Last Saturday I got out of bed at 4:30, and threw on my kit to meet Beers and a bunch of other dudes at his house to roll for 3 to 4 hours. I needed to drop a check off for the contractor so I decided to leave early and head over to his house and then turn east and make my way to Mike’s.
If I leave by 5:15 I would have plenty of time, but when I grabbed my bike….I had a flat. Now I was pushin it. Rolled out of the drive way at 5:25. Need to motor to make it. So much for a nice easy spinning warm up. Dark....Can’t really see, but blast forward.
I am rolling, cruzing the City streets. My shadow chasing and passing me, as I move under each streetlight. I remember when I was a kid when me and my partners in crime would head out at night on our bikes. I remember back then the same shadow, chasing me and then catching me. The shadow has changed over the years, but the same yellow streetlight illuminates the way. Baggy pants and ball cap, traded for spandex and Styrofoam lid. The feeling is still the same. So many great memories of warm summer nights, riding the bike. We were not necessarily looking for trouble, but occasionally we would find it.
Riding through the neighborhoods and residential streets, swapping leads with my shadow. I hit Bullard and Cedar and roll into the field north of State U. Lights are gone now and so is my shadow. Just me and the silhouette of the Sierra out in front. The turquoises blue of the early morning dawn the only light. Can’t really see the road, but I know its there. Nothing to get in the way. Rhythmic breathing and the turning of pedals. I love that feeling. Out on the bike before dawn, riding into a new day. Heading up into the hills, finally the sun hits you and the cold vanishes into a void of early day warmth. No cars……just breathing and the rhythm of the pedals turning. Black stretch of road just keeps on coming. Undulating, curving, rolling past the signs of other peoples lives. Lost in the midst of the moment. Oak trees and filtered sun are the only companions of the road. The road just keeps on going, until you make that turn into the driveway and you start dreaming of the next meeting with your shadow. The next time the wheels touch the road…..and it is nothing but breathing and turning.
If I leave by 5:15 I would have plenty of time, but when I grabbed my bike….I had a flat. Now I was pushin it. Rolled out of the drive way at 5:25. Need to motor to make it. So much for a nice easy spinning warm up. Dark....Can’t really see, but blast forward.
I am rolling, cruzing the City streets. My shadow chasing and passing me, as I move under each streetlight. I remember when I was a kid when me and my partners in crime would head out at night on our bikes. I remember back then the same shadow, chasing me and then catching me. The shadow has changed over the years, but the same yellow streetlight illuminates the way. Baggy pants and ball cap, traded for spandex and Styrofoam lid. The feeling is still the same. So many great memories of warm summer nights, riding the bike. We were not necessarily looking for trouble, but occasionally we would find it.
Riding through the neighborhoods and residential streets, swapping leads with my shadow. I hit Bullard and Cedar and roll into the field north of State U. Lights are gone now and so is my shadow. Just me and the silhouette of the Sierra out in front. The turquoises blue of the early morning dawn the only light. Can’t really see the road, but I know its there. Nothing to get in the way. Rhythmic breathing and the turning of pedals. I love that feeling. Out on the bike before dawn, riding into a new day. Heading up into the hills, finally the sun hits you and the cold vanishes into a void of early day warmth. No cars……just breathing and the rhythm of the pedals turning. Black stretch of road just keeps on coming. Undulating, curving, rolling past the signs of other peoples lives. Lost in the midst of the moment. Oak trees and filtered sun are the only companions of the road. The road just keeps on going, until you make that turn into the driveway and you start dreaming of the next meeting with your shadow. The next time the wheels touch the road…..and it is nothing but breathing and turning.
Later
3 comments:
How beautifully poetic Tim.
Thanks Kim
I could SO identify with your third paragraph. When I was a kid and could get away from my five siblings and go out on an early morning bike ride all by my lonesome, not a care in the world, just me and my bike... ahh - those were the days! Your blog brought it all back to mind. "Thanks for the memories."
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