Fall is in the Air

Tonight I was able to peddle out 15.5 miles in an hour. The air was crisp. For the first time since May, I used my leg and arm "socks" in addition to my traditional bicycle jersey and padded shorts. I guess dressing the part caused me to notice the little signs of fall. You know.......more and more recently fallen leaves along the side of the road; flocks of geese heading south; hints of color at the edges and tops of the trees and finally color within the bushes along the side of the road. I love this time of year to ride. I can work hard and the cool weather helps me endure shorter, but more intense workouts.  What was ironic tonight was that I saw a ground hog on the side of the road. This ground hog didn't run out in front of me this time, but stayed still and watched me peddle by. I couldn't help think to myself that perhaps this was the same fella who ran out in front of me on June 26th sending me to the ER with a fractured ankle.  Perhaps he stayed still tonight because he "learned his lesson".  Ha! Why the thought?  It was ironically near the place where the first ground hog ran out in front of me and I ended up in the ditch.  Ah, the little wonderful of life on a bike.  

Ground Hog Mishap

Ground Hog: (n) a herbivore mammal who ranges from 17.75 to 24 inches in length with a tail of 7 to 9.75 inches. Generally weighs around 13 pounds.

Riddle: Why did the ground hog cross the road? Answer: To take the bicyclist out.

While on a wonderfully, hot day during a flat, what should have been 30 mile ride, I had a close encounter of the very personnel kind with one of these wonderfully, cute animals. However, the results were not so cute. As the roly-poly hog "dashed" into my bicycle path; stopping to gaze at the panic look on my face, he realized he was about to get hit by a bicycle. Never having encountered such before the hog continued on his way to the other side, but too late to save me from entering the ravine from which he just emerged. Let me clarify, reacting upon my momentary thought of contemplating whether it was better to little the big guy or hit the ditch, I attempt to swerve right while he dashed left only to discover that the ravine was much deeper than it appears. Head over heels, which isn't easy when one is clipped into their peddles with wonderfully stiff Speedplay clips, I landed with a thump and yell. I didn't know I could scream. Upon coming to my senses I realized I had a bloody nose that was still red at a faster rate than our government, and a throbbing ankle that couldn't move. Broke or not broke was the first question - lets see, the ankle? not so sure; the nose? definitely not; the left shoulder; no, hurts too much and I can move it. Ok - inventory over - now how do I get home. Just at that thought a car pulled along side the road and as the driver emerged it was clear she was calling 911. Ok - I guess I don't need to worry about getting home from here, but now, how will I get home from the hospital. In minutes a police officer roared to the side of the road, sliding to a stop, emerging before his car was in park. Suddenly, upon seeing me lying in the ditch, left leg resting on my bicycle with my ankle higher than the corn stalks in the field behind me, he burst out laughing. My pride was already hurting more than my ankle. I remarked, sir, I am not finding this as humorous as you. He stopped and barked into his radio. "Back off guys, it is just a bicyclist in the ditch". I can't say that made me feel much better. However, he quickly attended to me to explain that the dispatcher interpreted "biker hurt" as a "motorcyclists injured". He explain he was laughing at the interpretation, not my dilemma. Ok, it was humorous to me now too. The EMS arrived and carted me off, on what was a much faster end to my 30 mile trip (I was 21 miles into it) than I was hoping. My bicycle was carted off to the police station where I retrieved it later after learning that the ankle was fractured, but I was fine otherwise. I would prefer my next encounter with a ground hog to be on Discovery Channel or National Geographic Channel.

A "Rite" of Spring

Finally. That was my thought when I left my office at work and descended the circular staircase enveloped by windows. The sun was shinning. The sky was a bright blue. Finally, a night to ride my bicycle. I set my cruse control on the way home to avoid a speeding ticket because I knew I was in a hurry to get home, get changed into my cycling gear, mount my ride and peddle, peddle, peddle. Once home I quickly let my dogs out. They know the routine. They know that look in my eye; the look that says "bring on the bicycle". They are amazingly intuitive; followed their routine, mounted the back of the couch to look out the window for the moment I round the corner on my way out and round the corner on my way back. YES, I live for this! (sorry MLB - the saying is better for bicycling then baseball). I mounted my bicycle, descended the drive way, clipped in and felt the wonderful feeling that comes from the wind in your face and the glide of your feet. The crisp 50 degree aid was marvelous. I rounded the final corner in the housing development and heading west into the sinking sun. I was so grateful for the "flat" terrane. Clearly all the running, weight lifting, elliptical, and stationary bicycling just doesn't provide the same work out as being on the bicycle. I knew I could peddle to my heart's content - or its exhaustion. I was encouraged to see several fellow cyclists along the route. We greeted each other was wide eyes and beaming smiles, "must be their first time out too". The Garmin clearly indicated that my cadence was less than smooth, and my legs didn't quite peddle with the same intensity of fall, but the odometer gloriously reported mile after glorious mile of bliss. At my turn around point I was amazed that I faced the same head wind that I thought I had just battled. Gotta love those open corn fields and swirling spring winds. I purposely choose an east-west route so I could work a little less on the return trip. Tonight it was not to be. However, that did not dampen the wonderful feeling of being back on the bicycle for the first time in many months. As I neared the housing development and the sun moved closer to the horizon, I was sadden that this first ride had to come to an end - then my legs quickly reminded me that tonight I peddled 18 more miles than I had in several months.

Alternative Cycling

Today I awoke to a balmy 33 degrees with rain-snow mix. Not a day that would encourage me to get on my bike - either bike. Worse, I had just left 85 degrees and a sunny sky in central Florida. There I found a "fix" for my "bike withdrawal". I took to the seas for some water bicycling. These three wheeled wonders are marvelous on water. While not quite what I had in mind it was a wonderful alternative to sitting around and waiting for bicycling weather. When the beach wasn't an option I took to visiting Harley-Davidson dealers around the central Florida area. One of my favorite locations was "Jim's on the Beach". A little HD apparel shop located along the St. Petersburg Beach area. Here I could renew my longing to ride by selecting from one of the many awesome T-shirts. What is so special about ANOTHER HD T-shirt? The back! While my friends sit and wonder how I could add another T-shirt to my "collection", my HD friends totally get it. I guess the saying, "If I have to explain you wouldn't get it", totally applies. At Jim's on the Beach I found a wonderful T-shirt with a design on the back that displayed a Harley on a surfboard riding the waves. Too cool! Another wonderful location was the HD dealer on Clearwater Beach. Again, just another apparel shop, but the T-Shirts were wonderful. The back design includes a HD bike rolling down a pirates plank toward a beach with a treasure chest filled with "riches". While I was there I made a trek to Lakeland, Florida; my "old" stomping ground while in college (our spring training location for softball) to visit the Harley dealer. While the T-shirts weren't as cool, it was great to have the store pin for my vest. The store pin will be a wonderful reminder of good times, great friends and college! While all of these wonderful adventures were great distractions, they are no substitute for cycling....so I am counting down the days to warmer weather so I can bicycle and motorcycle until my heart is content.