My Year - part 1

I am sorry I haven't maintained this blog. I started the year (2009) almost normal. I was weaker than before I became sick with ALS but I could do most things. My voice was slurred but still understandable. I stopped working on December 5, 2008 because I applied for Social Security Disability Insurance. For people with ALS, the SSA provides expedited review.

I was still fairly high functioning. I was able to take care of myself. In fact Gail went to Florida with her friend Cathy. I was weaker but my muscle control for balance was quite deficient. I was okay for normal walking but more complicated activities were already beyond my ability. I found this out on February 1, 2009. On that day while many were getting ready for the Superbowl, I thought I would try a little cross country skiing at the Radisson golf course. It was not very good since I fell down easily and often. I gave up after a hundred feet or so.

I was pretty sure I could still ride my bike, especially my Bike Friday with its low frame tube. My last big trip was to California in February to see some of the Amgen Tour of California. I planned to stay with my friend Luke Jen who lives in Saratoga (near San Jose). I definitely needed Luke's help to handle the 45 lb. Bike Friday in its travel case.

The photo to left was taken at the Almaden Reservoir. I was doing a ride with Bob Head from the Almaden Cycle Touring Club (ACTC). This was actually a scheduled club ride but because the weather was damp and cool we were the only ones there. The white spots on the hills above my head are patches of snow.

While I was weakened by ALS, I was still able to function fairly well. I could eat most any type of food, just slowly. My arm weakness made it difficult to get my backpack in the overhead on the plane and my folded bike in the back of my rental car. I also found it hard to get my bike clothes on and use the front door key at Luke's house.

I was there to see some of the Tour of California, so I decided to drive to Sacramento to see the prologue. It was a really crazy scene. I parked well away from the capital area and rode my bike across town.

The photo at the right is the Podium girls. Unlike the Tour de France, they used the same Podium girls everywhere.





The photo at left is me on the capital mall during the prologue. I didn't hang around for the big names because it was getting cold and windy with a little drizzle. I didn't know anybody there and it was a long way to my friend Luke.

I took a different way back to the San Jose area. I stopped at an In 'n Out burger in Davis. For those that like burgers, I recommend In 'n Out but I think they are only in California. Davis is also famous as the most bicycle friendly city.

This was my last sort of major independent trip. I will try to write more about this year in subsequent posts.

Ride today with ACTC

I did a ride today with ACTC (Almaden Cycle Touring Club). It included the two climbs from these links:

Reynolds Rd.

Shannon and Kennedy combination

I will provide more information in a later posting.

November trip to CA - Part 1

I'm sorry I haven't updated this in a while. I have a minor problem with my Google account for this which I haven't been able to resolve.

I did have a good time in California in November with Gail and Drew. Here is photo of me and Drew when arrived in Alameda.

I was still able to ride pretty well although my legs were a bit weaker and my voice was rough but generally understandable. My arms were weak but I could still handle my Bike Friday in the travel case (weighs about 42 lbs.)

On Drew's 25th birthday (11/19/08) we did a scenic guide book ride through San Francisco. We started near the Duboce Bikeway Mural at the back of a Safeway on Market St. Here is a photo of us at the mural. Even though my legs were weaker I was still able to ride pretty well. My biggest problem was a little problem with stability getting going and clipping in at the numerous starts that you need to do with urban riding.

Below is photo of my Bike Friday at the top of Carolina St. (at Southern Heights). This is not one of the steepest in San Francisco (in the range of 10 to 18%) per the bike map. If Drew's gearing was a bit lower I don't think he would not have needed to walk it.



I will provide more information on this trip and my February 2009 trip to California with later posts.