I love the cycling spring classics. Watching hard men ride some of the toughest terrain cycling has to offer…battling like warriors for the coveted top podium spot. Only made sweeter by the fact that I can watch these races happen live by the miracle of the Internet. Today was Milan San Remo, one of my favorites and the longest one-day race in cycling at about 185 miles in length. Yes, that’s correct: 185 hard, fast, miles.
I was tempted to stay in this morning to watch it. But I also really wanted to ride. My plan was to get out early for a fast two hours: head out, hit Damen going north, and snake around to Sheridan Road – a fairly typical Saturday morning ride in Chicago if you’re on a road bike. This would allow me to get back in time to watch the end of the race. Perfect.
Well, that was the plan. Sometimes I think my bike has a mind of its own. Soon after leaving my house, I was turning right at Milwaukee instead of going straight east to Damen as I originally planned.
Days like this are why I ride a bike. I was on my Seven, but I would have been just as happy to be on a beach cruiser wearing flip-flops today. What was intended to be a fast two hours turned into a meandering soul ride twice that long.
Did I miss Milan San Remo? Yes, but I’m fairly certain there will be another one next year. But will there be another sunny March Saturday in Chicago with 70 degrees and virtually no wind? Possible, but not likely.
Perhaps that right turn at Milwaukee was my subconscious telling me exactly what I needed today. And besides, had I not turned, I would have missed this:
And of course, this:
