The title to this is a little misleading.  Rogue is the word my neurology doctor at KU Med used when asking me how much I was exercising.  Her exact phrase was “How rogue have you been?”  And I wasn’t that bad.  Instead of riding 5 minutes twice a day I had been closer to 30 minutes twice a day.  But I had been keeping my heartrate below 100.

We came to a consensus that I could exercise as much as I desired as long as the exercise didn’t induce any of the “bad” symptoms of a TBI.   Only once in two month did I have an issue, where I started riding the ergometer and I felt a headache coming on.  So I quit pedaling immediately. But that was a while ago.

Flash forward to now.  Today is exactly two months and, now, one day since I crashed and fractured my skull.  I’ve been pretty good at following all the protocols that have been mandated.  The deal with these head injuries is that each one is different and they each heal on their own terms.  Which means at a different pace, which, to me, is frustrating.

So, my friend Vincent (who was the guy writing initially about me being in the hospital, which is the most read post ever here) asked me to come down to Arizona with him, I told him yes.Mainly because it is 75 degrees here now. I didn’t bring a bike, but couldn’t stop myself from bringing pedals and shoes.  Plus, cycling clothing and, yes, a helmet.

Yesterday, Vincent went by the bike shop here in Fountain Hills,  McDowell Mountain Cycles, and the guys there gave him a dual suspension Scott MTB for me to use.  I met Harry and the guys there last year, right before doing the 24 Hours of Pueblo.  They are good guys.

So, Vincent and I went for a ride.  We rode the road over to McDowell Mountain Park.  I’ve been there a few times, mainly when it was first welcoming MTB’s, year ago.  I raced a couple Specialized Cactus Cups there, so am pretty familiar with it.  We were planning on just riding on the road, but for some reason we ventured off.

It is perfect for me in that regard.  Some of the trails are nearly like pavement.  Super smooth with virtually no technical aspect.  Long story short, we did nearly 30 miles and I feel no worse for wear.  But, we were taking it pretty easy.  There is no reason to push it at all for quite a while.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with how it went.  I do have some issues going on, but none of them seem to occur when I’m pedaling, which is a big relief.

I have a neurology appointment next Monday.   I’m hoping Dr. Nielsen isn’t reading this.  If so, I can assure her I am being very cautious.  Not only about falling, but general feeling.  But, so far, so good.

Vincent took this over his shoulder when we were riding off-road.  He obviously messed with it a little.

Vicnet and my borrowed bike.

Vincent and cactus. There are a lot of them around here.

Vincent stopped on the highway yesterday to jump a couple guys in a pickup truck. It was kind of sketchy.

Okay, I’ve ridden twice now outside.  I’m at a little less than 90 miles and this morning I woke up pretty worked over.  Not anything concerning whacking my skull, but just overall fatigue.  I guess not doing anything for over a month, mainly laying in bed, then riding a trainer pretty easy for another month, doesn’t prepare you well enough to actually ride.

Yesterday Vincent and I rode over to McDowell Park again and then rode trails to Brown’s Ranch.  Some of the trails around here are super easy, so I’m not doing anything dangerous. Even saying that, there is a fair amount of climbing.

We ended up popping out over by Scottsdale and had close to 20 miles to ride home.  We stopped at a Starbucks, then rode back.  We did a few shortcuts, but the shortcuts ended up to be the hardest part of the ride.  Steep residential roads.  This bike I’m using isn’t the lightest bike on the planet, and I’m not the fittest guy either, so that combination made for a tired me.

We ended up with a bit over 59 miles with 4500 feet of climbing,  but it took over 4 hours riding time.  I was tired.  I still am.

This morning we have to take Vincent’s Sprinter over to the Mercedes dealer in Scottsdale to get a new sensor somewhere.  It is under warranty, but they had to order the sensor.  We’re leaving the van, then riding 10 miles to meet someone Vincent knows at a trailhead.

It is supposed to be nearly 80 here today.  Pretty nice.  I’m am pretty pale.  The palest I’ve been in my memory.  Another by-product of no movement indoors.  I didn’t get burnt yesterday.  I would have thought that should have happened.  I must have just absorbed the sunlight.

Okay, I guess I need to get ready for the next stage.  I hope I have more energy when I start riding than I did sitting here.  It is pretty disheartening.  I say that, but I am so very happy that I can do this at all.  I don’t take it for granted.

There are lots of cactus around. Vincent can’t seem to keep both hands on the bars much.

See, only one hand on the bars again.

We’re staying in Fountain Hills. I guess it is named after this?

I generally like cactus. As long as they keep their distance.

Vincent riding into the sunset.