Spring is for biking 2

I look forward to spring’s arrival. To have warm days to venture outside to ride my bike or run five miles without the need for six layers of clothing for warmth. I also enjoy the cool of the evening so I can still sleep curled up under a thick blanket. I do not particularly care for the rain that will come with spring but the rain will nourish. My mother would tell me “April showers bring May flowers”. I just ask for less rain this year compared with last year’s near record level down pours so I can play.

Winter has been very hard on my physical and spiritual well-being. I did not have the opportunity to play on my bike to prepare for the racing season. My first mountain bike race this year was scheduled for January 2 in the mountains of Dalton Georgia. It was not a good day to start due to the snow falling as I drove from Atlanta to Dalton. I was resolved to ride in the snow but with the temperature outside hovering at 18 degrees Fahrenheit I questioned my sanity. Preparing my bike for the 6 hour ride in the current conditions I become colder and started shivering. I looked in the gear bag for more clothing to wear but I had everything on; I became demoralized. I decided to sit in my truck to warm up and contemplate the situation. At registration the riders were offered trash bags to wear over our feet and legs to stay dry crossing the creek. The creek had 16 inches of water and there is no way to ride across without causing mechanical problems. This revelation about the creek played into my next decision not to participate in this race. When I made the decision not to race the snow started coming down heavier. At that moment I knew the right decision was reached.

When the racers departed I tossed my bike back into the Xterra and started the drive back to Atlanta. The next day I heard from several friends about the conditions that they faced. The most prevalent issue was the water freezing cables which caused an inability to shift gears. Another problem was an inability to warm up. Jim told me about having to sit in front of a heater for an hour to warm his feet to regain feeling in them. I made the right decision not to race that day, but I would have enjoyed clearing my mind during the six hours of riding. Spring will bring a renewal of life and spirit and I will be outside taking advantage of the warm days.

Revised from blog Spring is for biking published March 14, 2010 at 3:39 PM