I’m putting the old carcass to the test.
Saturday is the annual Prouty Event, a fundraiser for the Norris-Cotton Cancer Research Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where I got my hip replaced. The Prouty features optional activities: golf, rowing, hiking, but the most popular and featured event is biking. The organizers lay out courses of 20, 35, 50, 77 and 100 miles. Most of my neighbors do it, so I feel I should. For two years I rode a 100-mile course and donated $150 per year to the charity. Last year I was forced to pass it up, since I was recovering from my hip replacement.
This year, I want to see if I can build up this old body to do it again. My new hip is proving to be no obstacle. In
the past month I’ve pedaled hundreds of miles–my longest was a 62-mile jaunt last Saturday–and my hip hasn’t caused me even a twinge of pain.
No, the main obstacle is age. It’s harder to whip this 71-year-old body into shape. Hills seem steeper. My average speed is sagging. It’s going to be a long 100 miles at an average of 13 or 14 mph. The 77-mile course looks tempting, but I want to see if I can still do the century.
For inspiration, I volunteered to hand out refreshments to the serious bikers, who are doing the “Dirt Project” Prouty, a 100-mile ride on unpaved, hilly roads in Vermont, the day before my century ride. That day also offers a second 100-mile road bike course, and some serious bikers do two 100-milers over two consecutive days–the Prouty “ultimate.” I didn’t sign up for the ultimate or the dirt course. One century ride would be enough for me.
The basic Prouty century ride pedals up the Connecticut River and loops over Mt. Cube, before returning to the river at Woodsville and returning along the river. Thanks to the river, the hill climbing isn’t as steep or long as in some other bike routes. From previous experience, my best chance of finishing calls for grinding it out–just keeping my butt on the saddle and the legs pumping, hour after hour. In past Proutys I’ve been surprised how far that can take me. The uplift from sharing the route with hundreds of other bikers, some of which I can draft, and the physical and moral support from eight refreshment stations should provide the boost I need.
All you hipsters, wish me luck. This may become a new chapter to my book, “Get Hip! How to Prepare for and Recover from Total Hip Replacement”. See links to it at <www.gethip.info>
Rob Taylor
GetHip! 