Sunday, April 3, 2011

Grace


Bicycles are delicate things. Even the ones made for rough terrain, need constant attention and upkeep. They are fine tuned and expensive and like old cars, they rarely run right. If you love them you learn to deal with the knocks and creeks.


There are many different types of cyclists but my favorite type is the ignoring kind. They ride in the rain. They ride if their clothes are dirty. Their bikes rarely work well but they never seem to mind. They are more likely to wear non cycling material because they don't care what you think.


Then there is my group. This group hears everything. The group that worries about failing parts. We see every little thing the bike is doing and we can't ignore it. We look at the weather. We make sure all the laundry is done. We arrive early.


I am not the same cyclist I once was. I have been reminded what I felt like when I first started. The sounds of the woods. The wind. That feeling of being anxious to get out there. My fitness is at an all time low and I hate to hold up rides, but even when I am riding terribly, I am glad to be there.

I am starting to think the rough days are the best. I am starting to see that the days you ride really well are rare, and unless you enjoy the tough time, the good time has no meaning.


I will be able to stay on group rides soon, but if I go off the back, don't worry. I am just earning my reward.



W.B.Z.N.

9 comments:

BIG JIM said...

I agree. I can remember a ride back in the day on the original fern trail. Rain coming down in buckets and lightning cracking all around while I grinned ear to ear. Now if there's a sprinkle anywhere near by I am looking for an excuse not to ride. Maybe it's my age sneaking up on me.

Juancho said...

So true. There are guys riding to dishwashing jobs in this town who can pound up the hills from I-10 to the Parkway at 1:00 A:M in jeans and rubber boots, and I am fretting over grams of tire weight (1385!)

Unknown said...

I'm just happy that you can ride! Maybe I can join you on the back sometime soon. Miss you buddy! Steve

nicol said...

Exactly HWB. It's good to enjoy the times you get when riding, regardless of clothing, location, peeps, and whatever. It's all about appreciating and realizing what's happening in the present moments, around ya, good and bad. (But this applies to anything.) :)

Kent said...

philosophical sandbagger

Juancho said...

Big heaping bags of sand.

Anonymous said...

Don't go too far off the back, 'cause then you're behind me and my thong.
That little leopard skin number keeps riders in pass mode!

nicol said...

Whoa! Time to go, methinks! Carry on...

Harry said...

Amen, dude.