Basal-Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer)

When we got off the river the other day and drove up to Cliff Dweller's restaurant, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I was shocked and surprised to see the little mole-thingy under my left eye was bleeding.

I walked into my hometown dermatologist this morning and he diagnosed it as a basal-cell  carcinoma (a.k.a. skin cancer). He removed it by using a local anesthetic, digging it out, then zapping the roots of it with an electric needle, then covered with a band-aide.

Hopefully this will be it. Just got a long-sleeve cycling jersey (which I used on the river), and will use more sunscreen on my face.

Wear a hat and sunscreen!

Tumba de Bello y El Morro

This was the most enjoyable past couple days since getting back to Venezuela. We rode Saturday at a place called Tumba de Bello in Barcelona. Its basically a hill in the middle of the city...an island surrounded a sea of barrios. I don't go there alone.

It was a mix of full-suspension...

...and free-ride bikes...

Riding consisted of a steep downhill against a wall...

...a tricky, bumpy off-camber downhill...

...and some trail riding with X-country hardtail bikes...

...on jungly trails...


I rode everything on my rigid single speed...


*****
On Sunday we rode El Morro as usual. It was a lot of fun. I was feeling pretty good. I climbed pretty well.

We rode up and down the Fausto...

We descended down the Babylonia...

...rode back into town...

...and I had a little fun with the camera...

****
BTW, I'm loving the new carbonfiber fork!

Pop...Pop...Pop

Yesterday morning I was getting ready to go for a bike ride...I was filling my Camelbak bladder at our water jug-thingie, slightly stooped over, when I felt a distinctive "pop...pop...pop" in my lower back just above my pelvis. Immediately my legs almost gave out, but I was able to keep standing. After a few moments, I was able to straighten back up but had awful pain in my lower back. Still in my bike kit, I crawled back to bed and lay down. I ended up taking 2 ibuprofen (400 mg each), and about 2 hrs later, 2 more ibuprofen...which finally started taking some of the pain (and swelling?) away. I lay in bed most of the day. I did end up being semi-productive where I did order new drivetrain parts for the Merlin (singlespeed chainring, chain(s), and singlespeed cog) which will be shipped Next-Day Air to Daniel's townhouse in Houston. [BTW: I should have bought these parts while in the USA.] Daniel is returning to VE on Saturday morning.

Today my back is still sore, but not as bad as yesterday, so I feel I will be okay. Getting up and about today.