Two Wheel Blogs

Route: Marine Loop (short, in reverse direction)
Time: 1:39

As soon as I got home, I checked my time, but I forgot to check my mileage and pace before racking my bike on top of my car. I don't feel like crawling on top of my car to get them.

Riding Tunes

• Afro-Celtic Sound System, SOUND MAGIC, VOLUME 1
• Afro-Celtic Sound System, RELEASE, VOLUME 2

Tonight's ride wasn't about pace or distance. It wasn't about pushing myself. It wasn't about anything other than just being out on a bike in the cool of the evening as the sun slowly set over the fields of Madison County, casting beautiful shadows across the road and bathing all in golden light.

I spent the afternoon at the graduation party for Dave Parks, son of Steve Parks, owner of The Cyclery. The Parkses live on the east side of town, just off Goshen Road, which is part of the return route for the Marine Loop. I figured I'd ride the Marine Loop back home. so I brought my bike so my wife could drive home (I'm thoughtful that way).

As I was getting my bike ready, I noticed my front wheel had developed a "smile." Somehow, within the space of a week, I had managed to hit something that sliced a gash in the side of my front tire. Not deep enough to puncture the tube, but just deep and wide enough to pretty much ruin the tire. And it was only eight days old! I've not ridden more than 200 miles on it yet. Since I couldn't replace it tonight, I've decided to do the St. Charles ride tomorrow night, then change it on Tuesday.

If my ride earlier this afternoon was comfortable (and it was), this evening's ride was perfect. Gone was the stifling heat we've been experiencing. In its place was a cool, crisp evening, one tailor-made for riding. I rolled down Goshen to Staunton Road, then took Lower Marine to Marine. It was just a pleasure to be moving, rolling through the landscape, the Afro-Celtic Sound System's rhythms providing the soundtrack.

It was odd to be riding the route in the direction opposite what I'm used to. Riding my usual direction, I know each rise I have to climb -- and then get to roll down. Coming at it from the other direction, all the downhills that used to be my friends were now obstacles I had to overcome. Then again, all the rises I had to climb were now on my side, so it all balanced out. Still, it was a bit odd, like brushing your teeth with your left hand.

I rode through Marine, much quieter than yesterday. I noted the patrons of three local bars as I passed. I was glad to be spending my Sunday afternoon on a bike rather than in a bar. Marine took me to Fruit, where a left turn pointed me into the west wind. Fortunately, the wind wasn't too heavy. Fruit delivered me to the Quercus Grove trail, which brought me back into town.

I rolled into my driveway with 1:39 showing on the Cat's Eye. Not too bad. Again, I wasn't riding for time or pace. I was just riding to ride, and tonight's was a lovely way to get home from the Parkses' party.