Road to recovery

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 13th May, 2010

Almost three weeks have passed since I fractured my pelvis at Dalby. For the first couple of weeks as long as I did not consider what I was missing out on or look at the Superfly I was able to stay fairly positive (what else can you do?) and count myself lucky that it was a stable fracture. I blanked out the biking and wanted to make the most of having time off work, by taking the opportunity to make art rather than teach art. With an ever growing passion for riding bikes I have found my art work taking a back seat over the past half decade. I spent a fortune in the art shop buying new oil paints as mine had managed to dry out-and just like nice new shinny bike bits, paint tubes and brand new paint brushes with a fine point are still objects of desire for me (I might paint them).
 
Since returning from Wasing Park at the weekend however I have found it harder to stay positive. Talking to likeminded cyclists who showed me sympathy and an understanding on the Saturday was really helpful and I left feeling on a high but watching the races on the Sunday was a tease and I felt really angry and annoyed with the situation. Jealousy and self pity is not pretty!
 
Self pitying Mel: I am angry at myself for falling off and wondering what I did wrong, questioning my ability to ride. Why did I not aim the bike further to the right, was my weight too far forward, did I scrub off too much speed, did I not look where I wanted to go? I know I can ride well when I concentrate and it should have been a doddle for me. I can't stop thinking about what I am missing out on; Dyfi, Wasing, Midlands XC at Hereford, Margam and Bristol bikefest. I want to train and ride my bike and practice hill climbing for the brutal climbs at Margam.  I am so ridiculously frustrated, bored and restless.
 
I trained harder than I ever have done for this year and despite having a chest infection followed by stitches and cold after cold when I was not ill I was bouncing back quickly and feeling stronger. The prospect of a World Cup and being part of a great team does that to you.  Whilst I know that if I get enough points this year I can return and have another attempt in 2011 that is a whole year away and right now I'm finding patience hard to come by. Besides, focusing a year ahead is difficult so my best spirits are achieved by looking forward to my return this summer, hopefully by July when I can race once more at Dalby. In body armour!