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.