https://blog.ryanmoore.au/categories/spinal-injury-and-recovery/This blog is dedicated to my adventures in the great outdoors, fishing trips, hiking routes, camping, etc. as well as a collection of thoughts and interests. It's not all outdoorsy: there's plenty of politics, work/coding, football and other random ~~rants~~ thoughts I have.en-auMon, 26 Jul 2021 15:09:04 +1000https://blog.ryanmoore.au/posts/2021/pure-joy-in-getting-back-on-the-road-again/Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:09:04 +1000https://blog.ryanmoore.au/posts/2021/pure-joy-in-getting-back-on-the-road-again/<p><img src="https://blog.ryanmoore.au/posts/2021/pure-joy-in-getting-back-on-the-road-again/back-on-the-road_hu686024152b454112bd17360daadc7c5d_10162071_1200x0_resize_q75_h2_box.webp" width="1200" height="900" alt="Pure joy in getting back on the road again!"></p><p class="lead">Finally got <a href="https://strava.app.link/n9SjMR9fcib">back on my bike today</a> for the first time in 2021, after seven months recovering from spinal surgery. The shitty weather and blowing cold Ballarat wind couldn’t take away from my <em>sheer joy</em> in being back on the road, with the wind in my face, fighting back real tears of relief.</p> <p>When I hurt myself again last year, I didn’t know whether or not I’d get back to riding again, as my last tour exacerbated my back problems and I spent quite a few months worried about ever getting back.</p> <p>The original plan was to wait until September, but a combination of watching the Olympics, eating copious amounts of food for my birthday yesterday, stacking on nearly ten kilos, and overwhelming boredom has gotten me back out there sooner, and I’m very glad I did so. I only did one lap of the lake, 8km and nice and easy (which isn’t to say I wasn’t exhausted!) but a good first ride.</p> <figure class="photo-figure w-full mb-4 break-inside-avoid" data-fancybox data-src="https://blog.ryanmoore.au/posts/2021/pure-joy-in-getting-back-on-the-road-again/strava-screenshot-backonthebike_hu19e11e9099790763875d61b080ea3953_176669_957x0_resize_q80_h2_box.webp"><img class="rounded-lg" src="https://blog.ryanmoore.au/posts/2021/pure-joy-in-getting-back-on-the-road-again/strava-screenshot-backonthebike_hu19e11e9099790763875d61b080ea3953_176669_957x0_resize_q80_h2_box.webp" width="957" height="957" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /> </figure>