My Patience is Bad

As of tomorrow, I am going on three weeks from surgery on my knee.  The plan was to go in, remove some fatty pad behind my patellar tendon that was impinged in the knee joint and getting pinched.  While in the knee, the doc also took out some plica, scar tissue that was built on the fatty pad, and also a bit of scar tissue that was built up on all sides of my kneecap.

Recovery was going well.  I was off the crutches after a couple days and was able to walk fine.  A little physical therapy and I was getting good.  Range of motion was almost all back and swelling was going down.  Then it went downhill, with constant fluid coming out of a hole and followed up by big-time swelling a few days later.  Lots of ice and trying to stay off my feet as much as possible (which isn't that much).  I'm back to full range of motion today and the swelling is almost gone.  Now the hard part is just trying to take it easy and fully recover.

In the meantime, I've got lots of other things done.  They said moving 10 yards of rocks and materials wasn't good for my knee, but I was able to finish xersoscaping the rest of my backyard.  Here is 1/2 of the backyard.

My dad was also in town, so he got a bit of riding in on my bike.  Glad someone could use it.  Took him up into the high country a few times to check it out.  Grand Mesa, Pinyon Mesa for riding, while I fly fished.  Then we cruised down to Ouray, hit the Orvis hot springs, cruised town, checked out the waterfalls and had a drink at the brewery.

Going the Right Direction

Last update was a while ago, back in early March and a lot has happened since then. Let me elaborate.
Bike Riding -Negative
Yup, everyone knows I have fickle knees.  The last two years have been a pain trying to figure everything out.  I've been trying to rest and recover, work on muscle groups, positions, and anything to be able to ride wihtout sharp pain.  Just enjoying the trails and riding consistently is what I want.  I'm still riding, but very slowly, inconsistent and not as long as I would like.
Knee Progress - Positive
I finally took action and got an MRI and worked with my Sports Medicine doc Rich Price, MD.  He went out of his way to help me, find the problem, give solutions and link me with some great knee docs.  I'll be doing a little slicing and dicing next week to take out some fatty pad and scar tissue that has become impinged in my knee joint creating the sharp pain.  After physio, taping, electotherapy, injections, positioning and what not, this is the next step.  I am #veryexcite to be visiting a very top notch knee doc and getting my problems put behind me.  The season, especially spring/summer may be scrapped, but I am jones'd to be able to enjoy riding and maybe getting fit again this summer.  We'll see what the summer and recovery brings, but Iceman bitches!
Bike Race Promoting - Positive
We've been working hard on getting cycling events going and expanding in the Grand Valley of Colorado the past 3 years.  This year we changed it up with events and tried to innovate and get more locals stoked on participating.  We did a local hill climb which was a neat first year race, but our focus has been on our mountain bike race, the Rumble at 18Rd.  We worked hard dialing everything in to make this a great race.  In the end, it went of perfect for a first year event.  226 people registered with 90% of them from out of town.  The course was great, weather turned out good, and positive vibes were had all around.  It was definitely worth the effort to put on such a great race and not have haters bringing you down afterwards.  Lots of regional and national media coverage was had from MTBRaceNews.com, Mountain Flyer Magazine, Post race pro-interviews on CyclingDirt.com, a 20 minute radio interview, and more.  It's rare you walk away from promoting an event excited, but this was the case.  Can't wait to make it even better next year.  In the meantime, we're working on our next events, an Enduro race and Urban Poker ride in Fruita.
Visitors
The hard part usually about not riding much is not knowing what to do.  Luckily, I've been busy with promoting races, promoting the shop and events, and having friends in town.  The past few weeks I've had people crashing my place.  It was Colin Cares and Mitch Hoke, then Joe Schnieder and Jill Behlen, last weekend was the Boudlerites, and this week some Michiganders are in town.  Hopefully we'll get some riding in and some typical BBQing.
Currently
Lately I've been doing some yard work and landscaping.  I'm currently an expert at sprinkler systems!  Been working on my garden and put another raised bed in for more veggies this summer.  Just call me a hippie.

I'm calling this good.  I'm sitting at a Starbucks in Temple Town of Salt Lake City.  I took an Amtrak from GJ here last night and took a stroll through town to a hotel late at night.  Picking up a Sprinter van and some In 'N Out Burger this afternoon, then headed back to heaven.

Rough Couple Months

Life is good, but things were not going my way the last month plus.  The winter weather was stellar and I was in great cycling shape, especially for the end of January.  Then I had a knee injury that would set me back for a month.  20 minute rides, lots of rest, and lots of getting fat and slow.  As inpatient as I am, I actually took the time to be smart and give it rest.  It slowly got better.

I had a flight to Austin, TX for the first round of the Pro XCT series March 1st.  That week, I had a bit of a cold that seemed to get better.  Race day was brutal.  No energy, low HR, I just thought I was out of shape completely.  That night, my cold virus turned on me.  I spent the next 4 days in bed with the fever and pain in everything.  Miserable.  The good news is I am almost 100% and starting to ride again.  Good thing, because it is 70 degrees and sunny!

 Winter finally hit when I flew out.  Perfect

 Dempsey's Ride!

 Just a bit of carbon for the two of us

 Feel like shit and sick?  Walk down the street and get some donuts!

Did a ride through the UT campus and downtown Austin Sunday, after a late night on the town the previous day.

Dry, Sun, Bikes, Snow, Videos...

Let's get down to a few things here.  Bike riding is fun.  Even if you are injured.  New bikes always make riding a good time.

Temps have been mid-40's to 50's with dry trail, so it's hard to stop having fun.  So, to make life more interesting...

I did a little snow bike racing at the Teva Mtn Games in Vail this past weekend.  Somehow I lost all of my snow riding skills acquired when I was slogging around in Michigan.  Check the video from my cockpit:

In other news, if you are anywhere near Fruita middle of April, we have been hard at work getting ready for our Rumble at 18Rd race.  You better click here to see what the awesomeness if all about!

Self Control

I lack it.  Too much time and too many fun activities to do.  It's hard to stop and just chill out.

This past weekend the region finally received some much needed snow.  That meant our local mountain had 11" of fluffy white powder, while it rained down in the valley.  Perfect, our trails needed some moisture.  Can you say Hero Dirt?!  When the weather cooperates, what is a guy to do but enjoy it.

I spent 3 hours breaking fresh skin tracks to the top of the mountain in search of fresh powder turns.  With 5,000ft of ascending on the skis, I became greedy and snatched up first turns on the best 3 runs before the lifts even opened.  A great morning workout done by 9am and some glory points!

I followed that up by riding lifts a few times.  Some more powder was had, then I called it a morning when I realized I might hurt myself making sloppy fatigued turns.

By 12:30 I was on the knobby tire bike and headed up.  Feeling good, I had thoughts of claiming another 5,000ft vertical.  As luck would have it, I saw my coach descending the National Monument as I was headed up.  With my Ipod in, I could not hear what he said, but with the finger pointing, I can only imagine.  That got me thinking I might put myself into a hole and not get the quality out of my efforts this week.  Bah, but I did get 2.5hr and 3,000ft in on another beautiful day in the valley.

Too Little Time

I was thinking yesterday, I'm glad I only have a few solid hobbies.  I don't think I would have the time to do anything else.  Take for example, this weekend.

Saturday: Leave the house at 8am and ride dirt out to Fruita, hit some flowy 18Rd singletrack, then ride back to GJ by noon to open the shop.

Sunday: Get up at 4:45am, slam some espresso and banana, gather gear, and out the door at 5:10.  Skin up the 1,800ft at Powderhorn under a full moon and drop down for turns on some fresh snow.  Re-skin and do it all over again.  Home by 9:30 for pancakes and coffee, then out the door at 11:30 for a sunny 3hr trail ride.  Home to watch part of CX Nationals, eat, then relax.

Aside from that, watch this video from Tilford.  Besides all his tangents, I think he speaks the truth about having good blood.  That or just good muscle memory.  I've felt like crap on the bike and even skiing the last couple months.  Just like I couldn't get in a rhythm, breathing too hard, muscles weren't engaging right.  I don't know.  I had a week and a half off, then I did a 28hr week on the bike in Tucson.  What a difference that made.  I rode hard 4 hours on Saturday and felt amazing.  Sunday, I effortlessly skinned up Powderhorn in what seemed like 1/2 the time.  Then the afternoon of riding was even better.  My legs were opened, I could throttle it and felt smooth.  It could be part mind games, but who knows.  I guess it's good for motivation that it can come back so quick.
http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247673-USA-Cyclocross-National-Championships-2012/video/559770-Steve-Tilford-National-Champ-Good-Blood-Cyclocross-National-Championships

2011 Trip Highlights-Visual Style

2011 was full of adventures and travels with good people.  Here we go...


March
Getting some sun, good riding and some racing in St. George and Hurricane, UT with the LTR crew.

Spending a few days in California with Dempsey. Cheap motels, Fontana Pro XCT, sushi buffets and his first In 'N Out Burger

April
Road tripping for 5 days in Monterey, CA.  17mi Drive coast rides with the Kevin and Conor, Sea Otter, Trader Joe's and some good stories.

Rolling down the coast through Pebble Beach

June
Spending the weekend bumming it in Vail for Teva Mtn Games with good friends.

Sleeping in a pull-off by the river was nice...being under a sprinkler in freezing temps, not so much!

Hanging out in Wisco with the Quiring crew, hammock sleeping, tipsy religious put-put golf, and meeting new friends in the great Mid-west.

Photo from Sue. Click to make bigger!

July
Exploring Sun Valley, ID.  Riding sweet trails, having good legs and result at Nationals, staying in a cabin on the golf course.

August
Marquette.  Always look forward to hanging out with some of the best people in this cool old mining town.  Hard racing, good rides, better people and great parties.

Riding along Lake Superior before flying home

Slamming burritos, quesadillas, potatoes, pancakes, then beer at 24 Hours in the Sage.  Making MTBing FUN!

September
Sticking to the pavement after rupturing some ligaments in my ankle falling off a slack-line.  Hanging out with Kevin and Danielle in Conifer for the night, then exploring 14,000+ft Mt Evans.

November
Flying solo for a Thanksgiving weekend.  Rallying some trails in Moab, car camping, meeting new friends around a campfire, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Waking up to this view on Thanksgiving. I'll give that thanks!

December
A weekend in Vegas for my brother's bachelor party, smashed between some zero degree car camping, early morning ski session, and mountain biking in Utah.

My first ski trip after teaching myself to ski just 2 weeks earlier.  Shacked up in a cabin with good company.  If only I was healthier and the snow was deeper.

Enjoying the sun at 11,000ft. Picture shamelessly stolen from Jenn

A powder day on the sticks followed by skate skiing, then a 16hr trip around the country to see family for X-Mas.  Only a couple days, but it was time well spent.

I missed family Christmas on X-Mas eve. Thanks to Aunt Lynn for filling in for me in the pic!

Ended the year with a week of sun tanning...errr, bike riding in Tucson.  Road, trails, group rides, Mt. Lemmon, Cookie Cabin, shooting range, we did it all.

That is only some of the trips.  Doesn't include local rides, camping, BBQ's, or anything.  It can only get better in 2012!  Hoping to find some new adventures, meeting new people, getting to know current friends better, traveling, seeing new places and having one hell of a time.  Whether I see you in a town, at a race, or you visit me, let's make 2012 awesome!