Comments on: Hobbyist, Minus Hobby

By: Fred

Fred — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 05:31:47 +0000

I think I can relate (a little bit) to your situation.

You might be a hobbyist if…

You’re sitting in an oral surgeon’s chair. Your formerly reliable one-piece lower jaw is now a four-piece lower jaw. An anesthesiologist is sticking a needle in your arm.

You have eaten practically nothing for 5 days (due to the pain associated with having a 4-piece lower jaw), and you’ve dropped 13 pounds.

The last question you ask the doc before the goofy juice hits is “Am I still going to be able to get enough food and air through all of this hardware to hobby uphill???”
You’re also quietly wondering just what your new PR is going to look like when you attack the local time trial hill at 8 lbs lighter than you’ve ever ridden it before.

The unfortunate answer from the doc is “No hobbying for 2 weeks. You might hurt yourself.”
You’re thinking, “Two weeks ??? Hurt myself ??? I have a four-piece lower jaw, and the I’m the skinny guy in a group photo with the Schleck brothers. How much more damage could I possibly do ???”

I tried to cooperate. I lasted 13 days before the weather was just too good, and I had to go hobbying. (I hobbied once on the trainer on about Day 10 to test the air intake system.)

I’ve been hobbying on the road regularly since day 13, and I even got a little off-road hobbying last week. The hardware comes out next week.

You might also be a hobbyist if you have to pretend to be disappointed when the surgeon mentions putting a titanium plate in your jaw. Is it even fair to show at a group hobby event with a titanium jaw??? Do you have to register in a separate bionic/robotic/titanium division???

I was lucky that my injury was not hobby-related, so I didn’t have to deal with the “get back on the hobby horse” thought process. Everything about the recovery process was focused on hobby, because I was already registered for a serious hobbying event in January.

By: Kukui

Kukui — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 17:35:59 +0000

Oh my gosh, Kenny, that’s terrifying. I’ve thought about the potential consequences of Hobbying, but honestly never considered what it would be like to eventually not be able to Hobby.

Heal quickly and well!

By: Dave T

Dave T — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:02:36 +0000

Nicely written Kenny I hope you heal up fast. You have some great riding in your back yard.

By: Corrine

Corrine — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:13:27 +0000

Heal up, Kenny. You will be out there again, sooner than you think. This is a good time to work on upper body strength. When I had major knee surgery done and couldn’t weight bear for 12 weeks (!), I biked on my trainer with one leg because getting no exercise was NOT an option. Also, couch surf with the Tour de France. Time will go quickly and you will be back out there.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:11:23 +0000

Hobby has gotten slower since I hit 53. I just enjoy being out there and seeing things around me. I don’t like the tunnel vision I used to get when trying to be faster (actually, I never was that fast.) Still keeps me fit and motivated to get out there and not plant my tail on the couch or in front of the computer every night. Get well soon.

By: MattC

MattC — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:04:57 +0000

Yeowch! That picture makes my hip hurt! So sorry to hear about your crash Kenny…maybe now you can work on the typically neglected maintenance on your stable of bikes (if you do neglect that aspect) so they are all sitting in prime condition when you are ready to get back in the saddle.

I try not to think about it, but it’s a reality that is only a tire-slip away on any given day (or a head-on w/ a vehicle as @JM had happen, which is why I’m mostly mt biking for a while now…after 3 CLOSE calls w/ death in just a few month period).

Heal fast Kenny!

By: Doug (Way Upstate NY)

Doug (Way Upstate NY) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:51:24 +0000

So there definitely is a balance between doing things you want/love and doing real serious harm. Still working that myself…….

By: AKChick

AKChick — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:23:59 +0000

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo Poor Kenny. :( Hope you heal faster than the speed of light and are back to your Hobbying ways soon!

Also, LOVE the life partner picture with Fatty. :)

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:15:58 +0000

I’m reading this with my post-op leg propped on a chair (new ACL and two repairs to a meniscus). Thanks for the reminder that I’m not the only one freaking out about this a little bit.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 05:40:05 +0000

Heal up, Kenny. That’s a good object lesson for your team.