Cycling Thoughts

I live in a northern climate where the cycling season is at best 8 months long, if one is willing to ride in some cold weather. When the season ends, I keep my mind on cycling for a while by doing maintenance work on my bike. I then wait for the snow to fall, so I can start cross country skiing. I enjoy skiing as much as I do biking, so the transition to winter time is not painful for me. 

There are no crossover skills from biking to skiing, but the peace and joy I experience in both sports are similar. Wind, smells, scenery and corners are found in both. I experience a peace and a solitude that brings clarity to my mind.  For me it is a little odd that two very different sports can bring similar benefits.

But there is a problem that brings my winter crossover sport to a stand still, a lack of snow.  This winter we have had ample snow to keep the trails in good shape for skiing, until recently. We have had some unseasonably warm weather a couple times this winter and a few days of rain. Cross country ski trails need a good base of snow along with an occasional fresh snowfall to keep them in good shape. Warm weather melts the snow and often causes the trails to ice up and consequently skiing is not as enjoyable. When we get rain the snow quickly melts and in a short time the trails are unusable. Sadly we have had two separate 3 - 4 day warm spells that took a toll on our trails and even worse 2 separate rain events which put a halt to my winter sport. At present our trails are not skiable  so I am lamenting.

A winter without snow is very painful. I am not a lover of cold weather, but when there is snow on the ground cold weather is welcomed. Today I sit in my house, looking at expanses of grass while the thermometer reads 12 degrees fahrenheit! My cycle is tucked away in the garage ready for the riding season and my cross country skis are waiting in my porch for the next good snowfall. My mind cycles from riding to gliding. I have cycling thoughts.  

THE MID WINTER BLUES

It is that time of the year here in the northwoods. The snow keeps coming and fears of an impending ice age roll around in my head. Don't get me wrong, I believe in global warming; it is just that I allow the irrational fear of an eternal winter to capture my imagination. 

I enjoy winter and spend time enjoying it by cross country skiing and snowshoeing. I find delight in snow storms and find great pleasure in trekking in the woods braving high winds and pelting snow. It is just that I look a my motorcycle parked in the garage knowing that I have done all the necessary maintenance for the next riding season.

The motorcycle commercials that continue to run on television don't bother me. I really cannot identify with the guy riding the bike. In our area they are Harley Davidson commercials. I am a Honda guy who is not looking to live a legend, leave a legacy for my children, or looking to escape the demands of my boss and ride to Alaska with my biker buddies.

I don't want winter to end next week. I still want to enjoy this northwood's winter. The reality is that I am conflicted. You may have notice that photos of me belie this fact. I am a conflicted person, when it comes to all of life. Allow me to clarify this point. Most people who know me would describe me as very stable but crazy. I can be counted on regarding following through on promises and commitments. I usually am level headed and able to handle problems in a rational manner. People see me as predictable and stable, but in the next breath many will say I am crazy.

There in lies the conflict. I am certain that my personality quirk could be explained easily by a psychiatrist. Maybe they would say that my ego is over worked because my id and superego are prone to flare ups. The poor ego has a difficult job finding middle ground that is acceptable in my social environment.

There is a simple solution to my seasonal dilemma that I am unwilling to act upon  at this time; I need to move.  If I moved to Olympia Washington I would be able to ride 353 days a year and still get all the winter sports I love. The truth is I like be conflicted, because I'm crazy.