...Maybe Some Time Off the Bike Now and Then Isn't Such A Bad Idea After All

Today's bike-of-choice: Quicksilver
Today's average speed: 18 MPH! Where'd *that* come from???

This morning's commute was a blast. I took the road bike — probably not the best idea ever, since Quicksilver is fenderless and rain is likely this afternoon, but riding in the rain without mudguards and flaps hasn't killed me yet. (Likewise, I don't frequently encounter other cyclists on my homeward ride — if I do, I'll make a point of not spraying them with road schmutz.) It was worth it; I felt totally at one with the bike. I love Swift, but for that particular feeling, QS is my go-to ride.

I was feeling pretty good this morning, but didn't really realize how good until I averaged out my speed. 18 MPH average is a record for this route.

Sometimes I ask myself why it matters to me how fast I go — which is to say, yes, I want to race, but I want to race for fun (okay, admittedly, I don't want to be totally off the back every single race). If it's not fun, there's no point. If I ever happen to win, that will just be a cherry on the whole giant sundae that is cycling. If I never do, well — that's fine too. I still get the sundae, extra cherry or no. I'm still planning to ride brevets (and various centuries) next year, but you don't have to be blazing-fast to ride those successfully.

Ultimately, in the grand scheme of the universe, it really doesn't matter how fast I go — yet I continue to clock my time and monitor my speed every time I throw a leg over the saddle. Curious. For that matter, slow days don't bother me. I don't particularly care, most of the time, how fast I ride — but I log my speed anyway, every single ride. I wonder why?

Tomorrow I'll be calling to reserve my bike for the week I'll be in Fort Lauderdale. I can't wait to see the ocean. It could only possibly be better if I were going to see the New England shore, rather than the Florida shore — no matter how long I live in Kentucky, some part of me yearns* for the northern Atlantic.

That being said, I'll happily take what I can get. Gift horses, etc.



*sorry about the incomprehensible typo. Fixed.