I'm So Excited!

I got to ride my bike today!  It feels like it has been forever, and in a way it has been.  It was the perfect day for a ride.  I met Wendy up by water tower road and we took off.  The only plan was to ride Dragon's back.  Have you ever yearned to ride a trail, and just had to go ride it no matter what.  That's what it has been for me and Dragon's back.  Don't ask me why, but I love going down this trail.  It is fun, fast and bumpy--I love going over the rocks.  I couldn't wait to ride it.

Since there was no plan other than riding Dragons Back, Wendy and I improvised as we went.  We rode up water tower road, and had a fox scoot right in front of us across the road and up the hillside.  I have never seen a fox in that area.  It was really cool, and cute, it still had it's winter coat on.

At the top of water tower we decided to go up Betty.  We took Betty up to the alter.  This is only my second time going up.  The ride was great, and it seemed a lot easier than the first time I rode it.  KC and Chris showed up a little after we did at the alter.  Wendy predicted they would be there, and sure enough they were.  I think it is their second home.

We then went down Franks so we could get to Dragon's back, quickly.  I don't think many people ride Franks, because there were a lot of loose rocks.  I would say this is not the best downhill, but it is quick to get to where you need to go.

I was so happy to go down Dragons Back, it was fun and fast, and I still really like it.  At the bottom I somehow lost Wendy.  I went right to go down the single track, she apparently went left.  Once I realized I lost her I went back up the hill, and rode along the road but never found her.  Not knowing where she was I eventually turned around and went down.  By the time I made it to the Texaco at the Provo trail head Wendy called.  She was home, happy and off to yoga.  I was glad she was okay.  Funny how we never saw each other split up.

My ride went well, but my legs were tired after all was said and done  I have a ways to go to get my fitness back, but I think my legs will get back in shape fairly quickly.  My heart may take longer, I don't know.  The doctor told me it would take 6 months to a year for complete healing.
So this means what?  What it means is my heart has to get used to riding a mountain bike.  Normally when I ride I like push it on the uphills.  Right now I can't.  When I go up a hill my heart rate escalates way too high, and I end up exploding.  So I have to gauage the hills and figure out the best gear to go in.  You see my legs go up fine, at least until my heart rate escalates.  Once my heart rate escalates I can only go so long and then my whole body decides it is done.  What does it escalates to?  Try in the 180s and up.  Way too high for simple riding.  Steep hills okay, but simple hills, not so much.  Which means my heart rate is up most of the time, and I am not racing!

I don't know how long it will take for it to get conditioned to riding, but I am hoping not long.  In the mean time, I am closely monitoring my heart rate, distance and speed.  I noticed by doing this I see improvement.  Very small improvement, but improvement which will help on those days when I am discouraged.

I am also going to write about my progress, the ups and downs.  Forgive me if it drives you crazy, but there are others who have health issues, and it gets really hard sometimes to overcome them.  Maybe they will be able to relate.  I know right now when I read Karl's blog I can sometimes relate.  Totally different stuff, but I know the feeling of not being able to race or ride, so I can relate.  Which is why I am going to write about it.
Which means there may positive stuff to read and discouraging stuff.  I hope you don't get lost in it all.