Two Wheel Blogs

The name says it all.

For whatever reason, I have been doing a bunch of slow rides lately. Not really *that* slow, but they are a bit slower and longer than typical for me.

I have been taking more time to enjoy what riding a fine bicycle has to offer...and it is a great thing.

Instead of slamming through the gears and hammering only to hear the sounds of wind in my ears, blood pumping, and tires grinding against pavement, I am taking more time to appreciate the sound of a perfectly tuned drive train, the sounds of the nature that lies slightly beyond the roads edge, and the voices of good friends. These are the things that give me passion towards cycling right now.

That is the greatest part! These are the things that give me passion right *now*. Tomorrow will be another aspect of the ride!

Yesterday I put in my longest ride of the season, and was pleasantly surprised to finish a with a great group of people who seemed to enjoy the ride almost as much as I did. As an added bonus, I finished feeling as if I could do another 4 hours with no problems.

If the route had had less hills (we went on one of the most hilly rides you can take around here), and if the wind had been a bit less, I probably would not be calling it a slow ride. We held a brisk pace yesterday, but the wind and topo joined us on the ride and had a lot to say about our pace.

Fast is fun, but sometimes it is good to slow down and realize other aspects of the ride (you know, the aspects that made you want to buy your first "real" bike).