| SBC Members and area cyclists:
We are in the waning days of summer. When I was out for a ride the other night it began getting dark and I noticed the sun was over the horizon around 8:15 p.m. Evening rides are beginning to slip away. I do not know about how this summer has made you feel, but with all that is going on in the COVID-related world, days are either dragging on or flying by. Much of our daily life has changed this summer, but one thing remains the same: cycling is still fun and now more popular. A friend texted me a picture of the bike racks at a local shop and where there normally would have been a selection of more than 40 bikes, there were only two. How many new cyclists have you encountered this summer? Have you rekindled a love for the sport? I know that cycling for me, whether by myself, or with a small group of friends, has become a near daily release. The repeating grind of work Monday through Friday can, at times, be overwhelming with the added COIVD pressures. Cycling after 5:00 p.m. for me is a chance to find renewed energy to face the next day. Cycling provides me an opportunity to let the pressures of the day go. On days when I feel a bit fresher and the legs are better, I focus on cadence, speed, heart rate, or the next Strava segment. On days when I am more tired, I (and my wife) know I will be much, much happier if I just get out and pedal. I do not stress that the legs feel tired. I do not follow any structured programs. I can ride whatever pace is comfortable for an hour or two. As the sun sets on this summer I hope that I look back on by cycling experiences with hopeful optimism for the future of cycling in our community.
What has cycling done for you? I would love to hear. Connect with us on Facebook or email me at vp@spfldcycling.org.
Be safe. Be well.
Wave to me if we meet on the road or trail.
Troy Gilmore
Acting President |