Posts Tagged ‘road’

We all know that Indian summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter, usually occurring after the first frost.  And we know that spring begins on the Vernal Equinox (March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere).  Spring is usually the season I start road bike riding again.  That’s not to say I have not logged miles, but I am tired of pent-up stationary bike miles the winter demands.  This past weekend’s weather made me think we need to come up with a phrase that accurately describes a premature summer.  The weather in Memphis was so good on Saturday that I cleaned and lubed my road bike and Sunday I went for the first ride since October.  What words can I use to describe the first ride of the season?  Maybe it’s like a human thermostat?  In a vehicle a thermostat stops the flow of coolant (antifreeze) until the temperature rises to a predetermined threshold.  Once the threshold is met coolant flows freely.  Mounting the bike for the first ride of the season gives you a sense of flowing freedom.  However, I think the word that most accurately describes it is “Ouch!”  I was sore Monday.  All of that pent-up riding was released on the road; the road lost Sunday because it was a great day for a great ride.  Then came Monday morning when you ask yourself, “What have I done?”  It hurt so good.  As the weather breaks and more weekend riders hit the road, let’s try to pace ourselves. We have all season to beat that road!  Hope to see you soon…on the road.