The head 'dude said it first. March is basically here. And with a crisp and tasty 37°F morning just outside my front door, who am I to say "no" to a great ride?
I spent about half an hour tuning up The Goat last night. A quick wipe-down, a bunch of drivetrain work, and polishing the hardened plaque of road grime and brake pad off of the rims. Even though I was nurturing the mountain bike just hours before, I could feel the Twelve calling me this morning.
I opened the massive container of bikey stuff that I've hoarded away and dug out some old goodies. The reflecto-vest-o-doom, the panniers, and the laptop cell. I dug most of the things I needed out of my backpack, loaded up my clothes, and strapped it down to the rack. The tires needed about 5 pumps of air each to sharpen them up. Ah, the wonderful burst of 110-PSI blowoff as I unhook the floor pump. I miss that sound. That means it's time to ride. That sound affects me now the same way the wailing, screeching klaxon of a 28.8kbps modem affected me more than a decade ago. Pulse quickens. Eyes widen. Senses sharpen. Good grief, I'm a nerd. And a cyclist. And it feels good!
The old feeling of carrying a commute-loaded bike down the stairs this morning made The Goat Of Steel seem like a Madone. I use my old lighting routine, somehow still fresh in memory: Click, double-click, click, double-click as I power up my rear rack light, my helmet blinky, my NiteRider and my DiNotte in sequence. Then I hit the road. The long, quick road. The road I've missed so much, save for a few "just because" full commutes on a few freaky-nice days this winter.
Now, I just need to do something about this average speed of 13.9 MPH. That isn't going to fly with me for very long. I'm really out of shape, but it was a nice ride nonetheless. I saw one other bike commuter, a fixie rider in the crossroads district.
I joined JR and Lorin for the Mocha this morning. Lorin inquired, "Did you take the D(readed) bus?"
"No bus. Too nice."
Here's to some serious light at the end of the brumal tunnel.
Random Tunage:
Prodigy - Narayan
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
Friday, February 29, 2008
Quoth the CommuterDude: "March cometh"
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3 comments:
Nicely put.nothing like a commute,glad your back up to snuff!
Excellent. It was warm here this morning at 35, but right now supposedly it's an incredible 50 degrees outside. I can't wait to get out there.
It's funny how the preparation and tasks upon arrival become not only part of a routine, but an integral part of the commuting experience.
I had to go to the HR Office and rode there and then to pick up my lunch. It was mid-40s then, and 51 now.
I'm sooo chomping at the bit to get out of here for the weekend. Nom nom nom :P
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