Unanswered Solution for a shorter leg

[Jay E]

I didn't start out this way, I broke my leg in a professional Inline Speedskating Marathon in 1999. After 12 surgeries and IV meds I saved my leg from the infection I most likely acquired in the first hospital but its considerably shorter. Riding bikes on the road is easy, I just made a lift with "ridged foam" (expanding foam) Did the same thing for my Hockey skates so my old man hockey fix is addressed.
The issue is, how do I ride on the trails? I rode my Turbo Levo last week with friends off road for the first time. It was fun, the issue is I'm clipped in with a big block attached to the bottom of my right shoe. Impossible to make that work on a mountain bike pedal. Clearly, I could invent a lifted pedal where I could eliminate the "block" on the bottom of my right shoe but that would hit the ground easily..... Any ideas? I will say, having a shorter crank on the right side might be an answer but we are talking well over an inch difference in leg length.........

Thanks in advance!

 

[L666GTB]

Could you run a spacer between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg?

Or

modify a single sided spd pedal and fit a spacer/block to one side of you pedal you clip into?
Would need to have a removable spd attachment similar to this:

VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats £44.99

Buy VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats for £44.99 at Rush Cycles

www.rushcycles.co.uk

A quick google also showed this to:

crank shortener universal aluminium silver on OnBuy

FOM crank shortener With the crank shortener from FOM you will never again experience discomfort while cycling. The crank shortener, also called...

www.onbuy.com

You could drill and tap threads into a spare crank arm on the left side?
But it seems that causes issues with pedal being too short/low at the top of the stroke.

Most seem to say a shim of half the height of the leg difference seems to work well (so about 12.5mm between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg side).

 

[Mikerb]

Firstly I would say ride flat pedals.
I think the best long term solution to deal with the difference in leg length is to modify your riding shoes. I am sure there must be a specialist somewhere ( the hospital can probably recommend someone) that could instance modify a 5 10 with a platform between the upper and the original 5 10 sole. That sort of modification is likely to be far more stable than a temporay insert etc.
I personally do not think it is a good idea to modify the bike when what you really want is for your legs to effectively be the same length. A modified pedal is likely to be less stable and different cranks lengths would have a bigger pedalling effect than merely affecting the distance to the pedal.

 

[flash]

Simplest solution is a spacer on the bottom of your shoe. All you'd need is longer bolts to go though the cleat/spacer and into the shoe. Maybe combined with a 155 crank to keep the spacer a reasonable thickness. Do some trials to make sure you can clip out.

Gordon

 

[Jay E]

Could you run a spacer between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg?

Or

modify a single sided spd pedal and fit a spacer/block to one side of you pedal you clip into?
Would need to have a removable spd attachment similar to this:

VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats £44.99

Buy VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats for £44.99 at Rush Cycles

www.rushcycles.co.uk

A quick google also showed this to:

crank shortener universal aluminium silver on OnBuy

FOM crank shortener With the crank shortener from FOM you will never again experience discomfort while cycling. The crank shortener, also called...

www.onbuy.com

You could drill and tap threads into a spare crank arm on the left side?
But it seems that causes issues with pedal being too short/low at the top of the stroke.

Most seem to say a shim of half the height of the leg difference seems to work well (so about 12.5mm between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg side).

First, I'm open to ideas. That said, Let me address what I've tried or have thought of......
1) I currently have a "block" for lack of a better term on the bottom of my shoe. Its 1 3/8 or 35 mm-ish (needs to be bigger to make me even)
My Turbo Levo Comp is derestricted. (planet 3) I use Blevo..... With this "block" on my shoe, there's no realistically reasonable way to use Mountain bike pedals in a non clipped in fashion.

2) using different size cranks: I currently ride 170mm cranks. While my block is 35mm it needs to be at least 38mm. Using a 170 on my left leg and a 155 on my right only adjusts 15mm. That leaves 23mm.

3) Adding a block on the pedal: If I put a block on one side of the pedal makes it damn near impossible to clip in because the block side is going to be down. On the other hand, while pedaling unclipped, the block is surely going to hit things on the down stroke. Making a custom pedal with a lift on both sides has the same issue.

I realize I can just ride flat, of course I can, Everything I do is adapting, even before my leg was shorter, I had to turn my genetically inferior short ass asthmatic body into something that could win. This is just another chapter. Thanks for the ideas, its possible that I might use a hybred of more than one of them. Also, my block which has been a combo of nylon, and foam because I'm lazy is basically the size of my look style cleat. I might have to make a block that's the size of the shoes sole and laminate carbon around it so it doesn't chip and use shoe goo on the bottom so it doesn't slip...... (used to make custom skating boots much like bont, rocket 7 technology) If I do that, then I probable can get away with a standard MTB shoe. HMMMMMM

 

[Jay E]

Simplest solution is a spacer on the bottom of your shoe. All you'd need is longer bolts to go though the cleat/spacer and into the shoe. Maybe combined with a 155 crank to keep the spacer a reasonable thickness. Do some trials to make sure you can clip out.

Gordon

Thanks, I replied before I read that you suggested a combination of ideas. I've been riding with a spacer like you suggested on the road since 2002 subtracting the 7 years I was traveling around the world getting fat

 

[Jay E]

Could you run a spacer between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg?

Or

modify a single sided spd pedal and fit a spacer/block to one side of you pedal you clip into?
Would need to have a removable spd attachment similar to this:

VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats £44.99

Buy VP COMPONENTS Single Sided SPD Pedal inc Cleats for £44.99 at Rush Cycles

www.rushcycles.co.uk

A quick google also showed this to:

crank shortener universal aluminium silver on OnBuy

FOM crank shortener With the crank shortener from FOM you will never again experience discomfort while cycling. The crank shortener, also called...

www.onbuy.com

You could drill and tap threads into a spare crank arm on the left side?
But it seems that causes issues with pedal being too short/low at the top of the stroke.

Most seem to say a shim of half the height of the leg difference seems to work well (so about 12.5mm between your shoe and cleat on the shorter leg side).

The crank shortener... interesting but pricey solution. Thank you. I'll keep it in mind. I might have to customize a crank arm for use on those mountain bike off road days.

 

[kmorgan]

The crank shortener... interesting but pricey solution. Thank you. I'll keep it in mind. I might have to customize a crank arm for use on those mountain bike off road days.

First, I'm open to ideas. That said, Let me address what I've tried or have thought of......
1) I currently have a "block" for lack of a better term on the bottom of my shoe. Its 1 3/8 or 35 mm-ish (needs to be bigger to make me even)
My Turbo Levo Comp is derestricted. (planet 3) I use Blevo..... With this "block" on my shoe, there's no realistically reasonable way to use Mountain bike pedals in a non clipped in fashion.

2) using different size cranks: I currently ride 170mm cranks. While my block is 35mm it needs to be at least 38mm. Using a 170 on my left leg and a 155 on my right only adjusts 15mm. That leaves 23mm.

3) Adding a block on the pedal: If I put a block on one side of the pedal makes it damn near impossible to clip in because the block side is going to be down. On the other hand, while pedaling unclipped, the block is surely going to hit things on the down stroke. Making a custom pedal with a lift on both sides has the same issue.

I realize I can just ride flat, of course I can, Everything I do is adapting, even before my leg was shorter, I had to turn my genetically inferior short ass asthmatic body into something that could win. This is just another chapter. Thanks for the ideas, its possible that I might use a hybred of more than one of them. Also, my block which has been a combo of nylon, and foam because I'm lazy is basically the size of my look style cleat. I might have to make a block that's the size of the shoes sole and laminate carbon around it so it doesn't chip and use shoe goo on the bottom so it doesn't slip...... (used to make custom skating boots much like bont, rocket 7 technology) If I do that, then I probable can get away with a standard MTB shoe. HMMMMMM

 

[kmorgan]

If you used your idea #3, making the block out of light weight material, say aluminum, could you then work out a way to limit the rotation of the pedal such that it would allow enough rotation for riding but could never fully rotate to the upside down position? Would having it within 35 to 45 degrees of vertical allow you to clip in?

 

[steve_sordy]

Instead of focussing only on the short leg, is it possible to reduce some of the difference by thinning the sole on the boot of your longer leg? It might not amount to much, but it will reduce the size of the problem on the other side.

You are correct to persist in searching for a solution, as without one, your hips will tilt down to the lower side and it will therefore bend your lower spine. Over time, that will not end well.

How are your normal walking about shoes? If you don't have them corrected, you will get the hip-tilt/spine-bending effect.

 

[Jay E]

Instead of focussing only on the short leg, is it possible to reduce some of the difference by thinning the sole on the boot of your longer leg? It might not amount to much, but it will reduce the size of the problem on the other side.

You are correct to persist in searching for a solution, as without one, your hips will tilt down to the lower side and it will therefore bend your lower spine. Over time, that will not end well.

How are your normal walking about shoes? If you don't have them corrected, you will get the hip-tilt/spine-bending effect.

Yes, the insole of every shoe is instantly thrown away. My flip flops are the highest difference but my adjusting for the difference in walking shoes stopped years ago. More danger in that than it’s worth. I put a buildup inside and like I said no insole in the good legs shoe. My hockey boot has a ridged foam spacer between the boot and the chassis and my inline speed skates literally have a piece of carbon hockey stick as spacers.
I also want to add that my foots at an angle its not just shorter.

 

[cozzy]

Someone I have ridden with occasionally seems to have an adaptor to move the pedal up. I dont know if it's off the shelf or specially made.
This is the best pic I could find.

 

[Rod B.]

Jay E,

I'm glad your back on a bike and living large. Were I in your situation, here is what I would consider doing. I believe your Levo comes with forged aluminum Praxis crank arms. If you have Praxis carbon crank arms, replace them with forged aluminum crank arms. I would take the crank arm to a certified welding shop. I would have the welder fill the void on the backside of the crank arm with aluminum. Drill and tap a new pedal hole 38mm above the center of the current pedal hole on your right crank arm. Cut off the lower unused portion.

Some people will say you can't do it. Yes you can, they weld aluminum bike frames, rims, stems, etc. You will need to have a certified welder do the adjustment. The crank arm will need to be heat treated after the adjustment has been made to make sure the crank arm is evenly tempered and has no hard spots.

 

[Jay E]

Jay E,

I'm glad your back on a bike and living large. Were I in your situation, here is what I would consider doing. I believe your Levo comes with forged aluminum Praxis crank arms. If you have Praxis carbon crank arms, replace them with forged aluminum crank arms. I would take the crank arm to a certified welding shop. I would have the welder fill the void on the backside of the crank arm with aluminum. Drill and tap a new pedal hole 38mm above the center of the current pedal hole on your right crank arm. Cut off the lower unused portion.

Some people will say you can't do it. Yes you can, they weld aluminum bike frames, rims, stems, etc. You will need to have a certified welder do the adjustment. The crank arm will need to be heat treated after the adjustment has been made to make sure the crank arm is evenly tempered and has no hard spots.

View attachment 75370

Great idea. I was thinking of buying a smaller one for the right side for when I ride in the dirt. I have some welding connections so I’ll hit them up. Heat treating connection as well. Lol. Under normal conditions my lift will do the trick because I mostly ride road. Was using my repaired 20 year old shoes….. just got some sidi shoes and wow. What a difference. Lol.
On another note while I have no intentions of getting into the shoe making business I might end up making a built into the some lift and see if one of my friends will make it into a shoe for me. Not sure if any of you have heard about the custom shoe makers out there but they make unreal shoes. There’s Bont of course but they are no longer made by enze. Simmons. (David Simmons) Rocket7 (KCBoutiette) and Rivo, ( Brad Harper). The last 3 are amazing dudes who are crafty cobblers.

 

[Rod B.]

I destroyed my right ankle in an accident and couldn't walk for 18 months. Several operations, a few visits to the pain cave, and a new replacement ankle and I'm back in the saddle as Gene Autry would say. I can absolutely sympathize with your situation.

My thought with the modified crank arm is the ability to arrive at a precisely compensated length leg, use a regular shoe and just transfer the crank arm bike to bike, provided the road/Gravel/MTN bikes all use the same style crank. You could also have multiple styles of crank arm modified, i.e. SRAM, Shimano, etc.

I would imagine that riding with a spacer block underneath your shoe has a slight impact on applying full power to the pedal. Using a shortened crank arm, with an unmodified shoe would provide the most foot stable and hassle free option. The downside to a shortened crank arm would be if you need to take a walk mid ride. You'd be forced to walk with the right leg uncompensated in length. That would hurt the hip and knee.

My buddy uses Sidi shoes and likes them a lot. A modified shoe thickness works and is the least pain in the ass option when it comes to riding multiple different bikes. You could also walk about without issue mid ride.

Here's another avenue you might look at. There's a company called "Magped" that specializes in magnetic clip in pedals. I wonder if the company could make a 38mm modified thickness pedal for you. You could also do it yourself by screwing a 38mm aluminum thickness plate onto the pedal and then space the magnet accordingly.

 

[Jay E]

I actually walk around normally with a neoprene lift under my insole which is nowhere near large enough and when the spasms happen I just wear my fully compensated flip flops for a day or so....lol My issue with a pedal that's larger, it will hit things.... I am going to make a larger "lift" or spacer for my cleat in a few days or so, I'll share it. For now, here's my last of 3 external devices I wore over the course of a few years or so......

I destroyed my right ankle in an accident and couldn't walk for 18 months. Several operations, a few visits to the pain cave, and a new replacement ankle and I'm back in the saddle as Gene Autry would say. I can absolutely sympathize with your situation.

My thought with the modified crank arm is the ability to arrive at a precisely compensated length leg, use a regular shoe and just transfer the crank arm bike to bike, provided the road/Gravel/MTN bikes all use the same style crank. You could also have multiple styles of crank arm modified, i.e. SRAM, Shimano, etc.

I would imagine that riding with a spacer block underneath your shoe has a slight impact on applying full power to the pedal. Using a shortened crank arm, with an unmodified shoe would provide the most foot stable and hassle free option. The downside to a shortened crank arm would be if you need to take a walk mid ride. You'd be forced to walk with the right leg uncompensated in length. That would hurt the hip and knee.

My buddy uses Sidi shoes and likes them a lot. A modified shoe thickness works and is the least pain in the ass option when it comes to riding multiple different bikes. You could also walk about without issue mid ride.

Here's another avenue you might look at. There's a company called "Magped" that specializes in magnetic clip in pedals. I wonder if the company could make a 38mm modified thickness pedal for you. You could also do it yourself by screwing a 38mm aluminum thickness plate onto the pedal and then space the magnet accordingly.

View attachment 75538

 

[Rod B.]

That looks absolutely painful. Be proud of yourself for not giving up and pressing on. I know what you've gone through. Life's hard, kick it's ass. You're living well and dictating your own terms for life.

It's amazing how fast things can turn to shit. Before my injury, I was a long distance backpacker and mountain climber. I rode my "Pedal" mountain bike about 3,000 miles a year to keep in peak form. I loved to ride Moab, Sedona, Hurricane, Downieville, Tahoe, Bend, etc.

I'd just got back home from doing a backpacking north to south traverse of Yosemite National Park. I was doing yard work and getting the house back in order. Like a jackass I decided to trim a tree. I was on a small six foot ladder when it kicked sideways and I came down off angle. It was just a freak accident....My ankle folded over and my Tibia exited out the side of my ankle taking the artery, tendons and nerves with it. What a shit show. The loss of blood from the severed artery caused the bones and cartilage in my ankle to die. Doctors initially discussed amputating my foot due to the extensive damage. Nope Doc, ain't happening. They next considered totally fusing my ankle top to bottom. They said I'd be able to walk to the kitchen for meals and I'd be able to take my garbage cans out, but riding a bike wasn't in the cards. I said no. By this time, I was now open to having my foot amputated. I'm 62, not walking was killing me. I figured I could run a 100 mile marathon with a titanium foot. I'd rock that thing, get it painted camouflaged for stealth purposes. Covid hit, no surgeries, I didn't walk for a long time. I really missed riding with my buddies.

I came across an article where doctors from China and later the USA, used 3D computer technology to computer print precise ankle bones using CT Scan measurements. The plastic replicas were then used to cast solid metal ankle bones with polymer flexible joints. The ankle is one of those rare joints where some of the bones are held in place by surrounding bones and gravity, but no ligaments. The ankle can be spread apart and new metal bones inserted in place of the dead bones. I mentioned this to my doctor who told me "no." My doctor said it was too experimental. I reminded my doctor we were talking about cutting off my foot. What do we have to lose? He said okay. I said wahoo!

In November of last year, I had the new ankle bones molded and the replacement surgery done. By January, I was walking again. The ankle replacement was a 100% success. My ankle does hurt like hell at times due to nerve damage, but what the hell, I'm mobile. In February, I asked my doctor when I could get back on my bike. His eyes started twitching....He could tell I wasn't go to take No for an answer. We "Mutually" agreed upon April of this year to start riding again.

I've put 1,000 miles on my bike since April. It hasn't been all roses. At one point I considered quitting mountain biking. It hurt badly at times pedaling my mountain bike. There's a lot of built up scar tissue. My cardio also sucked after not walking for 18 months and I had virtually no leg muscles. I pressed on and put about 400 miles on my pedal bike. One day on a ride, two guys passed me on a climb. They were laughing and talking about sports. They were on eBikes. I was blowing an "O" ring from the climb. It was one of those, I'm going to spew kind of climbs. I said the hell with it and the next day placed an order for an Orbea Rise eBike. It saved me and without a doubt was the best money I've ever spent. I'm back on the black diamond trails and I'm an obnoxious eBike riding buddy with my pedal bike friends. Life's good ya know.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

@Rod B
Do you set off the alarms at the airport ?.

 

[Rod B.]

That's hilarious...It's one of those things you don't think about until it happens. My first time at the airport, the alarms went off and people were looking at me like I had a bomb stuffed up my ass.

 

[Jay E]

That looks absolutely painful. Be proud of yourself for not giving up and pressing on. I know what you've gone through. Life's hard, kick it's ass. You're living well and dictating your own terms for life.

It's amazing how fast things can turn to shit. Before my injury, I was a long distance backpacker and mountain climber. I rode my "Pedal" mountain bike about 3,000 miles a year to keep in peak form. I loved to ride Moab, Sedona, Hurricane, Downieville, Tahoe, Bend, etc.

I'd just got back home from doing a backpacking north to south traverse of Yosemite National Park. I was doing yard work and getting the house back in order. Like a jackass I decided to trim a tree. I was on a small six foot ladder when it kicked sideways and I came down off angle. It was just a freak accident....My ankle folded over and my Tibia exited out the side of my ankle taking the artery, tendons and nerves with it. What a shit show. The loss of blood from the severed artery caused the bones and cartilage in my ankle to die. Doctors initially discussed amputating my foot due to the extensive damage. Nope Doc, ain't happening. They next considered totally fusing my ankle top to bottom. They said I'd be able to walk to the kitchen for meals and I'd be able to take my garbage cans out, but riding a bike wasn't in the cards. I said no. By this time, I was now open to having my foot amputated. I'm 62, not walking was killing me. I figured I could run a 100 mile marathon with a titanium foot. I'd rock that thing, get it painted camouflaged for stealth purposes. Covid hit, no surgeries, I didn't walk for a long time. I really missed riding with my buddies.

I came across an article where doctors from China and later the USA, used 3D computer technology to computer print precise ankle bones using CT Scan measurements. The plastic replicas were then used to cast solid metal ankle bones with polymer flexible joints. The ankle is one of those rare joints where some of the bones are held in place by surrounding bones and gravity, but no ligaments. The ankle can be spread apart and new metal bones inserted in place of the dead bones. I mentioned this to my doctor who told me "no." My doctor said it was too experimental. I reminded my doctor we were talking about cutting off my foot. What do we have to lose? He said okay. I said wahoo!

In November of last year, I had the new ankle bones molded and the replacement surgery done. By January, I was walking again. The ankle replacement was a 100% success. My ankle does hurt like hell at times due to nerve damage, but what the hell, I'm mobile. In February, I asked my doctor when I could get back on my bike. His eyes started twitching....He could tell I wasn't go to take No for an answer. We "Mutually" agreed upon April of this year to start riding again.

I've put 1,000 miles on my bike since April. It hasn't been all roses. At one point I considered quitting mountain biking. It hurt badly at times pedaling my mountain bike. There's a lot of built up scar tissue. My cardio also sucked after not walking for 18 months and I had virtually no leg muscles. I pressed on and put about 400 miles on my pedal bike. One day on a ride, two guys passed me on a climb. They were laughing and talking about sports. They were on eBikes. I was blowing an "O" ring from the climb. It was one of those, I'm going to spew kind of climbs. I said the hell with it and the next day placed an order for an Orbea Rise eBike. It saved me and without a doubt was the best money I've ever spent. I'm back on the black diamond trails and I'm an obnoxious eBike riding buddy with my pedal bike friends. Life's good ya know.


View attachment 75583

View attachment 75585

Wow, its super rare that I find someone I can relate with on an injury level....lol I was 38 and 5% bodyfat. Refereed hockey, and coached skating for a living as well as got paid to skate... I broke my leg and while it sucks going from 25 mph to zero in less than a second when my skate got caught in a crack in the road, It looked like I was healing amazingly 2 months later..... wrong! Failure of the internal hardware... Then I had the first external device. Then 6 months later I was broke as shit and talked my doctor into taking it off while I was awake with nothing but a Vicodin.. lol Dumbest ass shit I ever did. Had no idea what I was in for. Those "olives" coming out of the much smaller holes in my skin topped off the 3 rods they screwed out with the makita. Later I saw some young guy watching like it was nothing while his device was screwed off and I thought what a sissy I was till I found out the dude didn't feel anything because he had a spinal anesthetic. Then 7 months later, I get a call. "Can you referee some games?" I had to make money so the answer was yes.... I refereed 30 hours a week for 4 months till I couldn't walk at all. The xray showed my leg wasn't healed. They thought I broke it again, only when they operated, they found the tib had never healed. The fib was weight bearing...lol Second external device. A hybred that looked like your device. A week before I got it off, I picked up my 2 year old and 5 year old from my moms house on the way home from work where I stood on that thing most of the day and my son starts running for the street as a car goes by. What do I do? I run after him and as my shoelace gets caught in my external device and I fall, I barely tackle the little shit. (he's at UCLA now) 3 days later I have a 105 fever, and I wake up the next day in the hospital with the doc telling me its time to think about amputating it. about 25 hours later after staying awake thinking about how I was gonna do everything I live in southern California for and realizing I kinda need 10 toes, I tell the doc I want to keep my leg.

I know exactly what shit shows are. 6 weeks in LA county USC hospital, then 8 months 6 of which I IVed myself 2 times a day with Vanco.... I've come a long way dude as I see you have. Saturday I rode 43 miles, climbed 1300 feet at the midway point using 10% assist on blevo. About a third of the way home I was at 50%, and the rest I was at 10%. I'm 59, and my HR max record to date is 181. My job is to deny reality. It will be a lot easier when I loose some weight...haha

By the way, there are doctors that say they can fix me, the issue is the past infection and more doctors say there's a huge risk because of that infection I had. If I never had it I'd have had two equal length legs long ago. What a bitch. The worst of it for me is I have to skate with horrible technique because I have to angle my right frame so I can get an inside edge. Some ref kid told me the other day my skate was bent during the game... I almost gave him the "you know who I am" line. At the end of the game when I went over to show him, someone had already told him what was up...lol I didn't have to tell him the wheel technology he was using, (inline hockey) was partly because of me... lol Getting old is no biggie, being broken up is the killer. Sorry about your pain. I used to complain about numbness.... lol, that numbness was a blessing. Mostly I feel pain when my foot touches the ground, then a few steps later, I'm good. Severe cold weather is awesome, Zero pain but if its say 60 in the evening near the beach, and a cold wind hits me thats say 40ish... IT feels like I got shocked and for a second my leg buckles. People never hear a peep out of me about my leg but if they are around on those rare occasions, it freaks them out.
The Turbo Levo is unreal. I make it a point to never disrupt regular bike riders workout, I always say, let me know if you want me to pull a lead. I'm helping a buddy train on his road bike and he tells me that when we ride, its like a group ride. The upright position makes for the perfect draft for a roadie. last 5 miles of a 40 miler on PCH last week I was between 27-31 mph. Yeah, 100% assist a lot of the time. I find that often, when I use a lot of assist, I have just as good a workout although its a different workout than long rides at low assist.
I have 3 e bike buddies, and we do the 10% or less for our first half of our rides then the second half is a hammer fest. thats the most fun that I have on the Levo. Of course the levos are uncorked.

 

[Slowroller]

You'd probably break them, but....

Ride2 Crank Arm Shorteners - Standard Width 31.2mm Crank Arms

Ride2 Crank Arm Shorteners. <br/> <br/> <ul> <li>Threads into crankarm and pinches arm with adjustable cams</li> <li>Shortens cranks by 24, 41, 59 and 76mm</li> <li>Two versions for narrow or wide crankarms</li> <li><b>Intended and designed for riders under 130lbs</b></li>...

www.modernbike.com

 

[Rod B.]

Jay, I can't believe how closely our experiences parallel each other. My first two doctors were an absolute shit sandwich. They kept telling me "You just need to walk on it" "It'll get better, you'll be in a better place in 12 months." I worked my way up to a mile a day of walking. I wore my back molars down gritting from the pain. My physical therapist told my wife I wasn't trying hard enough. It was hard seeing the look in my wife's eyes, like I was being a pussy. I kept telling them something was wrong with my ankle, it wasn't getting better and the pain was increasing. I asked for a CT Scan but both doctors refused. After 11 months of walking and waiting for the "Better Place", I fired my doctors (Kaiser Medical) and received a new third doctor. He immediately requested a CT Scan. When the results came in, I still remember him telling me "You're ankle's dead, all the cartilage has died, the Talus bone has died, I don't care how much you walk, you ankle isn't going to get better, all the PT and walking in the world won't make it better, it was never gong to get better." I love my new doctor. Interestingly, I was actually relieved to hear the diagnosis. My wife stopped giving me the "Don't be a pussy" look, and I didn't have to go back to PT or do any more walks.

My new ankle isn't perfect, but I'm good to go. I've never been angry or question, 'Why'd this happen to me.' I tell my buddies "This is my new reality, it's a new game with new rules." I'm so with you on the weight. I'm 6" 1", I went from 172 to 215 lbs. I'm down to 205, so it's a work in progress. If I could stop with the post ride, McDonald's, I'd probably be down to 180. What can I say...

I don't know you, but I so know what you've gone through....I'm proud of you and your "Let's do this attitude."

What part of So Cal. do you live in? I live in North Orange County. If you would like to do a ride together, send me a private message.

Rod