29 Nov 2009
Golden Fall Cycle
There are those days when the rigor of regular cycling becomes overpowered by lethargy. But I find if I just put my gear on, I can eventually overcome the resistance and roll the bike out the door. Yesterday with a cold, brisk wind in my face, I took a path I had not traveled for some time.
As I fought against the head wind I remembered riding that bike path in my early days of cycling. The parts of the ride that I used to struggle with now seemed easy. What once was the end of the path had been extended and now connected to another bike path. I took a short break at my old rest spot and ate a snack bar, remembering the first time I was there nearly 20 years ago. As dusk was approaching I was quick to remount and head back home.
The golden light heightened the autumn colors as the brisk wind, now at my back, swept me down the path. There were several groups of slower riders ahead of me. As I drafted and then cleared the last group, the wind caught me again and I accelerated down the path. The leaves swirled around me in the wind accentuated by my wheels kicking up leaves on the path. I dropped down into an aerodynamic position and pushed hard to pick up speed, muscles straining with each pedal stroke. The scene became surrealistic like out of a classic movie. The rush of the wind and the crackling of the leaves added to the drama while flashbacks of past rides floated through my minds eye reminding me of my progression and growth over the last two decades.
It is times like these that makes me appreciate cycling even more, providing a exhilarating blend of aerobics, meditation and incredible imagery.
Bon Voyage, Jay
