And So It Begins

Yesterday it spit snow on and off. Never enough to stick, but enough to see. Enough to remind me of that the chill in the air was more winter than autumn. When I went out for my ride I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps this was my last day on that piece of single-track. If next time I went I out, there would be a few inches of snow on the ground. And you know what? I was right.

Overnight the snow arrived. I could hear sleet on the roof of the cabin in the early evening, then sometime as I was asleep it turned to snow. This morning, under bluebird winter skies, a fresh inch covered everything. I've got to admit, it was beautiful.



Still, I was disappointed. I had planned a long bike ride today. I wanted to venture on what would certainly be my last above tree line ride out on some jeep trails off Murphy Dome. The new snow put a damper on that plan. I sat for awhile in front of the TV trying to make myself excited about winter by watching the ski movie "Steep" on DVD. But every time I looked outside the sun was glimmering off the snowy branches and the thermometer was climbing above freezing. I succumbed.

I climbed on my bike aiming for an exploratory ride to check trail conditions. I ended up riding for nearly two hours. The inch of fresh snow and crust crackled happily beneath my tires. When I turned up on the trails no one had been before me and the smooth snow looked as though it had such potential. Turns out it did. I rode upward enjoying the near silence of my ride. Where I usually turn off to descend back toward home, I just kept climbing. I watched my shadow on the snow in front of me. In the steeps, shadow-me leaned forward on his shadow-handlebars, his legs pumping, looking strong.

On I went, turning onto the main road where cars had packed down the snow into a solid, if somewhat icy path. Three inches or so had fallen there, 2000 feet above my cabin. I faced the sun now, and it felt hot. I reached down, unzipped my jacket and let the fresh air reach my sweating core. It was perfection, my breath moved in and out in rhythm with my legs. I could have climbed forever, wish that the hill would not have ended. Eventually of course, like all climbs, it did end. I stopped on the summit and looked to the north:


The descent rolled by with ease. I took it easy as I got a feel for how my bike handles in the snow, how hard I can pull the brakes before the wheels locked up, how tight of turns it could handle before the rear wheel slides. I rolled down the snowy road, on down a jeep road, reached some icy pavement and finally slid to a stop in my driveway. Riding my bike makes me so damn happy.


So here is the lesson for the day: When the weather looks iffy, the conditions sloppy, the riding shitty. You're probably right, it WILL be shitty, but it MAY not be. And you just don't know until you pull on your helmet, clip into your pedals and go. Next time, go. Go in the rain. Go out in the snow, and cold and heat. Go ride in the sleet and pouring rain. You never know what kind of ride you will find. Just Go.

Mileage August 26:
Running: 3 miles

August 27th:
Biking: 12 miles

August 28th:
Biking: 12 miles

August Totals:
On Foot: 65 miles
By Bike: 145 miles