Our late season surprise 10” snowstorm (at least it was at my house) has come and gone. Easter has come and gone. The dreaded tax filing season has even come and gone. We are staring Mother’s Day and Spring Cleaning in the face so NOW IS THE TIME TO DECLARE THE OFFICIAL START OF THE 2009 MOUNTAIN BIKING SEASON!!!!
I know, I know. Some of you have already snuck off on your own or in pairs and have started riding (Craig, Joe, Alex, Peter, Steve). Some of you have even been training all winter at the gym (Daniela). I am not one of those people. My bike still has the dirt and rear flat tire from last year’s Iceman race on it. I have even had the joy of developing kidney stones this past week and have been completely laid up with excruciating pain and a 6 pound weight gain to boot.
So, while I am scheduling a mountain bike ride this Thursday (look for the separate Mountain Bike Ride Invitation for details on the ride) I will NOT be the one leading it. I am going back to the kidney specialist on Wednesday, so I will need SOMEONE ELSE to commit to leading the ride in my place. I may, however, attend the ride to see everyone off and welcome them back!!
We have a larger group of riders interested in riding this year, at least as judged by the number of Iceman registrations. Many of them are younger (significantly) than some of us graybeards. They are gung ho and offering options for additional places and days to ride, WHICH IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, but for others—NOW is the time for a motivational pep talk, a call to arms, something, anything, to stir you from your winter (or longer) sabbatical from your bike.
So, I have spent weeks, or days, or maybe it was hours, I can’t remember due to all the pain and pain medication for my kidney stones, but suffice it to say that I have spent time researching and developing the following literary encouragement. I am not going to tell you the author of this great piece of literature; it could have been me, or another rider, or a professional rider, or a professional journalist, or even George Plimpton for that matter. What matters is that you read it and heed it, and if you think you know who the author is/was, please Email me with your answer, don’t discuss it with anyone though, there could be a prize in it for the winner (winner to be drawn randomly from duplicate correct answers)!!
2009 Challenge!!!!
“Have you people pulled your noses from your PC’s and looked out the window? There is dirt to be seen, dirt to be rode on, dirt to wear, dirt to be digested.
For the few of you that have worked hard this winter to maintain a degree of condition, the few who have reduced your overall bike / body weight, the few of you who have snuck out for a ride this winter to get the jump on the rest of us, just skip ahead to the last paragraph.
For the majority of us though, please perform the following:
In the privacy of your home-
In the privacy of your restroom-
In the absence of your significant other, repeat the following.
I am pathetic.
Say this until you believe it. (This will take less time for some)
Now say the following:
This will be my best year.
Say it until you believe it. (This will take longer than the other part)
Remember when we rode on a weekly basis? Remember the stress of the day to get everything done so you could leave work to get to the ride? Remember the anticipation of the ride? Remember the generation of a good excuse that you could use if your performance was not up to expectations? Remember how the stress of life disappeared on the first five feet of the trail? Remember using your excuse at the first break? Remember how good your second wind felt when you found it? Remember dicing out your buddy? Remember the last dash? Remember the slow pace for the last 100 yards as you relived the ride and secretly wished it would last a little longer? Remember how smug you felt driving home with a dirty bike strapped to the rack? Remember having bragging rights for a week? Remember feeling good about yourself?????
I want to feel that way again. I want to ride on a weekly basis. I want as many of you people to join me.
So…with the inspiration portion of this note over, let’s make some plans. I would like get started in April. That will still give the cheaters time to sneak in a ride or two. Send me a note; let me know you want to be one with the dirt!!!”
2009 musings:
I bet you can hardly wait for the 2009 Mountain Bike season now can you?
Sincerely, Sincerely,
Dan “Krash” Kiplinger
“Embedded” in-the-field Correspondent and Editor-in-chief for the “Official Mountain Bike Ride Report”.
