Hey guys -
Our local (Ventura County, California) recumbent cycling
group has regular rides on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of
each month, usually with about 15 to 30 cyclists showing
up. I was caught a little off-guard last Saturday when
one of the guys called to tell me he was going to go for
a short jaunt the next day (on Sunday). He thought that
I might be up for it, since I had missed the ride last
weekend, with a cold that had me gasping for breath.
I was, and I thought of another couple who were just
bouncing back from losing her aging mother right after
Christmas. They were in, and then our numbers quickly
doubled, until we had a nice little group showing up for
an impromptu ride.
On a REALLY chilly morning in SoCal, as local records
for low temps were dropping like low racers hitting a
slick ice patch, ten of us got together for about a 25
mile cruise from northeast Oxnard to Channel Islands
Marina. I know that most of the folks in the central
US would have been happy to trade places with us, but
for us (spoiled!) SoCal sissies, it was COLD! The day
was clear and bone dry, with crisp deep blue skies, and
just enough wind gusting to get to you. As usual in this
part of the world, some of us were a bit underdressed,
expecting (or hoping) it would warm up as the sun got
higher.
My wife Kay and I brought coffee and donuts to the start,
which helped warm our little bellies and brains, but it
was too late for the biker who had driven the farthrest.
He (or she - which and who will remain nameless, as long
as the payment schedule is met) had loaded the bike on
a roof rack, but drove off without the front wheel. A
wheel off one of my MTBs worked, however, and away we
all went.
This was an interesting group - one of the few rides, or
maybe the only ride, where we've had as many women as
men. No speed records were set or even attempted. We just
bumbled along chatting and enjoying a great crisp winter
day out on the road.
We had lunch at the Pirates restaurant, starting on the
patio as usual, close to the bikes and trikes, but as the
sun dropped below the main building west of the patio, we
unanimously agreed to move inside. Fortunately, we didn't
have to watch the entire episode of the Chargers being
humbled.
Anyway, bottom line, this was just another one of those
happy little surprises that make me really appreciate
where we live and the other cyclists that we are blessed
to spend time with. Ten cyclists getting together for a
spur-of-the-moment, pickup recumbent ride on the coldest
weekend of the year? Can't happen too often in too many
other places in the world...
Regards,
Wayne