Hi Gail,
I should have said that I'm not new to biking, I use to tour and be able to do technical stuff and hills and love wet muddy woods and forests. The memories are driving this.
I never had to get fit before to mountain bike so I'm finding this frustrating. I was a 4th dan in judo, did karate and swam and thought nothing of 70 miles around the moorland on a Saturday or Sunday.
Because I never had to build bike fitness but bike handling I am just comparing what people new to biking are doing.
I had a lot of problems following cancer, some immune reaction and huge mobility problems with this which stopped me walking.
I'm six months down the line now and daily walks with a dog helped me although I came on in leaps after consulting a physio.
I intend to cycle every other day and the other days walk. I figure if I match the cycle time and walking time and do two walks and two cycles a week and then double the walk/ cycle time the following month if I get no fatigue or mobilty probs back....
Problem is I'm crap at pacing, I still think I'm fit! but I'm deluded in this thought.
However, I'm driven and focussed and so I know I'll get there.
Jules