Knee Replacement Day October 12th 2021

[Mikie]

Last night’s Elsie quality time…

Today’s after work out, before PT Walk…

No pics from today’s physical therapy with Stephen my MTB Physical Therapist.
However, I did excel in everything “EXCEPT” standing up out of a chair. It’s not muscle it’s sheer pain across the knee caps. The knees are just still too swollen.

There were some new exercises he had me do that he stated I can do already that others never could complete. I asked if I was still top 3%, and he said “NOPE!”
Easily in his top 1%!
Stephen said I am an overachiever and he is cool with that as long as I don’t start going backwards. Apparently some do decline from over doing it.
Not me!

​

Edit:
Stephen put these alien looking thingy’s on me saying they can help reduce swelling. What the hail?… Looks more like some @Voodoo Tom witch doctah thang!

 

[mike]

 

[Mikie]

Last night, even CJ jumped on for the loop around the fence. Despite her fear of the nightly visitation of the local mountain lion.
But I had my 40… and a gun!

For today’s warm up, I raised the bar some and made it either climbing or descending only… This whole thing is now working on… whooped!

Climbing, climbing, climbing… but that’s not the hard part…

Up on top, looking out over the Antelope Valley.

The Fire Road Climb. Easy Peazy! Going down, new ballgame.

And on Sundays I elude the eyes
And hop the Turbine Freight
To far outside the Wire
Where my white-haired uncle waits

Walking down past the Agua Blue Pump House I mentioned earlier on Monday. Monday is so yesterday! Well… yesterday and one mo day!

 

[Faust29]

Last night’s Elsie quality time…
View attachment 79168

Today’s after work out, before PT Walk…
View attachment 79169
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No pics from today’s physical therapy with Stephen my MTB Physical Therapist.
However, I did excel in everything “EXCEPT” standing up out of a chair. It’s not muscle it’s sheer pain across the knee caps. The knees are just still too swollen.

There were some new exercises he had me do that he stated I can do already that others never could complete. I asked if I was still top 3%, and he said “NOPE!”
Easily in his top 1%!
Stephen said I am an overachiever and he is cool with that as long as I don’t start going backwards. Apparently some do decline from over doing it.
Not me!

View attachment 79171 ​

Edit:
Stephen put these alien looking thingy’s on me saying they can help reduce swelling. What the hail?… Looks more like some @Voodoo Tom witch doctah thang!
View attachment 79173

Your knees are almost to the point that I don't have to scroll past the pics really fast!

 

[mike]

Gain/loss is looking like a bike ride now. The reportage is way up there, too.

Give 'er hell, bud.

 

[Mikie]

I own a Kurt Kinetic bike trainer. You may remember I got it while recovering from my fractured pelvis… Ahhh memories.
Anyway, I need a dropper to be able to climb on a bike in the trainer and there is no way I would get one for my road bike, so I went to set up my DV9 in it. Hmmm… no go. The DV9 rear axle did not conform to the trainer attachment system. An old school quick release skewer would but that ain’t gonna work!

Went to the Kurt Kinetic website and naturally they sell rear axles called Traxles. Determined what fit my bike and ordered one!
It was like $39 Bucks “supposedly” on sale. Great! Yeah… until you add shipping. USPS was the cheapest they offered and that was $16.25 for priority Mail 3 day! I have shipped a few things through USPS, they are making money on shipping.

ANYWAYS… got the axle today. I got lucky and ordered the right one.

Did the wheel hookup and it was perfect. Located the bike in the trainer with the new axle.

They said I can ride 10 minutes twice a day. So I spun for 10 minutes. Yeah, we’ll see how long THAT ride schedule lasts!

 

[UPSed]

I own a Kurt Kinetic bike trainer. You may remember I got it while recovering from my fractured pelvis… Ahhh memories.
Anyway, I need a dropper to be able to climb on a bike in the trainer and there is no way I would get one for my road bike, so I went to set up my DV9 in it. Hmmm… no go. The DV9 rear axle did not conform to the trainer attachment system. An old school quick release skewer would but that ain’t gonna work!

Went to the Kurt Kinetic website and naturally they sell rear axles called Traxles. Determined what fit my bike and ordered one!
It was like $39 Bucks “supposedly” on sale. Great! Yeah… until you add shipping. USPS was the cheapest they offered and that was $16.25 for priority Mail 3 day! I have shipped a few things through USPS, they are making money on shipping.

ANYWAYS… got the axle today. I got lucky and ordered the right one.
View attachment 79197

Did the wheel hookup and it was perfect. Located the bike in the trainer with the new axle.
View attachment 79198

They said I can ride 10 minutes twice a day. So I spun for 10 minutes. Yeah, we’ll see how long THAT ride schedule lasts!
View attachment 79199

That is the coolest thing I've seen in quite a while!

 

[Robbie]

That's great! Just need some trail VR

 

[Runs with Scissors]

I own a Kurt Kinetic bike trainer. You may remember I got it while recovering from my fractured pelvis… Ahhh memories.
Anyway, I need a dropper to be able to climb on a bike in the trainer and there is no way I would get one for my road bike, so I went to set up my DV9 in it. Hmmm… no go. The DV9 rear axle did not conform to the trainer attachment system. An old school quick release skewer would but that ain’t gonna work!

Went to the Kurt Kinetic website and naturally they sell rear axles called Traxles. Determined what fit my bike and ordered one!
It was like $39 Bucks “supposedly” on sale. Great! Yeah… until you add shipping. USPS was the cheapest they offered and that was $16.25 for priority Mail 3 day! I have shipped a few things through USPS, they are making money on shipping.

ANYWAYS… got the axle today. I got lucky and ordered the right one.
View attachment 79197

Did the wheel hookup and it was perfect. Located the bike in the trainer with the new axle.
View attachment 79198

They said I can ride 10 minutes twice a day. So I spun for 10 minutes. Yeah, we’ll see how long THAT ride schedule lasts!
View attachment 79199

Dropper on a bike, that's on a trainer, that doesn't emulate climbs...

 

[da big hills]

Good going dude.

 

[mike]

I own a Kurt Kinetic bike trainer. You may remember I got it while recovering from my fractured pelvis… Ahhh memories.
Anyway, I need a dropper to be able to climb on a bike in the trainer and there is no way I would get one for my road bike, so I went to set up my DV9 in it. Hmmm… no go. The DV9 rear axle did not conform to the trainer attachment system. An old school quick release skewer would but that ain’t gonna work!

Went to the Kurt Kinetic website and naturally they sell rear axles called Traxles. Determined what fit my bike and ordered one!
It was like $39 Bucks “supposedly” on sale. Great! Yeah… until you add shipping. USPS was the cheapest they offered and that was $16.25 for priority Mail 3 day! I have shipped a few things through USPS, they are making money on shipping.

ANYWAYS… got the axle today. I got lucky and ordered the right one.
View attachment 79197

Did the wheel hookup and it was perfect. Located the bike in the trainer with the new axle.
View attachment 79198

They said I can ride 10 minutes twice a day. So I spun for 10 minutes. Yeah, we’ll see how long THAT ride schedule lasts!
View attachment 79199

Mikie on a bike! I don't care that it isn't going anywhere – it's a great sight indeed! Stay inspired and inspiring, Mikie. Kick ass.

 

[Mikie]

Rode the trainer and did a big walk. Okay, I’m pooped!

Delayed edit to add pics:
@Faust29 needs good pics for attention span.

I used to rent this 2 story cabin some 40 years ago. Then it was not that hideous color, and it was surrounded by large old growth trees. It’s abandoned now.

This was the view out my bedroom window at that cabin. The view was looking East towards Lancaster.

Just on the other side of the fire road from my old cabin was a year round creek. It’s long dried up. That multi-ton rock has several bowls ground in it from California native Indians long since gone.

Close up of the rock.

Out on the flats of the Antelope valley are the joshua’s. They say this species only grows in one other place…. Israel.

Panno of the Antelope Valley

 

[Voodoo Tom]

Rode the trainer and did a big walk. Okay, I’m pooped!
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Delayed edit to add pics:
@Faust29 needs good pics for attention span.

I used to rent this 2 story cabin some 40 years ago. Then it was not that hideous color, and it was surrounded by large old growth trees. It’s abandoned now.
View attachment 79209

This was the view out my bedroom window at that cabin. The view was looking East towards Lancaster.
View attachment 79215

Just on the other side of the fire road from my old cabin was a year round creek. It’s long dried up. That multi-ton rock has several bowls ground in it from California native Indians long since gone.
View attachment 79211

Close up of the rock.
View attachment 79212

Out on the flats of the Antelope valley are the joshua’s. They say this species only grows in one other place…. Israel.
View attachment 79214


Panno of the Antelope Valley
View attachment 79216

Damn dude that's a walk. You gave me a tour of that area and there's some hills involved. Poor dogs are gonna be pissed when you go back to work.

 

[herzalot]

Rode the trainer and did a big walk. Okay, I’m pooped!

View attachment 79211

Wow wow WOW! If you weren't my hero before, and in some ways you were, you are now!

'grats!

 

[Mikie]

Knowing you @Mikie you'll be at 120 degrees by Thanksgiving. Rock on!!!!

Well?
I took your prediction as the challenge. Just got home from an early PT session with Stephen. I went in a little sore from my robust ride and hike yesterday. In fact I had ice packs on both knees as we drove to Kaiser. Stephen had me do all kinds of balance exercises on foam and on wooden platforms as well as these stretchy elastic bands he tied around my ankles and I had to do side steps and what they call monster walks. Did some leg presses and practiced standing up from a chair which has been the hardest thing for me.

So, as far as your prediction.
Measured after doing the exercises my left leg is at 120° and my right is at 125°!

Thanks for the target Mark!!!

Stephen said I’m crushing PT. In fact when he had me stand on this thick foam pad, I had to stand on one leg and balance. It was a piece of cake. Then he said that no one he has coached has ever balanced on the foam pad… on either leg.

Gratuitous leg shot…

 

[mike]

Rode the trainer and did a big walk. Okay, I’m pooped!
View attachment 79204

View attachment 79205
View attachment 79206
View attachment 79207

Delayed edit to add pics:
@Faust29 needs good pics for attention span.

I used to rent this 2 story cabin some 40 years ago. Then it was not that hideous color, and it was surrounded by large old growth trees. It’s abandoned now.
View attachment 79209

This was the view out my bedroom window at that cabin. The view was looking East towards Lancaster.
View attachment 79215

Just on the other side of the fire road from my old cabin was a year round creek. It’s long dried up. That multi-ton rock has several bowls ground in it from California native Indians long since gone.
View attachment 79211

Close up of the rock.
View attachment 79212

Out on the flats of the Antelope valley are the joshua’s. They say this species only grows in one other place…. Israel.
View attachment 79214


Panno of the Antelope Valley
View attachment 79216

Fantastic! My guess is you'll miss those walks once your biking gets lit up again.

 

[Faust29]

Fantastic! My guess is you'll miss those walks once your biking gets lit up again.

We'll be riding, and he'll be running next to us... Like the 6 Million Dollar Man.

"Come on, Guys. Pick up the pace!"

 

[Mikie]

Well now…
Get this, I rode my bike today!
At Friday’s PT, Stephen was very happy with the results. I told him I was pretty cooked from my Thursday adventure so he said I needed to take it easy the remainder of Friday and Saturday.
I raised my hand like in class and said, “Uhh, I was wondering…..?”
Stephen looked at me over the top of his glasses and replied with a cautious two syllable… “Yes?”
“I was wondering if it would be okay to ride my hardtail on the Paseo’s in Santa Clarita Saturday.”
Without hesitation he said, “Oh, you’re ready for that. Mostly flat, paved, just take it easy!”

Contacted @Voodoo Tom and asked if he wanted to lower his standards and ride paved trails with me and he instantly replied “Oh hail yes!”

 

[CBone]

Awesome. You are exceeding expectations in your recovery for sure Mikie. Now recover a bit and keep it up.

 

[Voodoo Tom]

Well now…
Get this, I rode my bike today!
At Friday’s PT, Stephen was very happy with the results. I told him I was pretty cooked from my Thursday adventure so he said I needed to take it easy the remainder of Friday and Saturday.
I raised my hand like in class and said, “Uhh, I was wondering…..?”
Stephen looked at me over the top of his glasses and replied with a cautious, “Yes?”
“I was wondering if it would be okay to ride my hardtail on the Paseo’s in Santa Clarita Saturday.”
Without hesitation he said, “Oh, you’re ready for that. Mostly flat, paved, just take it easy!”

Contacted @Voodoo Tom and asked if he wanted to lower his standards and ride paved trails with me and he instantly replied “Oh hail yes!”

View attachment 79249
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It was awesome, just like old times except without the dirt and rocks and hills. You did great. I'm still baffled by your recovery though I shouldn't be as I've seen you do this several times. Weather was fantastic. We even managed to get in our mandatory smack talk thanks to some/most of the stuck up earpod wearing pavement pounders that were too cool to say hello to us this morning.

Trouble looking for a place to happen.

Country boy trapped in a concrete jungle... Look at that shiny DV9.

It was nearly noon so...

 

[Runs with Scissors]

Well now…
Get this, I rode my bike today!
At Friday’s PT, Stephen was very happy with the results. I told him I was pretty cooked from my Thursday adventure so he said I needed to take it easy the remainder of Friday and Saturday.
I raised my hand like in class and said, “Uhh, I was wondering…..?”
Stephen looked at me over the top of his glasses and replied with a cautious, “Yes?”
“I was wondering if it would be okay to ride my hardtail on the Paseo’s in Santa Clarita Saturday.”
Without hesitation he said, “Oh, you’re ready for that. Mostly flat, paved, just take it easy!”

Contacted @Voodoo Tom and asked if he wanted to lower his standards and ride paved trails with me and he instantly replied “Oh hail yes!”

View attachment 79249
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View attachment 79251

Pinocchio is all growed up!!!!

Awesome, @Mikie. Just don't overdo it.

 

[mike]

So excellent!!!!

 

[herzalot]

Well now…
Get this, I rode my bike today!
At Friday’s PT, Stephen was very happy with the results. I told him I was pretty cooked from my Thursday adventure so he said I needed to take it easy the remainder of Friday and Saturday.
I raised my hand like in class and said, “Uhh, I was wondering…..?”
Stephen looked at me over the top of his glasses and replied with a cautious, “Yes?”
“I was wondering if it would be okay to ride my hardtail on the Paseo’s in Santa Clarita Saturday.”
Without hesitation he said, “Oh, you’re ready for that. Mostly flat, paved, just take it easy!”

Contacted @Voodoo Tom and asked if he wanted to lower his standards and ride paved trails with me and he instantly replied “Oh hail yes!”

No Pho King Wei!!!!! That's mind blowing to me.

 

[Mikie]

Thanks fellers!

 

[Faust29]

 

[SnakeCharmer]

@Mikie, impressive recovery rate. Youre doing just as you said you would. Kudos for sticking to the plan.

@Voodoo Tom, did you happen to notice any plug-in ports on the side of Mikie's new knees? Could they be e-powered? I'm desperate for a logical explanation to his miraculous advancement.

 

[AKAKTM]

Unbelievable

 

[Mikie]

CJ, Elsie, and I went for a Sunday afternoon hike after lunch. Just a cruiser in the back hills. Windy as heck!

Yes… I got some pics for @Faust29 , give me a few…

So… Kings Canyon has a little bit of everything, and I mean EVERYTHING!
So today’s tour is of the abandoned (busted) Mexican Cartel that moved in the hills behind us. Apparently thinking he was untouchable he built a fortress that proved absolutely pointless when it came to the long arm of the law, as he is currently in prison.

Front gate to our local Mexican Cartel.

The driveway has a custom unfinished wall.

An arch in the wall looks out to the Northeast. The place has a killer view!

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here…

The house abandoned and ransacked over the years. Nothing was to code or built structurally correct. Pretty positive no permits were pulled.

Panorama that includes Miss CJ and Elsie…

 

[da big hills]

right on

 

[Mikie]

Yesterday…
I have throttled back some so yesterday I did some aggressive stretches and then did a 30 minute on the DV9 on the trainer.

Today I went to PT and it was a good day.
New tasks today. One was standing on one leg and balance on a thick blue foam pad and bounce a 6 lb rubber ball against a mini trampoline siting at a 45 degree angle and catch it.

Another was tough. I had to stand one legged on this rubber thingy that forced you to balance in all directions.

Also had some new tough stretches, I ended up with a new range of motion of:
0° to 130° on my right leg
0° to 127° on my left leg
Stephen says he thinks we will reach 135°!

The best thing was today was the first day I could stand up out of a normal chair! Finally!

I’m pretty stoked about this!