Back in the saddle..no really

Today was the first real day back in cycling. Yes, i've been riding, but either in intense pain, or in a testing/recovery phase.  Today, i decided it was time.

Armed w/ my new fat girl saddle, the Specialized Dolce Sport Gel, i chose to get back on my original schedule that i had abandoned in April, when i moved to the Lithium Gel saddle (4 saddles ago). 

If you don't know White Rock Lake, and want to know what the frak im talking about,, get a map. 

i started out, and it was supposed to be windy.  It wasn't bad, but it's obvious my fitness/HR level had decreased substantially in the past month.  My heart Rate skyrocketted.  In a nutshell, i sprinted Loving and the hills in Lakewood twice. They are pretty high, for dallas.  Then i sprinted 3x the small hill coming down from Mockingbird. Finally, I sprinted Northcliff 2x. 

I thought my heart would explode doing the Lakewood hills. I mean i was hitting 175 and and breathing pretty hard, but i could still pant out a song, so it was tough, but not my max.  Normally, i don't do lakewood, or the Mockingbird hill, so by the time i get to NorthCliff, i'm beat, and it's a struggle to get up in, even i a low gear.  But today, i got up in a big gear both times quite ok.  that surprised me.

The pain?  My booty did not hurt at all. OK so, my cushion LIKES alot of cushion and really DISLIKES a hard seat.  Noted.  I do like sitting more forward on the bike, and brilliance to Wes for extending my handlebars from a 80mm to 100mm extension.

This ride was pure joy. Now i can feel a little stiffening, so it's time to sit on ice, then hop in the tub, but Man oh Man, do i HEART RBM and Wes! Thank you Wes, for giving me my joy back.

Clear, calm skies and watch the cars!