Fun Days

So happy to see the sun out today and the weather cooperating.  Couldn't wait to take advantage of the good conditions, so a small group of us went on a 21 mile mountain bike ride.  We started out going up Indian.  If any of you are familar with this trail then you know it is a great fun downhill trail.  Well, it turns out it is also a great, make you sweat bullets, kill your lungs uphill climb.  I was surprised at how difficult it was, and now have a new goal of conquering this climb.  It is not a long climb, but there were a couple of hills I did not clear--nothing bugs me more than not clearing a climb.

After climbing we rode down only to see that a part of our favorite trail has been bull dozed taking away from the beauty of the trail.  It was so sad to see all the trees down. It actually took us a minute to figure out where the trail went  because the bull dozers have wiped it out.  We kept telling Sally how great this trail was, and it was, but not as much as it used to be.

We could have ended after coming down from the BST, but we still wanted to ride, so it was back to climbing.  Up the race course and up to the alter we went.  I can't remember when the last time it was I did this much climbing.  The fun part about climbing, you can visit with the people you are riding with and you get to go downhill!  I love going down the trails in the foothills, they are sooooo much fun.  Of course by the time we got to the bottom it wasn't enough and we took off for the final down of Dragons Back.  Have I ever said I much I like this down--probably every time I ride it.

I had such a great time riding the foothill trails and any other trail we could find.  I am still smiling from ear to ear and dreaming about riding the trails again.  And of course true to fashion since I was so busy having fun I forgot to take pictures, except at the alter.

DZ-Nuts In Heat

I am sure most of you have heard about Dznuts and Bliss, Chamois Cream but have any of you tried Dznuts In-Heat?  I first learned about it in the Cycle and Style Blog I was somewhat sceptical it would work, so I decided to find out for myself.  Unfortunately right about the time I bought it was cold enough outside I didn't want to find out if it worked or not.  For some reason experimenting in 20 degree weather does not seem all that appealing to me.  So, I waited until the conditions were right, which turned out to be this last week.

First test of the product was Friday.  I went out for a short road ride with the temperature 39 degrees.  I had on 2 armers, a vest and my shorts.  I put the high In-Heat on my legs and took off for my ride.  At first it was a little brisk, but within a few minutes of steady riding my legs were warm and I could not feel any chill.  My ride was short only 1.5 hours, and the temperature outside increased by 10 degrees by the time my ride ended.  Results, my legs stayed warm the entire time.

Next test--a longer ride.  I went out for a 55 mile road ride with  a climb and descent on Suncrest.  My friends were all in leg warmers, but I was in shorts.  In fact, I was the only rider that day in shorts.  I am sure many riders thought I was nuts, and maybe I was, but the In-Heat worked.  It was about 42 degrees and stayed that temperature most of the ride.  I was warm the entire ride including the fast descent down Suncrest.  The In-Heat lasted the entire ride and I probably could have gone longer.  Bottom line if you don't feel like wearing leg warmers or extra layers use Dznuts In-Heat.

Oh, one final note.  Don't to forget to wash your hands well and immediately after putting it on your legs.  You don't want to accidently get some in your eyes.

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.

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!

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.

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.

My Stupid Ride--Major Ouch!

I know some of us have done stupid things on a ride.  Last Saturday's ride I had my fill of stupid on this ride.  But first I need to digress to what led up to my stupid ride. 

Now race season is over I can finally focus on getting fit, losing weight and generally getting back to good health.  I started with taking up yoga.  Absolutely love the classes I went to and was looking forward to many more.  I also had started riding more, working on getting my heart up endurance wise.  The long rides, and the yoga led to tight hamstrings in areas I have never felt tight, but no big deal, because I knew eventually the tightness and soreness would leave and I would be stronger for it.  So Saturdays ride started out with tight, sore hamstrings.

Saturday was supposed to be a long, casual 3 hour ride.  I was so looking forward to this, seeing new trails and getting in a really fun ride.  The planned ride was Jurassic - Ridge - Mud Springs - Mill - 4 corners - Deer Creek South Fork - up to the Summit - back down Jurassic.  I have never been down Mill, up Mill or on trail 157 to 4 corners.  I had been reading about it and it sounded like the perfect adventure.  That wouldn't be too long, but a different way to go.

We (Dennis and I) got off to a good early start.  I should have realized the ride up Jurassic was going to be a prelude to the other climbs.  My hamstrings were sore, and climbing was somewhat uncomfortable--not hard, but uncomfortable.  We reached the summit and went on to the ridge trail.  The climbing was not too bad from here to Mud Springs and my legs were doing okay.

The descent for Mud and Mill was great--great trail conditions, fast, fun riding and no mishaps.  Then came the climb for Mill.  I have never climbed Mill and did not know what to expect.  It turned out to be a very scenic, fairly easy ride, but very, very long.  For those who have ridden Solitude I-Cup race course, if you remember the switchbacks going to the top it was a lot like this.  Going on forever and ever and ever.  The ride was so long my legs got mad, very, very mad!  I also became hungry before even reaching the top.  Since I didn't want to collapse from being hungry and having tired, mad legs I stopped to eat and took some great pictures.

By the time I reached 4 corners I was soooo ready to go down hill and get back to the car.  My legs were madder than a hornets nest and I was just plain tired.  We had already been riding for 3 hours and I just wanted to be done.

The going from 4 corners to the Summit was pretty good, except for one thing--tons and tons of motorcycles.  I forgot to mention there were motorcycles on every trail I was on, and twice as many on the trail up to the Summit.  By the time I got to the Summit I was so sick of having to pull over for motorcycles.  They were all polite, but I was very frustrated with choking on exhaust and dust in addition to being tired.

I was so looking forward to going down Jurassic.  Being as tired as I was took it easy and didn't go fast as I normally would.  Which was good, because I would hate to crash from being too tired to ride my bike.  I was almost to the bottom when the major stupid happened.  I hit one of the switchbacks that was rocky and sharp.  Being not good enough to negotiate it, I got off and walked.  Below the switch back was a loose, rocky trail.

Instead of clipping in and riding over it, I decided to coast over it no feet on the pedals.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  I ended up bouncing on the rocks, bouncing into the mountain side, and then thrown off the trail and down the mountain side.  I rolled down, down, down and injured my ribs on the way down.  When I hit my ribs you could hear me cry out--I sounded like a wounded animal, it was so pathetic and painful.

The mountain I rolled down.

Lucky for me a girl further down the trail heard me go down.  She came to help me.  She was so nice helping me get my bike picked up and making sure I as okay--I was definitely shook up.  A quick assessment of me showed injured ribs, a piece of bark sticking out of my leg and a lot of scrapes and scratches (later turning to a lot of bruises), but nothing worse.  The bike was okay and I could still ride well enough to get back to my car.  I am so lucky nothing worse happened.

The stupid things I did on the ride I hope to never repeat:

1.  Know exactly how long the trail is your are going on.  If you are on a time limit experimenting and exploring is probably not the best idea.  We were supposed to be going only 3 and instead we were gone 4 and a 1/2.

2.  When you start a new exercise regime, don't plan something huge and big--give yourself a chance to recover.

3.  Always clip into at least one pedal!!!  If I had been clipped in the trail would not have controlled my bike, I would have.  This was probably the most stupid thing I did.  I am so mad I did this.

So now what?  Well, each day is up and down.  I had one day with very limited pain and other days with a lot of pain.  I have discovered if I take the medication prescribed by the doctor the pain is more bearable.  The doctor told me it will be awhile before I am pain free, but I can go back to riding as soon as I want.  Although his recommendation was to not fall on the ribs as it would be very painful--I agree.  I went on a road ride yesterday and it went well except for when I stood up to ride.  I think it will be about 2 weeks before I can negotiate a mountain bike, but at least I can still ride.

No Vacation

We were supposed to go on vacation to Sun Valley last Thursday, but stuff came up and we didn't get to go.  So we made the best of the situtation and had a semi vacation at home.  We went to the movies, hung out and best of all went riding in our own back yard. 

Day 1 was Snow Basin, Royce didn't come because he ended up working.  But Day 2 he was up and ready to ride some of the Ridge Trail.  I have to admire Royce's courage to attempt the rides I had planned for him, because he is a beginner.  Normally I wouldn't take a beginner on these rides, but he is having surgery on his neck soon and will be incapaciated for several weeks, so it only makes sense to go on some cool rides.

We rode the ridge trail starting at Cascade.  I figured this would give an easy start and end on a good note.  Aside for the many flies and bites the ride was great.  The flowers are still out and look amazing.

Day 3 was Sunday, so we spent it like we normally do.  The final day of our vacation, day 4, we rode Wastach Crest and went on a community group ride.  I told Royce after "puke hill" there was hardly any climbing, and it was down hill all the way.  You know it's not until you ride with someone who hasn't ridden much you begin to realize your descriptions are far from correct.  We hit the top, and there was a little bit more climbing.  We went down for a short time and then there was a small stretch of climbing.  Royce was a good sport about the description of the trail being slightly skewed.  After we got done he liked it despite the fact there was more climbing than I described.  Oh well, at least he had a good time.

I got to lead the community group ride this evening.  I guess the memo did not go out there was a ride.  The only ones that showed up was my family and Mandy's friend.  Too bad no one else came.  The conditions were perfect.

So vacation is over and it's back to work tomorrow.  So glad we live in a place where we can ride in our back yard every day of the week.

Fun Filled Days

Saturday June 12 - Deer Valley I-Cup

Went to the race in the pouring rain.  On the way up we saw the tail end of the Provo 1/2 marathoners (Heather was too fast, so I didn't see her), and the Provo full marathoners.  I kept talking about how miserable they must be running in the cold and I couldn't believe they were racing in such miserable weather.  Then lI realized we were going up to ride in the same miserable weather.  Oh the irony.

Random pics of people I don't know running in the rain.

The race was cancelled and resheduled for Wednesday.  On the way back the rain stopped, and the view was beautiful.

Midway mountain scenery.

Once I got home.  I went with the family to movies to see A-Team.  The show was fun worth going to. 

Then I decided to ride Squaw Peak.  For some reason this ride was especially painful, and I mean that in every sense of the word.  I actually had to stop where it says 3 3/4 on the road for a minute to let the pain leave my legs.  This is the first time I have had to stop because I hurt riding Squaw Peak.  By the time I got to the top I felt like I was pushing with everything I had.  Somehow I don't remember the end of climb being so steep.  I think pain has a lot to do with the perception of steepness.

In some ways it was a little discouraging because I had to ride in my small gears to get to the top and because it was such a struggle.  In other ways it was great, because now I have a guage and new goal to accomplish by the end of the summer.  Sometimes reality can be harsh, but at least you know what to prepare for.

Pic I took while riding up.

Love the view.

The ride down was very cold.  Another storm had crept up while I was going up, so I went up with a head wind, and down with a head wind.  I was shivering cold by the time I got to the bottom.  Just as I got to the bottom I heard a clinking noise.  I crossed the road, and discovered I had a flat tire!  I am sure hoping I was climbing with low tire pressure, then maybe the next ride won't be so painful.  I didn't want to change a skinny tire while I was so cold, so I called my husband and he met me at Timpanogous Park.  What a great guy to come and rescue me from the cold and changing a tire.

Sunday June 13 - My Birthday

Had a great birthday.  The family surprised me with great gifts, we had pizza and cheese cake and lots of fun.

My cake topper my husband didn't dare put on the cake.  Isn't it cool.  It played Happy Birthday.

Cute Octapus balloon bouquet.

Monday June 14th - AF Canyon

I finally got to ride AF Canyon.  I met up with Steve and we went to see how far we could ride before the trails were unrideable.  The trails were great except for Pine Hollow, so we only rode up to the look out and back.  I love this trail--hopefully next week the trails will be in good condition and I will have time to do the entire loop.

This view never gets old.

The patch spot below is where Pine Hollow & Salamander Flats intersect.  I can't believe how high up we are.

On the way down the canyon I came upon a rider on a road bike.  Not unusual when you ride in this canyon, what was unusual the rider was riding right by the double yellow line.  I could not pass--granted it was a double yellow, but if he had moved over to the side I could have slowly gone around him.  But he didn't. 

When we got to Timp Cave parking lot I thought for sure he would pull over.  Lots of room, but no he stayed right by the yellow line!  I had to ride behind him almost to the guard shack because he would not ease over.  I have to say I was a bit frustrated by this.

The other unusual thing--jeans.  I cannot imagine how painful it must be to ride up AF Canyon and down in jeans, but that's what he did.

Right by the yellow lines.

Proof of the jeans--I wasn't making it up.

Tuesday June 15th - Recovery Ride

Went for an easy ride today with my husband up to the Provo Trail.  On the way I got a flat tire, fixed it and we continued on our way up.  On the way back I got another flat tire, tried to pump it up, but it didn't work.  I did not have another tube, so my husband rode home while I waited for him come back with the car.  The entire time I waited riders went by, but only one asked if I needed help.  I always ask if someone needs help.  One guy actually went so far as to look the other direction like he didn't see me with my flat.  Glad my husband could come to the rescue again, otherwise I would have been stranded for quite some time.  Three flat tires in less than a week.  I think I may need to get new tires.

I believe this is the universal sign for a flat.