To Gaza, Bikemad and all you great people - Elly's disaster 'cycle' continues! Read on

First of all please excuse my lateness in replying to threads and personal messages - am having to get to Internet Cafes and this is my first visit to one since last week.
Here's the bad news which is making me start to believe that someone up there doesn't want me to ride anymore..... Yesterday I went to visit the worlds best Sports Physio - Joel Werman in North Sydney, Miller Street by the cricket Oval. He is the superb and sorted me out last year with a knee problem in one visit. His number is 9558766if anyone is unlucky enough to need him.

I have waited to see him because of the plate in my fibular and three months on from the op my ankle still gets very stiff and swollen and throws out a lot of heat. As usual he got straight to the heart of the problem and has given me rehabilitation exercises and told me to stop all the walking I'm doing (8 miles the other day). He said logic makes you think walking would help but it is just straining an already stiff and weakened ankle. Then I say "So it will be Ok for me to go out mountain biking though won't it - that won't strain it?" He said this was a VERY VERY BAD IDEA. He said to ride on roads would be a risk worth taking for the benefits as it is unlikely I'd need to put my ankle down suddenly and if so it would be on flat terrain. He said as the ankle is right now (far from healed) if I had to put it down and it lands awkwardly it could set me back.....

So - a couple of things. Bikemad, I'd be really grateful if I could try your bike for size but would only use it on the road.

IF IT EVER STOPS RAINING WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU GUYS FOR A BAR B. My daugther at Harbord would be willing to have it at her place (just a little way from the Diggers). I want to prove I'm a real person and not a Virtual Mountain Biker. Let me know the best day/times for you. I'll do the salads. Obviously it will be a BYO but I think that's the normal here. PLEASE SAY YOU'LL COME!!!!
Love Elly
P.S. sorry I have brought the Uk weather with me!!!!