Ok, I know its Saturday morning, but I cannot forget just how wonderful the weather was on Thursday.
I was technically off that day, which meant not working at the shop, but working on a consulting project at home. At about 3:00PM I forced myself to turn off the computer, stuck the Prologue (some parts are within the time line of this list) on the roof of the Buick (also almost within the time line of this list) and headed over to Stone Mountain.
It was 67 degrees, no wind and interesting clouds. This was the first time I'd been on a bike with only a single pair of gloves on since before Thanksgiving - and boy was it nice.
I didn't get more than a few laps in, but it felt so good to *ride.* For all the things I can think of changing on my slightly oversized bike with it's motley collection of old Shimano, it still rides awfully nice and it reminded me of why I love to ride in the first place.
That wonderful feeling like flying when you first get on and click in, rolling over the asphalt almost effortlessly... No matter how often I drive out that same part of the parking lot, it never quite feels as real as riding it.
The first little climb and your fresh, but warmed up, so you rock up it out of the saddle in the big ring...
Riding up and down through the little rollers as fast as I can while still carrying on a breathless, half-shouted conversation with my sweetie...
Then repeat, until I'm making bargains with myself to finish the last climb of the last lap out of the saddle, holding a lousy line, but knowing its good for me to push it.
Then sweaty, with my legs buzzing, bike goes on roof of the Buick and I drive home into the evening commute, half listening to NPR and hoping that the good weather holds.
And thats what keeps me happy, even though I need to go put 9 hours at the shop today, even though its 32 degrees this morning and the puddles are frozen in my driveway...
Ann Phillips in Atlanta who cannot forget in the midst of one or more bike projects in progress, that the point of this, is that they are fun to ride!