Yay!

There are very few things that will make me say "Yay." Here's is a not-so-complete list actually.

1. New bike parts from Hawley's or BTI.
2. BBQ, root beer, and baked beans.
3. Getting over a cold and having the weather take a turn for the better.
4. New bike.

Today is a number 3 day. So today is going to be a good day. Not only is the weather better, I am also feeling loads better. I will not get to ride outside today (not quite up to that), but the next two days also promise to be nice out, so I will get to ride. And the promise of a ride is almost better than the ride itself as one gets to anticipate, plan, and imagine all of the great things that the ride will include.

But rides rarely reach the level of perfection that our dream rides entail. That is what makes our sport so incredible. While rides never live up to our expectations, they don't have to. It can be raining, you can have 4 flat tires, you can be pushing your bike down your favorite section of trail because the patches won't stick to the wet tube. But you will always remember that ride, because it was on that ride that you got to eat black berries all the way down the Iron. It was also on that ride that you cleared a section of trail that had previously been impassible. That ride was an amazing ride. I will remember it for the rest of my life.

Or not, as there are sure to be rides in the future that take its place as being sucky and amazing at the same time. That is why I am a cyclist, because even our worst days on a bike are better than our best days off of a bike. Fishermen say, "A bad day fishing is better than the best day at work." I believe that to be true. But my worst day riding is a lot better than my best day fishing.

Enjoy the ride.