“To me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or the sun is shining or whatever: as long as I’m riding a bike I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Mark Cavendish
I have two stories to share today. So I will start with this cycling post, then share the other news later this afternoon.
First, Monday I enjoyed almost the most fun I have had on a bike to date. It was mid-morning on one of those unreasonably hot days, so I set out on a fairly low-key workout ride. I have been putting in around 7-8 miles just about every day and noting the incremental improvements in terms of speed and distance covered.
My goal Monday, however, was to back off the speed and just enjoy a relaxed outing.
So I was peddling up from Riverfront Park and decided to ride the length of Albemarle Avenue all the way to Howard. Then, as I rounded the traffic circle at Main I saw a freight train come off the bridge and head up Albemarle too.
When I got alongside the train I measured its speed at a steady 16-mph. So I decided to race – and see how many cars I could pass. I didn’t quite catch the locomotive, but I did manage to leapfrog five freight cars by peddling consistently at around 18 to 20-mph.
Racing the train may not sound like a big deal, but I found it exhilarating!
Bike in the Rain!
Then, Tuesday, I ran into my first opportunity to ride in the rain. It was unintentional, as I thought I had found a good one-hour gap between afternoon storms. But an extended shower caught me anyway and I peddled the last three miles in a light sprinkle.
The experience was surprisingly refreshing.
Back at home I found a towel and gave my bike a thorough wipe down.
I understand this no more than a run-of-the-mill account of my past two rides, but my point is the sense of indulgence in pure, simple, uncomplicated, fun.
Maybe I am supposed to be more sedate and dignified now that I’m 70… but I don’t think so! Whoever you are and no matter what age you have attained, I hope and pray that you are finding enough time to participate in some flat-out fun in your life.
As my friend Steve likes to say, “We’re all 8-year-old boys when we’re riding our bikes!”
Truth. Love and blessings, always – DEREK