I was looking forward to beginning my new life as a cyclist today (with, admittedly, a modest ride) when my friend Doug Tidd brought over the bike he is loaning me. But upon arriving, he was highly dismayed to see that one of the tires had gone flat. So he good-naturedly set off for home, to repair the problem ... but, given the early waning daylight at this time of year, it meant that a safe ride was not possible for today, so I'll have to wait. But he did bring me my bicycle helmet, which was in his possession - and helped me adjust the problematic strap so it would fit my oversized head ... and also, I stopped at the nearby biking equipment store and picked up a pair of reflective leg straps to hold my pants legs in place and keep them from getting caught in the chain. So, little by little, step by step.

When, a couple of days ago, I expressed sadness about the end of my ability to run and thus of my running blog (due to back and knee problems), my good friend Doug Tidd suggested, "Why not morph it into a riding blog?" Doug is an avid cyclist and has long been trying to persuade me. And since I can no longer run, I've decided I'm going to attempt to become a dedicated cyclist myself - so here goes!

Last spring when I was still working at University Hospital, Doug loaned me a bike with which I was hoping to ride regularly during my lunch hours. But the first day I rode up the big, big hill atop which the hospital sits - and that, combined with the arthritis already plaguing my left knee, was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back. My knee problems have all come subsequent to that experience. A few days ago, when I consulted with a renowned knee surgeon, he said, in reply to my point-blank question about whether I might expect to resume running someday, that, based on what he was seeing in the MRI and x-ray views, "No ... I think you should make peace with the fact that your running is now done." He said he could intervene surgically, but that would carry a high likelihood of leaving me even worse off than I am now for daily mobility. However, he said that I should feel free to pursue a low- or no-impact activity like cycling ... so that I will do!

I have been riding the elliptical at LA Fitness for several months now, so am getting used to the concept. As soon as I can get myself set up with a bike, I'll start doing some actual cycling.