John’s Ramblings

I’m sometimes a little too pessimistic for my own good. Last night, for example…

Tuesday evening, which means it is another edition of the Use It or Lose It bicycle rides around Kent and Auburn. I spent all day monitoring the weather report as there were dire predictions of an impending storm, which would be rain, heavy winds, then freezing temperatures and snow. The rain stopped about an hour before ride time. The temperature dropped from 51 to 38 degrees in the last few hours of the afternoon. The wind picked up to a steady 15-20 mph clip, south to north.

At 4PM, I was doubtful that a ride would take place. At 5, I was 90% certain that I would cancel. By 5:45, the skies were clearing and we were going to end up with another of those little slices of riding opportunity that happen here in the northwest. At the starting point at 6:05, I was pretty certain that the weather forecast would have scared off any riders. At 6:15, I was still alone and had visions of going home and having a quiet evening with the wife in front of the fire. By 6:30, we had 5 folks ready to roll. After a few months of leading these rides I should know better than to count out the weather, or this intrepid little group of dedicated cyclists.

We headed south, straight into the wind for the first half of the ride. We played hide-and-seek with the 18 mph headwinds, snaking along Green River Road between East Hill and the trees lining the river. We were often sheltered, but we would come around a corner and the wind would be full in-your-face, prompting a downshift just as if the pavement had kicked up rather than the breeze. The skies completely cleared, and Orion was clearly visible in the eastern sky as we made our way south. I felt good, and spent a good part of the night pulling this little train of aging Lances to the southern edge of Auburn.

We made a westerly traverse in Algona, and headed back north. We zipped along at 18 or so with the tailwind. When you move with the wind, you feel no wind in your face or at your back, but you feel like you are flying.

It was a good night. I’m sorry that I doubted it, and really glad that I rode.

23 miles for the night, 67 ytd.

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