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.

Beating the Next Snowfall

My office has a view of outside, which makes me long to be out mountain biking on sunny days.  Today, knowing it is supposed to snow tomorrow, I couldn't resist the sunny day, as soon as I got off work I raced down to Racers to get my bike (of course it was not at home on such a beautiful day), and then hurried home.

I decided I would ride water tower since I was pretty sure the snow was probably melted.  And it was!  The good part was the dirt was rideable, the bad part is horses and people have been going in the mud, and near the top I couldn't clear the hill due to to many divits and my lack of technique.  Luckily is was on the last part of the ride.

I went up the hill twice and end up soaking wet.  Lucky for me I took my baclava off while riding, and put it on just before my final descent.  I don't know if I would have lasted had it not been for that--by the time I got home I was fairly cold.  But it was worth it!  So much fun riding outside, I don't think Spring is going to get here soon enough.
Pictures from then end of my final climb.

I Touched Dirt

I can't remember the last time my bike touched dirt.    I had surgery, was sick, the weather isn't good, there was always a reason I couldn't get out for a ride.  Today there was no reason other than I am supposed to be working on  base miles and keeping at a low heart rate.  But what does that matter, the dirt was calling and I had to answer.

When I left it was brisk out, but warm enough.  The ride up water tower was perfect. Great snow pack, the sun was out, and it got warmer and warmer as I got to the top--probably the only time an inversion is a good thing when you are above the inversion.  When I got to the top I decided I needed to ride further, I kept riding further and further and finally decided I would ride all the way to roller coaster road. 

The snow was packed most of the ride with only a couple of spots that were not so good, but all of it was rideable.  When I got to roller coaster I saw nothing but deep snow and no packing.  I looked at it for a long time debating whether to ride or not.  I finally decided to turn around--I didn't want to ride up the hills in unpacked snow, more than likely I would have ended up pushing up the hill instead of riding.

The way back the snow started to melt a little bit, but luckily it never got mushy.  The ride back was fun, andn going downhill was great, no ice spots--at least I didn't find any!  I am so glad I got to ride the dirt, I don't think Spring will get here soon enough.

Top of Water Tower, great snow pack.

The view--gotta love it.

A runner passed by and offered to take my pic--I love the chubby cheeks with the baclave on.

Worst part of the whole ride--not too bad.

I'll admit I'm a chicken

I haven't been riding much lately due to work and weather, but I had to get up and ride yesterday. I just couldn't take it anymore. So, I got up and left and went to the meeting point. No one was there and since I was a little bit early I rode up the hill, then back down. Back at the meeting point I saw a blue light coming up the hill...it was Steve. Apparently we were the only ones that were going to take advantage of the great weather.

We took off to ride water tower. It had snowed the day before, so we weren't quite sure what we would find. When we got to the top of the road we saw snow, but it looked pretty rideable, so we took it on. The first was not too bad, but eventually we got to a part that had not been plowed. Steve did great he kept riding and going. I slipped and had to get on my bike, rode for a bit and then slipped again, rode for a bit and then slipped again. Riding in 5 inch snow is not as easy as it looks. As I was riding I saw Steve ahead of me and all I could think was "go Steve, go" how awesome he plowed through the snow like it was nothing. After getting to the top he came back and we decided to go back and do some hills in the neighborhoods. Funny thing I ended up going slower down than up. I am such a chicken. It was slippery, and I didn't want to fall, so I went about 5 miles an hour. Whoever said going downhill is faster than up has not ridden with me.

After getting to the bottom we climbed some really great hills, and I learned I am in not the best of shape. Oh well, that means I can only get better from here.