Ride after ride after ride

I twisted my knee Wednesday as I was heading onto the trail to ride my bike.  It was kind of a silly thing.  I was riding to go on the trail and did not pay attention to the smashed pumpkin in the road--I probably should have.  Apparently I road over a tiny bit of it, and before I knew it I was on the hard cement.  Somehow while going down I twisted my knee.  I sat there, about 5 feet from my car, for a good 5 minutes not sure if I would be able to ride or not.  It actually hurt pretty bad.  Finally the pain subsided enough for me to stand up, so I decided to try and ride.  Much to my good luck it did not hurt to ride, so I rode.  However later that night I could hardly get up the stairs. 

The next day it was still hurting, but I really wanted to ride.  Can you blame me, the weather has been amazing.  Not wanting to put too much stress on my knee I went for a very flat and level road ride--at least as flat as you can get considering we live near mountains.  Knee seemed okay, but it was definitely irratated.
I decided to take pictures while I rode on my bike without stopping, but I did take one stopped.  Can you guess which one it is?

 

The next day I woke up and my knee was still bothering me.  I was having kind of a down in the dumps day.  Basically I was feeling sorry for myself.  I felt bad about not having a job and not having any responses yet to my apps.  I was discouraged with the knee hurting, because now I am finally getting better and low and behold one more thing.  Basically it was one of those days.  So my plans, despite the weather, was to take a couple of keyboarding tests, and sit around with ice on my knee all day long.  Oh I should mention it is not the top of the knee that is hurt, but underneath.  Which I know is technically not your knee, but it serves as my knee for me.  Anyway while I was sitting preparing my application and getting ready to go take a test, when I get a phone call from Heather.  She wants to know if I want to go for a mountain bike ride this afternoon.  I wanted to say no, because that was how miserable I was feeling, but I didn't, I said yes.  Boy am I glad I did. 

Heather and I met up about 1 pm and headed to Corner Canyon.  I don't think you could have asked for a more beautiful day to ride.  The temperature was nice and trail conditions were perfect.  We did have a few mishapes on the way.  One of the gals we were going to meet got in a car accident and couldn't make it.  I feel so bad for her, what an awful thing to happen on your way to having fun--actually what an awful thing to happen.  We met Gayle on Clarks and it turns out she was having brake problems and her back wheel wouldn't turn.  She ended up having to bail and not getting to ride.  With all of those things that happened we still had a great ride, and  b the time we finished I felt a bazillion times better.  I am so glad I have friends that like to ride otherwise I would have sat moping all day long.

Saturday the plan was for Sally and me to ride AF Canyon.  We met in the morning and headed up the canyon.  Since the gate is closed we decided to ride up the road to get on the trail.  About the time we came to the road at Timpanoke campground we noticed snow!  We became a little concerned about how the conditions of the trial were going to be, but decided to continue up the road to see.  Once we got to the trail it looked pretty muddy.  Knowing how the rest of the trail takes up the water we decided to turn around and ride corner canyon. 

Sally took me to Hogs Hollow to start the ride.  I have always wanted to ride there, but did not know where it was or the way to go.  Thanks Sally so much for showing me.  I loved the ride up and I loved the ride back.  We had a great time riding and since Sally knows those trails so well, I learned some new ways the trails connect up--way cool.  I had such a great time riding that I forgot to take pictures both days.  So you'll just have to believe me about how great it was.

Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun, and we got to dress up 2 days in a row--Friday and Saturday.  I know on the calendar Halloween was on Sunday, but we went trick or treating on Saturday.  I have lived outside of the state of Utah and did the same thing there when Halloween  was on Sunday, it just works out that way.
Mandy is Frankie from Monster High--can you guess which one that is?

Royce is a witch doctor and me just a witch.

We had a great time.  I love going out all dressed up.

Yes, It's True, I am a City Girl

This may or may not be a surprise, but I am a city girl. If it wasn’t for mountain biking I would still be in my sheltered city girl life. But thanks to mountain biking there are many things I have learned to do.


I have learned to set up a tent. My first and only tent set up was last year at 24 hours of Moab. I had never set a tent up before, but with the help of team mates I learned and set one up. Can I do it again? I think so, but have not had the chance to find out, and if I am lucky will not have to.

I can use an outhouse. Now this is not my bathroom set up of choice, but before mountain biking I would just hold it until I found a bathroom. Now I can go in an outhouse. Oh, and I have learned to keep a roll of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the car thanks to those outhouse visits! Mountain biking has still not gotten me comfortable with going to the bathroom in the woods. I have to be to the point of floating before dropping the drawers in the woods! There is something so wrong about your butt hanging out in the air for all of nature to see. It definitely can give you stage fright and make it impossible to go.

I spit. Yes, that’s right, I spit. I spit during my ride, I spit after my ride. And as horrible and disgusting as it may seem, if I don’t I am going to end up choking on my own mucous…yuck!

On of the newest things I have learned to do, is probably the most disgusting thing I have observed. When I first started riding I watched as people would lean over their bike and blow snot right out their nose. In one word….gross! I didn’t understand how they could do this, it was gross for one thing and for the other how do you get enough mucous built up in your nose to be able to blow without it getting on you?!? So for two and a half years I watched as others took on this feat. Then it happened. I broke my nose, had nose surgery and I am out riding and all of the sudden I have a nose filled with mucous and no where for it to go. What should I do??? Well, I did the unthinkable, I leaned over to the right plugged the left nostril and blew! Out it came…icky. However, I no longer had a stuffed up nose. Since that time I have learned the fine art of launching snot rockets while riding a bike. It still seems gross, but it is better than having snot run down my face.

So yes, mountain biking has added a little bit of variety to this city girl. It hasn’t taken the city out of me, but it has definitely broadened my horizons.

Great Fall Riding

So I have been taking a few days off the bike, in fact, almost 2 weeks.  I have been dreaming about getting on my bike, but the couple of times I tried riding my road bike it really hurt.  Well, today was a girl's ride, and with the weather looking less than great for next week I decided to take a chance. 

The ride for today was corner canyon.  The ride up was great and didn't bother my finger a bit.  The ride coming down....not so much.  Was it worth it????

It was most defnitely worth it!

Moab - The bits and pieces

This is very long.  Sorry, but I don't know how you can condense 24 hours.

I am not sure what the attraction is to 24 Hours of Moab, but crazy enough every time I think of the race it puts a smile on my face. For some this is pure craziness, for others it gives them the same smile. Why? Perhaps it is the challenges of the trail or the team unity that emerges as you undertake riding for the next 24 hours. Maybe it is the pure challenge of putting your body through every type of extreme possible in the next 24 hours and conquering it. Whatever it is, it puts a smile on my face.

Pre-Race Days
For me 24 Hours of Moab began Thursday evening. I drove down with Ty and Amber in heavy, pouring rain. The whole way down we were tentative as to what type of weather we would be arriving in, but as we got closer to Moab, the clouds parted and the stars shone bright. This was the beginning to a great weekend.

Friday morning we woke up and began setting up camp. For any that have been at the Mad Dog camp, it is quite the set up. We have a tent for eating, a tent for our bike wrench, tables, chairs, generators and pretty much anything you can think of. Although it is an elaborate set up, with lots of hands it does not take long to set up.

Setting up camp.

After setting up, Amber and I went out on our pre-ride. I was excited for this ride; anxious to see the changes in the trail, and hopeful that my skills had improved enough the trail would not seem so hard. Funny thing about this trail, the rock drops and the triple xxx danger zones do not scare me. No, funny enough what scares me is the big sand hill berms and it showed on the pre-ride. I was so afraid of washing out that is exactly what I did. Oh well, better on the pre-ride and not the race. After the berms I cleared everything, rode strong and felt great. I had only one minor mishape I turned wrong in the sand and went down so fast I didn’t have time to thing. You would think lucky I was in the sand, but no I hit a rock and it took a big chunk of skin off my knee. When I got back Karl (the best ER doc around) cut the skin and helped me out. Funny thing, he reminded me that during the race he wouldn’t necessarily have time for minor injuries, only emergencies. No worries, because during a race I don’t even pay attention to minor injuries.

The hike a bike sand hill.

In the background one of the triple xxx's. If you click on the picture you can see a 4-wheeler trying to manuever it's way down.

Amber on the trail.

Pre-ride injuries.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out with the team, eating fabulous food prepared by Abby and getting to bed early so I would be rested for the next day.

The next morning I hung out, went to the racers’ meeting in my pjs, and prepared for the race to start. The start seems to always provide laughter as we watch the run begin. I really do not envy all of those people running in the dust. After the run we set up our chairs at the front of camp and prepare for the riders to come by—58 minutes later the first rider is in! From here on out it is cheering for team mates, other riders and general fun. Great for me as I was going 4th, so I had a little time to kill.

Teammate Leslie & me at the racer's meeting.

Watching racers ride in.

Keith on the megaphone.

Lap 1
My first lap came quick—my team mates were kicking it! While waiting in the event tent for Dorothy to come I discovered my cleat was loose on my shoe. I grabbed a racer who had just finished riding and he helped me tighten my cleat. He finished helping just in time. Whew! Thanks mister random rider.

I went out on the trail and felt great. I came to the first triple xxx and started down. Now so you know there is more than one way down most of the triple xxx’s; usually there is an easy way and one not as easy. When I started down there was a rider directly in front of me. I followed him thinking he would go down the easy way—the way I knew and was used to. I got a quarter of the way down when it dawned on me this was not the easy way! Immediately I proclaimed for all to hear “shit almighty, this is not the way I normally take!” I know once again I cursed, but really I don’t think my brain knows any differently when I am in such a situation. I guess my exclamation was an indicator to the rider behind me I was going to walk, because he attempted to pass. I let him know to wait and continued to roll on down. All of the sudden he did pass me, and came right in front of me, causing me to have to stop. He apologized; I went “oh well”, got off my bike and then back on. I continued on my way, cleared the next triple xxx and then my troubles began.

You see the cleat I had tightened up didn’t stay tight, it became loose. For those who don’t know what this means, it means trouble. It means coming unclipped from my pedal is very difficult, and there are no quick escapes if I need them. After this when I needed to dab I couldn’t, and when I tried to dab it usually ended up in a crash. I crashed on a rock drop, I crashed in a sticker bush, and I crashed on a turn. Each time I crashed I was stuck in my pedal and struggled to get out. Riders would pass by and offer to help, but I politely told them no and eventually forcibly would get out.

As I rode I kept praying I would not crash. I was getting tired and frustrated of being stuck. I finally arrived to the final triple xxx. I like this triple xxx, and enjoy bombing down. I dropped off the ledge and then I went down. And by down I do not mean down the hill, but instead I crashed, and I crashed hard. I am not sure how I went down, all I know was once again I was down and my shoe was still clipped in. I was mad. Once again I worked my shoe out of the pedal, picked up my bike and started to walk. I didn’t get too far when I realized my finger was throbbing and had instantly swelled up—I had broken my finger! Wonderful, not only could I not come unclipped, but now my finger was broken. I finished my lap in pain and a little fear—I really did not want to go down anymore. Across the sand I pedaled hard and at one point I almost wiped out, had you been right by me you would have heard me chanting “pedal, pedal, pedal”; this was to ensure I did not crash. I finished with my clock showing I was 4 minutes faster than last year- granny did not match my clock and had me 4 minutes slower. Either way a great time and it shows my health is getting stronger every day.

Broken finger.

When I arrived at camp I went and saw doc—I figured a broken finger was a slight emergency. He looked at it and confirmed it was broke. There wasn’t anything that could be done, other than ice, rest and elevation. I could do the ice and elevation, but rest would have to wait. I ate a wonderful dinner prepared by Abby and the other volunteers then went to bed and iced my hand. I only lasted a few hours before I couldn’t take the cold anymore. At this point I got ready for my next lap and went and sat in the warm tent.

Hanging out in the warm tent in between laps.

Lap 2
My night lap was not too bad. When you’re out on the course everything gets blurred. No longer can you see the path the other tires have gone, lines are not definite, and perception is slightly off. As I rode out the first rider I passed announced this was her very first night ride! Of course I was amazed, surprised and felt bad for this poor girl. What a way to be initiated into the night. As I rode off I let her know after this all night rides would seem easy.

This year my night ride went better. I was better able to distinguish where I wanted to go, but my perception was still off. The first triple xxx I got lost and had to wait for a rider to go by—funny thing it was a Mad Dog rider. I watched him go by and proceeded on my way. The next triple xxx I rode down, but discovered having a broken finger made it difficult to maneuver my bike. From here on out all difficult maneuvering was done by walking my bike—I didn’t need anymore broken bones.

I finished my night lap safe and feeling good. I really couldn’t compare to the year before, because last year I got a flat. This year no major problems and only minor ones Dave and Carl were able to fix.

After my lap I had some warm chicken noodle soup and then carted myself off to bed. I think this time is most key for getting your rest for the race. You try to sleep, but in reality you cannot get the sleep you need. Your body and mind are anticipating the lap or laps that are coming up. But what rest you do get provides your body with hopefully what you will need to complete the race.

Prior to Lap 3
Prior to my final lap there was discussion among teammates as to what we should do. Leslie had somehow miraculously cleaned Nose Dive only to have crashed on the little sand hill going to the mats and injuring her thumb. We knew if I went out strong we could get in 2 more laps, but did we want to. The discussion was whether we should or not. The team that was beating us there was no chance to catch. They were throwing down times as fast as the pros and had already lapped us. We were out here to have a good time, do our race and finish strong, so we reached a decision, we were done.

Now the big decision—should I go out or not. This was a lot for me to contemplate. No one on my team felt the need for me to go out. They were more concerned with my health and making sure I was okay. With no pressure whatsoever, I had to decide what I would do.

I went to the tent, got warm and tried to eat, while I thought about what I should do. Like last year my stomach did not want any food. However, this year I only dry heaved once versus many, many times. Since I couldn’t eat food I was not sure what to do. I was already calorie deficit and knew if I went out without eating I was setting myself up to bonk. As I sat I remembered my CarboRocket. I quickly went and filled my bottle and began to drink. Perfect, my stomach was no longer sick and I had gotten some calories into me. I decided to go out, however, this lap was not going to be a race lap it was going to be a leisure lap.

Lap 3
Dorothy pulled up and we had a great exchange. I let her know we were done with the race and I was going to drag out my next lap. I gave her, her coat and my sweat pants then casually walked to my bike. Yes, I was taking this leisure ride very seriously.

I rode at a steady pace and actually felt really quite good. It wasn’t long before I got hot and had to stop to get out of my vest and arm warmers. This was actually quite the task as I had to take everything out of my vest pockets and put them in my jersey pockets. Then I rolled up my vest, put it in my camel bak and began to ride once again.

About 2.5 miles into the race I began to get hungry. I expected this as I knew I had not had enough calories, so I had brought extra food. I pulled over and took a moment to get my food to eat and then continued on my way.

I rode up to the first triple xxx and began to walk—with my finger there was no more riding rough sections. I was in a lot of pain and anything that required gripping the handle bar was out of the question. I visited with a young rider who is 10 years old. This was his 5th lap of the day—he was doing a solo! Can you imagine riding that course at 10 years old??? I can barely imagine riding it now! We talked for a moment and then parted ways.

I rode and rode and got to meet many great riders. I was so impressed with their perseverance and stamina, so many solo riders going on and on all night long—wow! I don’t know how you do it, but my hat is off to you. At the end of the course I picked up the pace and came in strong. I felt good and was very hungry. For me this was a good sign, because last year beginning at 1 am and going into Monday afternoon I couldn’t get any solid food into my stomach. This time I was able to eat a half a sandwich, and did not feel sick.

Final
Our team ended up getting 2nd place, but for me that was not the most important thing. Instead the most important thing was we hit our goal. As a team we rode hard and had fun. I rode with a great bunch of ladies and made some great friends. Funny thing, we never got a team picture. We were so busy riding we forgot. Because of my finger we didn’t stay for podium, but hopefully we’ll hear from granny and get our medals and prizes soon.

I also have to thank all of the volunteers that helped at the race.  Had it not been for them I actually would have to put effort into other things besides racing.  But thanks to them all I had to do was eat, sleep and race.  It is nice to be so well taken care of.
Follow Up
Monday I went to the orthopedic doctor to follow up on my finger. Lucky for me I got in, when I initially called they couldn’t get me in until Thursday. After hanging up, and crying a bit, I called back to reaffirm there was no appointments available. There were not with a doctor, but I could see the PA. That worked for me and I went in. My finger is broken at the tip—this is known as a tuft fracture. But not only is it broken, it is comminuted—which means shattered. I currently have to wear a splint and cannot have it removed until after I see the doctor in 6 weeks. The bad news is apparently this type of break can hurt for up to 6 months. Oh well, I guess I can deal with that as long as I can ride my bike.



On My Way

Bags are packed, lists have been made and checked off and I am almost ready to go.  I have gone on several night rides, ridden my bike when time, weather and my health would allow.  Tomorrow I leave for Moab, with hopes that all my preperation has paid off.  Expecations?  Nothing other than to ride, have fun and on lap 1 come as close as I can to last years lap time--after that it really doesn't matter.  And if I don't come close, that's okay too, because I will be riding my bike, and it is always a great day when you ride your bike.

This year I am racing in the 35+ division with a great bunch of ladies - Lyna Saffell, Dorothy Gibson, and Leslie Knowlton.  I don't think I could be on a better team.  So wish us luck, and cross your fingers that all of us ride well, have fun and make it from start to finish.

One of our many night rides - Lyna, Me, Sally & Jen

6 Months Down - 6 Months to Go

I can't believe it, but it has been 6 months since my heart surgery.  The hardest part of the surgery has not been the surgery, but the recovery.  You can read all you want about the surgerical procedure, but there is nothing on recovery.  Because of that, I figured I would rest the 6 - 8 weeks after the surgery like the doctor told me, and then get on my bike and only have short time before I was in tip, top shape.  As most of you know that was not the case.  Recovery has been slow, but steady, and as I later found out, it takes 6 months to a year for complete recovery.  However, with each day and each bike ride I am slowly getting better.

Last week was my 6 month follow up appointment with my cardiologist.  I had a transdoppler test and an echo cardiogram with bubble test.  The results were very positive.  The hole in my heart is not healed yet, but is getting closer.  Prior to my heart surgery I had 500+ bubbles going through my heart, at rest, with little stress and with a lot.  Now I have 70 bubbles going through my heart only when there is a lot of stress!  Great improvement.

What does this mean?  It means I have reduced my risk for a stroke significantly.  It also means the hole is almost closed up--I am very excited about this. 

With the healing a new issue has popped up.  As I said under stress bubbles go through the hole.  Well, when you mountain bike a hill climb is stress.  Even if it doesn't feel like it, it is.  So, what has been happening is when I push it hard riding, even only for a moment such as a short steep up, or when I ride at high altitude I am getting a migraine.  It only started happening recently, which is due to the hole getting smaller and I am no longer taking plavix, only aspirin.  This is not good.  You see when I get a migraine, I get an aura.  Aura's prevent you from seeing in one or both eyes.  Lately I have been getting these while riding--not always, but more than I would like.  Try going down hill blind with one eye--not fun.  The good news there is a solution.

When I get an aura I need to immediately chew an apirin--oh, and wash it down with water of course.  The purpose of chewing the aspirin is to get it in the blood stream immediately.  If the migraine is caused by a blood clot going through the hole in my heart then it will thin the blood, stop the aura's and potentially stop the migraine.  Does it work?  Well, I got to test it out a week ago, and worked.

Jolene and I were riding in AF Canyon (sadly it will be her last ride for a while), we had just finished going down Deer Creek South Fork, when all of the sudden I started to get an aura.  Luckily I had remembered to pack some aspirin, and took one immediately--yuck!  It is very difficult to swallow chewed up aspirin when you have been riding a bike.  I was worried one wouldn't work, so I took another for good measure.  We pedaled and pedaled, and I was getting worried the aura was not going away.  I knew if it didn't there was no way I could negotiate the downhill after the summit--too many things to look out for.  Just as we got to the summit the aura quit, and I did not get a migraine.  I am so glad it work. 

Now all I need to do is remember to take aspirin on every ride.  Today I forgot and I paid for it.  I was going down Rush and low and behold an aura.  I just kept riding hoping I would make it down before the aura got worse and before the mirgraine hit.  It didn't work.  The aura kept getting worse and trying to see became very difficult.  Luckily for me I ran into Karl, Dot, Joey and Johnny and was able to follow them down.  They got me to the road safely and I took off to the car to get some aspirin, and hopefully stop the aura and on-coming mirgraine.  I didn't make it in time.  The aura quit just as I hit the parking lot and now my head is killing me.  Lesson learned aspirin in the car does not do any good.

As for everyting else.  I am looking forward to the next 6 months and seeing more improvement.  Although the last 6 months the recovery has been slow I am looking forward to the continued recovery over the next 6 months of getting stronger and better.

12 Hours of Sundance

Although the 12 Hours of Sundance is not a huge race, it is a lot fun.  One of the things making this race so great is you can see all of the riders riding by as they head to the finish line.  You cheer for those coming in, those going out and watch in awe all those tackling the 12 hours solo.

This year my goal for this race was to match or come close to what I raced last year.  I have been feeling better lately (minus the ribs), and I felt this would be a good indicator of any little extra thing I might need to do for Moab. 

About 2 days before the race it dawned on me I had not had any chest pain for at least 2 weeks!  It had faded away so  discretly I didn't even notice.  I felt this race would be good opportunity to see where my recovery for my heart is.  In all races thus far I have always had chest pain during the race.  This race we would see if the chest  pain comes back, or if it is gone for good.

My first lap was good.  I went out at a good pace and was able to hold it the whole time.  My downhill was tentative, but I expected that as I haven't done a lot of mountain biking since injuring my ribs.  I finished my lap and discovered I was 5 minutes slower than last year.  I felt good about that.  I haven't been able to ride like I would like, and I am carrying 20 pounds of extra weight more than last year--not too bad considering all things.  After my lap I cheered Dennis out and began to prepare for lap 2 that would be coming up.  It was during this time I got my infamous "aura" that blinds me and then the migraine comes.  Great timing when I still have more laps to do.  Luckily I brougt a fold out mat and pillow, so I laid down and rested waiting for my next lap to come.

I have to thank the guy that was riding behind me on Archies for my improved 2nd lap time.  I don't know if I would have pushed as hard if someone hadn't been behind be.  I really didn't want to impede the rider, so I went as fast as I could, figuring if I wasn't fast enough he would ask to pass.  Luckily he didn't need to pass until Scott's Pond just before the log stack.  I kept going strong this lap.  As I watched my clock I was sure I was going slower even though I felt faster.  It turns out I was going faster and improved my lap time by one minute making me only 4 minutes slower than last years 2nd lap! 

Third lap I was tired, but still able to ride and clear everything, although maybe not as quickly as my previous laps.  On the last hill climb I was passed by a solo rider.  I was so humbled to see him pass after riding all day long and this was only my third lap.  I told him so, and his reply "it's always a great day when your on the bike."  I couldn't agree more.  I finished my 3rd lap strong and my downhill was finally back to what I like.  My lap was 3 minutes slower than my 2nd lap, but I don't know what it was in comparison to last year.  I forgot to look and it's not posted. 

Anyway, all in all it turned out to be a great day to race and ride.  Our team was entered in the Masters Coed.  We took 2nd in our division, and an overall 2nd against all the other coed teams--yeah for us!  Oh and the good news, no chest pain!  Looks like the heart is starting to heal.

Team Scared Shiftless - James, Me, Tiffany and Dennis

Won a bicycle pizza cutter.

What a RUSH

Last night was ladies night for a night ride, and what a great turn out there was.  I forgot to count how many came, but there was 12 to 14 chicks out for a ride in the dark.  Whitney led the ride--I think she could ride those trails blind folded, she know them so well.  She took us up Clarks, down Rush, and on a bunch of other trails that led us eventually down to the parking lot, but I don't know the names of any of them. 

All I have to say is awesome!!!  The ride was awesome, the trails were awesome and I absolutely loved riding down RUSH.  This trail has great bermed switchbacks, lots of good ups and downs and jumps, and is a fun downhill trail.  I didn't do any jumps, first time on the trail and in the dark--yeah I don't think so.  The trail was so much fun, I can't wait to go back and ride it in the day.  Unfortunately it will have to wait until next week, because 12 Hours of Sundance is this Saturday.  That's okay, because I am counting the days.

On a final note.  For several of the ladies it was their first time riding at night and everyone did great, some close calls with birds and flat tire, but all was well.  I hope they all had a good time and I hope that want to do more.  See ya' next week!

Only photo of the night, unfortunately it does not show everyone that came.

The Sock Dilemma

I don't mind doing laundry.  In fact, it's one of the few household chores I don't mind doing.  But there is one problem I have with laundry--the socks!  Socks are the one nuisance of laundry.  You put them in, take them out and then they go into a pile later to be serparated.  My problem is taking the time to separate and match them up.  Here is what happens when I don't separate them.

The sock pile.

It's very hard to find a matching pair from the sock pile, in the dark, while you are trying to get ready for a bike ride and not wake up my husband.

Here is the problem.  When I do finally separate them and put them away, somehow I end up with some missing socks!  I know I had matches when I put them in the wash.  What I want to know what happens to the socks in between getting wash, dried and ending up in the sock pile???

No matches for these socks :-(

My guess these are my culprits.

I just wish I knew what they did with my socks.

Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just me?