have been insufferable. Actually, I'm sure I was insufferable during my last major sports injury. I broke my leg a little over five years ago playing soccer and it took over a year to fully heal. Fortunately the experience led me to take up cycling, which has really changed my life for the better in so many ways. At the time, though, I'm sure I was a real downer.

Ultimately I have to think Laura's positive attitude sped up her recovery considerably. Sure, she was also a model patient with her physical therapy, and this may be the largest single factor (aside from her general health and fitness level before the accident). But I do believe, unprovable though it may be, that a positive attitude can create a positive feedback loop that literally speeds up healing.

Regardless what made it possible, though, I'm just thrilled Laura is back on her bike, enjoying something she has come to love as much as I do, just 11 weeks after an enormous setback. We're even planning a "bike date" for tomorrow night to celebrate. (Ain't love grand?)

My Addiction -- Carbonated Water

Be forewarned: This post is going to come off as a product endorsement, and maybe it is, but I'm thrilled with a new home soda maker I purchased a few weeks ago and think it's worth knowing about if you're paying for high-priced mineral water.

If you've visited this blog before you may have read the entry on water (see 8 Glasses a Day Advice Doesn't Hold Water, posted May 1, 2008). My wife and I started drinking juice diluted with water a few years ago, shifting to sparkling mineral water to make it a little more interesting. Recently, while taking all of our recycling bins to the curb, I reflected on the massive bin of mineral water bottles, most of which had traveled half-way around the world (Gerolsteiner and San Pelligrino being our two favorites).

So much for reducing my carbon footprint by biking!

Following a little research on the web I came across a company called Soda Club (www.sodaclubusa.com). They make home carbonation machines, and there are remarkably few companies that seem to compete with them. Because I'm concerned about the petrochemicals associated with plastic bottles I had to suck it up and pay for the more expensive glass bottle carbonator.

When it first arrived, Ethan (our 8-year old pre-engineering student) wanted to assemble it. Fortunately it's quite a simple unit. It's all mechanical (no electricity required) and consists essentially of a large CO2 cartridge which screws into the base. A bottle of regular tap water (or filtered water if you prefer) is simply placed inside the unit, and the carbonation jet is brought down on top of it. You pump a lever a few times, and voila! Soda water!

Now, some people prefer mineral water because it actually possesses minerals, and some because they prefer the flavor. Since I take my vitamins every day, and because I mix the water with juice any way, this machine is perfect.

Many others purchase these devices to save money on soda. Soda Club offers a wide variety of syrups and sends you a package of samples. I drink the water because I want a healthy alternative to soda so I don't typically purchase these, but simply mix soda water with a little fruit juice.

Of course, the company does require you to purchase their proprietary CO2 replacement cartridges through them, but that seems fair enough. It's still a lot cheaper (by my estimate, at least 75% less than bottled water) and much more environmentally friendly.

So, if you drink a lot of mineral water and want to a) reduce your carbon footprint and b) save money, you should consider buying a home carbonation system. Finally, if you know of other companies offering these products please tell me.

Meeting Miss Liza

A few weeks ago I received a message from a colleague who runs a neighborhood environmental organization doing great work in our community. She forwarded on an e-mail she'd received from the family of a 14-year-old planning an ambitious trip in support of a great cause. Liza Stoner, an 8th-grader at City of Lakes Waldorf School in Minneapolis, will be riding her bike nearly 1,600 miles to Washington, D.C. to deliver a petition to Congress urging passage of legislation regarding electric vehicles.

I dedicated the fourth issue of my Shifting Gears column to Liza and her trip. It gave me the opportunity to speak with Liza, her mother, her teacher and her cycling coach. I titled the story that resulted Miss Liza Goes To Washington, and it ran as a feature story in the Southwest Journal. Please click the link above to read it, then check out Liza's web site at www.rideforrenewal.org (and consider signing her petition).

You can also watch a video interview of Liza on KARE 11, a local Minneapolis television station. Finally, there will be a story soon in the Star Tribune. I'm pleased to be able to say, however, that I got the story first -- thanks to the tip from Felicity Britton at Linden Hills Power & Light!

Good luck Liza!

Rider Down

A month ago yesterday I had just arrived at work after a morning doctor's appointment and a quick stop at Office Depot on an errand for work. I had turned my cell phone off at my appointment and forgotten to turn it back on.

As I climbed the stairs from our building's basement parking garage I was met in the stairway by a panic-stricken co-worker.

I've known our company's dedicated and quite remarkable executive assistant for more than 10 years. Her calm demeanor under pressure is one of her greatest assets, especially in her role assisting an executive team that thrives on crisis and adrenaline.

But at this moment Michelle's eyes were wide. She gripped my forearm hard.

"Fred, Laura had a terrible accident on her bike! I've been trying to get a hold of you on your cell phone. She's at Methodist Hospital. Call Anna!"

My sister-in-law didn't pick up when I dialed her cell phone. Her home phone, too, went to voice mail.

Michelle told me that Laura had had an accident while riding by herself on a bike trail, so I knew there weren't any vehicles involved. But it was serious enough to require an ambulance.

Eventually I reached my sister-in-law and learned that Laura had fallen hard and probably broken her wrist as well as her hip. By the time I got to the hospital I'd had another conversation with Anna and learned that my wife had shattered her wrist and fractured her femur. Both would almost certainly require surgery.

* * *

On Friday, May 9, Laura was finishing a solo training ride on the Cedar Lake Trail at near 20 mph when she dropped her water bottle after taking a drink. It's possible she ran over the bottle with her front wheel or she might have inadvertently turned the handle bars when taking a quick look back. Either way, she went over on her left side, landing hard on her left wrist and hip. After one cyclist passed her, curled up half on and half off the path, three riders stopped to help. She had somehow come to a stop laying on her right side and couldn't reach for her phone with her left hand because of the shooting pain in her left arm.

The three riders stayed with her during the 30-minute wait for the ambulance. Apparently the ambulance couldn't find a good access point to the trail. They told her had her injuries been more serious they would have dispatched the fire department as first responders, since they apparently have more experience along the trail.

In any event, she was taken to Methodist Hospital where they took x-rays and eventually called in an orthopedic specialist. Laura had shattered several bones in her wrist and fractured her hip. She went into surgery around 7 p.m. Four hours later they had inserted three massive screws in her femur (near her hip) and a plate with ten screws in her wrist. She was in the hospital for five days.

* * *

It's been painful to see Laura so incapacitated. Anyone who knows her knows she can't sit still. As the mother of our three children (8, 5 and 3) she's always been extremely busy -- moreso, I think than most parents of multiples. She's an amazingly active and engaged mom, taking the kids on outings to museums, parks and other points of interest (typically several each day) and refusing to stick them in front of the T.V.

Perhaps the saddest aspect of my wife's accident is that she had just recently fallen in love with cycling -- fallen in love with it the way I did five years ago (which is to say, completely). She and I had done some social rides together, including several truly thrilling "bike dates" last summer. These dates were, surprisingly at the time, her idea, and involved hiring a sitter to watch the kids after dinner so we could ride around town (20 miles or so) before stopping for coffee or a glass of wine and dessert. We'd ride home together as the sun was setting, matching bike lights illuminating the trail before us. These were enchanting evenings.

Early this spring Laura decided to stop by the Velo Bella's season-inaugurating team meeting. The "Bellas" as they're known are a group of women cyclists who encourage and support other women interested in learning more about and participating in cycling. The group started in California but has developed chapters in a number of states. The Twin Cities club is one of the strongest all-women clubs in the area.

She returned completely energized. Within three weeks she had joined the club, bought a new road bike and participated in her first group ride. I hadn't seen her so excited since the birth of the kids. Our conversations began to revolve around biking. I would periodically look over at her with a puzzled look on my face and ask "who are you and what did you do with my wife?" We both got a good laugh about how rapidly she was becoming a "roadie" but I was genuinely so happy for her.

Laura hadn't participated in group sports as a kid so she hadn't experienced being on a team -- the camaraderie or the tension, the anxiety or the cathartic release . . . the addictiveness of endorphins. I say without condescension that she had a childlike enthusiasm that was charming and infectious. I was experiencing the love of the sport all over again. Best of all, it was bringing us even closer together. It was exciting to share a new passion after 12 years of an already wonderful marriage. We were like grad school students in love with learning and with each other all over again.

* * *

Fortunately she's handling the experience, and navigating the recovery, remarkably well. Her positive attitude is really amazing to witness, and makes me ashamed at how grumpy I can get when facing much smaller hurdles (or more accurately, inconveniences).

I'll admit, it's been difficult for me to give up most of my own club rides. Last year I rode on the Flanders Bros. "Coffee Ride" (40-50 miles) most Saturdays. This year, with Laura riding on Saturday, I had the opportunity to ride the hard ride -- Flanders' Sunday training ride. 100 miles or more at a stiff pace -- 20+ mph average for five hours. It was really pushing me to the edge of my ability just to hang on with this group (though there's a pretty powerful incentive to keep up when you're 50 miles from home and have no idea how to get back!). I had joined this group for three rides before Laura's accident and was feeling as fit as ever.

I've also had to put off until next year my plans to try my first criterium race. I still hope to enter a road race or two near the end of the season, but it doesn't seem responsible to attempt my first crit this year. All this family needs is a Mom with a hip fracture and broken wrist and a Dad with a broken collarbone, or worse.

But I know I have years ahead of me to ride, health permitting, and so does Laura. And this is perhaps my biggest relief: That Laura's still excited about biking after her recovery. She admits to pangs of nervousness at the thought of riding fast again, but who wouldn't be anxious after a fall like the one she took?

It will probably take a while for her get comfortable again riding hard and fast, down in the drops with her chin to the stem. Who knows, maybe she won't want to race or even join any more hard group rides. But we both know she'll get back on her bike, and I can't wait for the day when she asks me out on our next "bike date." Even though we still argue about who asked out whom 15 years ago, we both know she asked me to bike with her first. And I still know we'll ride off into the sunset together some day.

Column 3: Preparing for Your First Group Ride

My third Shifting Gears column in the Minneapolis Southwest Journal just came out. It contained a sidebar with a list of local club/group rides which the editors trimmed for space. I wanted to be sure not to slight any of the many very good clubs in the area, so here's the list I intended to have included:

• Birchwood Bike Club – Minneapolis – www.birchwoodbiketeam.com
• Erik’s Riders Club (Erik’s Bike Shop) – multiple locations – www.eriksbikeshop.com
• Flat City Cycling Club (Penn Cycle) – multiple locations – www.flatcity.org
• Freewheel Bikes – Minneapolis – www.freewheelbike.com
• Gopher Wheelmen – Roseville – www.gopherwheelmen.org
• Loon State Cyclists – Maple Grove – www.loonstate.org
• Minnesota Bicycle Racing Club (Flanders Bros. Cycles) – Minneapolis – www.flandersbros.com
• Minnesota Cycling Team (Tonka Cycle & Ski) – Minnetonka – www.geocities.com/minnesotacycle
• Silver Cycling (Hollywood Cycles) – Lakeville – www.silvercycling.org
• St. Paul Bicycle Racing Club (Grand Performance) – St. Paul – www.spbrc.org
• Synergy (Now Bike & Fitness) – St. Paul – www.synergyforsport.com
• Twin Cities Bicycling Club – Minneapolis/St. Paul – www.biketcbc.org
• Velo Bella (Women’s Club) – St. Paul/Arden Hills – www.velobella.org

I may have more information to share regarding group riding in the short term, so please check back!

Gluttony at the Dome: All-You-Can-Eat Seats

Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a big Twins fan. I have to admit I don't really watch a lot of games (we have a bare bones cable package for news and PBS Kids) but I enjoy reading about the team's exploits -- and blunders -- and my wife and I take our kids to a half dozen games a year, attend a handful more by ourselves and listen to games on the radio.

Recently, however, I noticed a promotion that gives new meaning to "big" sports fans. The All-You-Can-Eat seats allow patrons to scarf an unlimited number of "hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, soft pretzels, [and] fountain soda" then sit on their duffs for 3 hours while their blood sugar goes through the roof. Sounds like a recipe for a heart attack, or at least an invitation to adult onset diabetes.

I find it really quite sad. Not that people enjoy this kind of food, but that they're enticed by how much money they could "save" by stuffing themselves with it. It highlights one of the central problems at the intersection of our brand of capitalism and the "personal food economy." A rational consumer wants to maximize the value of his or her food dollar, so portion size becomes the primary gauge of value. Once again it's quantity over quality.

I don't think I'm that much of a food snob, at least not at the ball park. I enjoy a good beer or two, and typically eat a large bag of peanuts by myself. But I'm not going to stuff myself on food simply because it's cheap and available. There are relatively healthy food choices at the ball game, but you have to search them out, and they do often cost a bit more. The "Carving Stations" for instance serve a nice roasted turkey sandwich, carved up on the spot with a Caesar salad on the side. So I guess I'd rather sit in the "cheap seats" and eat the pricier fare.

Next time I go to a game I think I'll take a stroll over to the A.Y.C.E. section and see if the patrons there look much different from those in other sections. My guess is they probably won't. But if they start sitting in these seats game after game, I'd suggest the engineers take a close look at those gusset plates before the end of the season, as the Twins will have found a new way to achieve spectator growth.

Biking and Your Carbon Footprint

Recently a friend asked me what kind of impact I thought my bike commuting had on reducing my personal carbon footprint. Concern for the environment is certainly one of the many reasons I enjoy biking (and bike commuting particularly) but I'd never tried to even estimate the positive effects these choices might be having.

So, I decided to conduct a very crude "back of the envelope" estimate of the impact my bike commuting has on reducing my carbon footprint and came up with the following estimate:

Using a standard carbon calculator on the web, I estimated my car emissions at 4.39 metric tons of CO2 annually. Assuming that I travel roughly the same number of miles by car each day I drive (weekdays or weekends), and considering I commute by bike an average of 3 times per week from at least May through roughly October, I avoid driving approximately 65-70 times per year. This doesn't count my weekend rides, which are typically much longer, but these rides aren't really substitutes for driving (though at least I don't have to drive to the gym, ball field or other meeting place for this hobby!). This means I bike as opposed to drive somewhere around 17-20% of the year. This would put the reduction in my carbon footprint at at least 3/4 of a metric ton of CO2.

While I was pretty please to learn this, it's made me want to try to commute a little more this year, and at least get my percentage up to 20%. Please let me know if you find any major flaws in my reasoning.