Day 28, Mile 2321: Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Today:  I don't want to talk about it...

You make one little mistake putting on the new pedals, which I did way back in Ponca City and you get a week of on and off knee recovery! Probably not the best idea to change equipment in the middle of a 3200 mile trip.  With the exception of a few days, I did all my training and riding so far with my Candy pedals and my mountain biking shoes (Mavic's).  But I got the Speed Play road pedals and some really spiffy (fashionably speaking) new road shoes.  So I really wanted to use the new stuff--bad idea.

Anyway, I changed back to my tried and true Candy/Mavic combo after a day and half, but the knee problems have been off and on ever since.  Today was knee pain: on.  It didn't help that the day started with a monster hill--short, Missouri-style--but straight up (some folks said it was like 16% grade).

So after six and half miles I threw in the towel and jumped in the van.  It was my grouchiest day so far.  And, to boot, riding in the van all day wasn't so great for the knee, either!  Lots of ice and some great message work by Tara and there is hope for tomorrow...