Labor Day weekend started with promising weather but ended with rain. Unfortunately, during the good weather, I was busy and didn’t get out to ride. When I had the time, down came the rain. Feeling frustrated Sunday afternoon, when there was a short break in the weather, I took it. It didn’t matter that it was after 5 p.m., I needed to get out of the house and get some fresh air.
I have learned over the years to grab these moments of freedom riding whenever I can. The ride doesn’t need to be far or take a lot of time. Sometimes, just a quick spin around the block is enough to get the juices flowing and let the mind relax.
kAm$F?52J H2D >J f`DE 3:CE952J] x? E96 A2DE[ x FD65 E@ CF? 2?5 DH:> >J 286 :? >:?FE6D 2?5 3:<6 :E :? >:=6D] }@H[ E92E x’> @=56C 2?5 >2J36 H:D6C[ x’G6 D42=65 324< >J 8@2=D E@ ;FDE 86EE:?8 @FE E96C6 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 H96?6G6C x 42?]k^Am
kAm|J C:56 E92E 52J H2D 2 BF:4< C:56 2C@F?5 “E96 3=@4<]” (92E :E =24<65 :? >:=6286[ :E >256 FA 7@C :? 4=:>3:?8] x A652=65 >J 8C2G6= 3:<6 2C@F?5 >J D>2== r@?H2J ?6:893@C9@@5 3=@4< E@ H2C> FA[ E96? 962565 FA q2=5 w:== #@25]k^Am
kAmrC2?<:?8 FA E96 368:??:?8 @7 :ED >:=6\=@?8 4=:>3[ x D6E >J D:89ED @? C6249:?8 E96 H2E6C E@H6C[ E96? E96 C25:@ E@H6C] ~?46 x H2D A2DE E96>[ E96 4=:>3:?8 =6G6=65 @77] pE E96 E@A ?62C r92D6 w:== #@25 2?5 %:? |@F?E2:? r@?D6CG2E:@? r6?E6C[ x DE@AA65 E@ 4964< @? E96 AC@8C6DD @7 E96 ?6H 2446DD:3=6 EC2:= @? E96 C:89E] $:8?D :?5:42E65 :E H2D DE:== F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 E96 EC2:= H2D?’E @A6?] w@A67F==J[ E9:D 72==[ x’== 36 23=6 E@ H2=< 2?5 CF? E96C6]k^Am
kAmr@?E:?F:?8 FA q2=5 w:==[ 27E6C x A2DD65 $E24J {2?6[ x 8@E E@ E96 “3F>AJ” D64E:@?] pE E96 7@C<[ x EFC?65 C:89E @? r@@< u2C> #@25 2?5 C@56 FA9:== E@ pG:2E:@? sC:G6] w6C6[ 2E E96 D:E6 @7 {62G:EE’D p:CA@CE[ 2 CF?H2J C@==65 @FE 367@C6 >6 E@H2C5 E96 9:==D] &?56C8C@F?5 FE:=:E:6D >62? E96C6 2C6 ?@ @G6C9625 =:?6D @C A@=6D E@ @3D4FC6 E96 G:6H]k^Am
kAmp 76H 9@FD6D 2C6 EF4<65 :?E@ E96 D:56D[ 6249 H:E9 :ED @H? 92?86C[ 3FE E96C6 H2D?’E 2?J 6G:56?46 @7 A6@A=6 2?5 A=2?6D E92E 52J] %96 A=246 H2D BF:6E 2?5 A62467F=[ 2 {23@C s2J C6AC:6G6]k^Am
kAm%FC?:?8 2C@F?5[ x C@56 324< 5@H? E@ q2=5 w:==[ E96? EFC?65 =67E E@ 9625 324< E@ %:? |@F?E2:?] pE r92D6 w:== #@25[ x EFC?65 =67E] %9:D >:=6\=@?8 5:CE C@25 2=H2JD 8:G6D >6 A6246] xE’D D925J :? DF>>6C[ 3C:==:2?E :? 72==[ 2?5 D?@H\4@G6C65 :? H:?E6C] ~7E6?[ :E’D 2 A=246 H96C6 x >66E @E96C ?6:893@CD H2=<:?8 E96>D6=G6D @C E96:C 5@8D]k^Am
kAm$F?52J[ x D2H ?@ @?6 2D x 2AAC@24965 E96 A2G65 D64E:@? ?62C E96 7@C>6C s2C3J u:6=5 x??] !2DD:?8 3J >J @=5 H@C<A=246[ x 56D46?565 p36?2<: (2J 42C67F==J] xED 3F>AD 2?5 DE66A?6DD 362C H2E49:?8] pE E96 z2?42>28FD w:89H2J :?E6CD64E:@?[ x 4964<65 7@C @?4@>:?8 EC277:4 2?5 E96? EFC?65 C:89E] $>@@E9 C:5:?8 D@@? 3C@F89E >6 E@ E96 #@FE6 ``a^#@FE6 `e EC277:4 =:89E] p BF:4< C:89E E96C6 2?5 2E %9@C? w:== #@25 3C@F89E >6 324< E@ >J ?6:893@C9@@5]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 x H2D 8@?6 =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC 2?5 AC@323=J H6?E =6DD E92? d >:=6D[ x H2D C6?6H65 2?5 C67C6D965] |J <:?5 9FD32?5 925 2 56=:4:@FD 5:??6C C625J 7@C >6 2?5 x H2D 72>:D965] tG6? 2 D9@CE C:56 42? 3@@DE J@FC 2AA6E:E6Pk^Am
kAm%96D6 52JD[ x AC676C C:5:?8 @? =@H\EC277:4 324< C@25D[ 5:CE C@25D 2?5 EC2:=D] |J 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C 9:89\DA665 A2G6>6?E C:5:?8 92D H2?65 H:E9 E96 :?4C62D6 :? EC277:4 2?5 5:DEC24E65 5C:G6CD] x 42? 92G6 2 >@C6 C6=2I:?8 2?5 D46?:4 C:56 @? 2== E96 >:=6D @7 8C2G6= C@25D H6 92G6 :? E96 '2==6J] %96 7F? :D :? “4@??64E:?8 E96 5@ED” 2?5 A:64:?8 E@86E96C 2 =@@A C:56] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 >J 72G@C:E6Dik^Am
kAmuCJ63FC8 u@C2Ji p 76H J62CD 28@[ >J 9FD32?5 2?5 x H6C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 >6==@H >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C:56 @FED:56 @FC FDF2= C:5:?8 2C62] {@@<:?8 7@C D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E[ 3FE H:E9 ?@ A2CE:4F=2C A=2? :? A=246[ H6 962565 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 =:?6 E@ uCJ63FC8[ |2:?6] }F>6C@FD @AE:@?D H6C6 5:D4FDD65 — C:56 t2DE q62C !2H EC2:=D[ 6IA=@C6 !@CE6C #@25 EC2:=D 2?5 ECJ D@>6 5:776C6?E EC2:=D @77 @7 E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? %C2:=] !2C<:?8 2E E96 ':D:E@C’D r6?E6C 82G6 FD 2446DD E@ 2== E9@D6 49@:46D] (6 564:565 H6 ?66565 D@>6 “=68 DEC6E49:?8” 7:CDE[ D@ H6 @AE65 7@C 2 C:56 DE2CE:?8 H:E9 E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? #2:= %C2:=] z?@H:?8 :E H@F=5 =:?< FD H:E9 EC2:=D 2?5 C@25D H6 H2?E65 E@ 6IA=@C6[ 96=A65 FD 4@??64E E96 5@ED]k^Am
kAm'6?EFC:?8 @77 :E 7@C D@>6 @77\C@25 6IA=@C:?8 2?5 E96? C6EFC?:?8 E@ :E[ H6 D@@? 4@??64E65 H:E9 !@CE6C #@25] %9:D C@25 DE2CED A2G65 H96C6 E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? %C2:= 4C@DD6D :E 3FE E96? EFC?D E@ 5:CE 23@FE 2 >:=6 D@FE9 @7 :ED ;F?4E:@? H:E9 E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@?] %H@ C@25D 3C2?49 @77 :E — r=2J !@?5 #@25 2?5 u2C?DH@CE9 #@25 — @A6?:?8 FA @AE:@?D 7@C C:5:?8 6:E96C E@H2C5 E96 p:CA@CE 2?5 6?5 @7 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? %C2:= ?62C #@FE6 ``b @C C:5:?8 D@FE9 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 2?5 G66C:?8 C:89E E@ 4@??64E E@ w2=6JE@H? #@25] (:E9 6:E96C @AE:@?[ H6 4@F=5 4@??64E E96 5@ED 2?5 C6EFC? E@ H96C6 H6 DE2CE65 2E E96 ':D:E@C’D r6?E6C]k^Am
kAm#:5:?8 5@H? r=2J !@?5 #@25[ H6 42>6 E@ E96 A2G65 2:CA@CE C@25] #:5:?8 @? E92E 7@C 2 D9@CE 5:DE2?46[ H6 42>6 E@ #@FE6 ``b] uC@> E92E ;F?4E:@?[ H6 EFC?65 =67E[ H2=<:?8 @FC 3:<6D E96 `__ J2C5D E@ E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@?’D D@FE96C? A2C<:?8 =@E] (:E9 E92E 244@>A=:D965[ H6 E@@< E96 EC2:= c >:=6D 324< E@ @FC DE2CE:?8 A@:?E]k^Am
kAm%96 C:56 H2D?’E =@?8 — >2J36 `_ >:=6D E@E2= — 3FE 925 2 =@E @7 G2C:6EJ @7 C@25 2?5 EC2:= DFC7246D 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8 D46?6CJ] %96 36DE A2CE @7 E96 C:56 H2D :E 4@??64E65 2== E96 5@ED DF446DD7F==J 7@C 2 A=62D2?E 6I4FCD:@?]k^Am
kAm!@EE6C #@25 !652=:?8i r@?H2J^t2E@? — xE 92D D@>6 EC277:4[ 6DA64:2==J @? H66<6?5D[ 3FE :D G6CJ D925J 2?5 92D G:6HD @7 r@?H2J {2<6 2E E96 D@FE9 6?5] %FC? @77 #@FE6 `db[ c >:=6D D@FE9 @7 r@?H2J[ @? 2 5:CE C@25] !2C< ?62C E96 3C:586 2 D9@CE H2J :?] #:56 62DE A2DE E96 6?5 @7 E96 =2<6[ E96? EFC? ?@CE9 E@ C:56 D=:89E=J FA9:== 2=@?8 E96 62DE D:56 @7 E96 =2<6] {@@< 7@C E96 @=5 !@EE6C 72>:=J 8C2G6J2C5 @? E96 =67E] #:56 E@ E96 6?5 @7 |:== $EC66E^ qC@H?7:6=5 #@25 :? r6?E6C r@?H2J 7@C 23@FE c >:=6D[ E96? C6G6CD6 J@FC 5:C64E:@? E@ C:56 324< E@ J@FC 42C] t?;@J 2 5:776C6?E G:6H @? E96 H2J 324<]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 >@C6 2>3:E:@FD “4@??64E E96 5@ED” C:56[ EFC? FA vC66=6J WvC66=JX #@25 ?62C E96 D@FE9 6?5 @7 E96 =2<6[ A652= DE66A=J FA9:== E@ {62G:EE #@25 2?5 EFC? C:89E E@ 4C2?< FA E96 A2G6>6?E D64E:@? F?E:= J@F C6249 vF=7 #@25] %FC? =67E E96C6 2?5 6?;@J 2 >@DE=J 5@H?9:== 4CF:D6] (96? J@F C6249 qC@H?7:6=5 #@25[ 42C67F==J 4C@DD 3J D92CA 4FCG6[ 2?5 C:56 324< E@ !@EE6C #@25] %FC? =67E 2?5 E2<6 :E 324< E@ vC66=6J :?E6CD64E:@?[ E96? 324< E@ J@FC 42C 23@FE 2 `a\>:=6 8C2G6= 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am
kAm%96 A@:?E :D J@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 8@ @? 2 =@?8[ 6A:4 C:56 E@ 6?;@J J@FCD6=7] p== J@F 92G6 E@ 5@ :D 86E @FE E96 5@@C[ 9@A @? J@FC 3:<6 2?5 8@] s@?’E =6E 49@C6D[ @3=:82E:@?D @C H62E96C 56E6C J@F] vC23 H92E6G6C @AA@CEF?:EJ 4@>6D J@FC H2J E@ AC24E:46 A652=:?8 A=62DFC6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&A4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$F>>6C #246 $6C:6D }@] di u2E %:C6 (66<6?5 2E u:6=5D @7 pEE:E2D9 — $6AE] ab\ad] uC:52Ji vC@FA C:56 2?5 42>A:?8[ $2EFC52Ji C246 52J 2?5 42>A:?8[ 2?5 $F?52Ji %@FC 56 '2==6J — ad\c_ 2?5 >@C6 >:=6D E@ 49@@D6 7C@>[ H:E9 C67C6D9>6?ED 2E |2EEJ q’D 27E6C]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.