Cycles
Sunday, 6:30 am alarm. Take care of the dogs, try to eat something. Prepare the bottles, pack the essentials.
Bike in the car, iPod set to playlist “Sunday” – Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, The Clash, Linkin Park, others – music that motivates me and timed perfectly for the 35-minute drive.
Music blasting, driving fast, my mind drifts to yesterday…
Morning phone call from a friend who I’ve known for almost a year, someone whose unique perspective on life never disappoints. Conversation moves to talk of friendships we’ve had over the course of our lives; some still with us and others long gone. Just observations, no conclusions to be had, no analysis of the whys or why nots, but both of us knowing we’re better off either way.
Early afternoon and coffee and a shared cinnamon scone with my friend of ten years. In typical fashion, we start by catching up on mundane aspects of life – family, work – but slowly we drift to talk of life, love, heartache, and moving on. We support each other during the best and worst of times; always talking through the choices made during the bad times, and never judging, no matter what the decision.
Evening is spent at dinner with two friends of more than twenty years. Two guys who know me better than just about anyone on this planet. I can’t count how many times over the years that we stayed up talking until well past the sun came up. My how our lives have changed! This night it’s an early end; I have 90 minutes of hard effort in the morning.
I arrive at my destination.
Bike on the trainer. Warm up. How do I feel? Pretty good. Best in several weeks as a matter of fact. Course up on the screen; ah, something new. Longer harder efforts, longer recovery in between. A bitch of an uphill finish…my own little Alpe d’Huez.
Argh, forgot to charge the Garmin last night. Will need to ride this new course on instinct. How am I feeling? So far so good. Can I swear in complete sentences? You bet.
Ninety minutes done and I feel amazing. Sweat drips from the brim of my cap. Talk among the eight of us on the difficulty of this new course, even with the longer recovery times. Camaraderie in suffering. What is better than that?
Emerge and the sun is shining bright. I’m energized and smiling. Back in the car. Different playlist this time: Beck, Modest Mouse, Santana, PJ Harvey, Stones…
Less than a mile to the nearest Starbucks.
Tagged with: bicycle • bike • cadence • chicago • coffee • cycling • dog • effort • fitness • friendship • garmin • london • motivation • music • paris • spin • training • winter