Wheel, Pedal, Stroke Pt. 2
I used to ride 20+ miles per day. But I live in Arkansas. There is a massive hill to the left of my house and a massive hill to the right. They are absolutely brutal.
I’ve been doing what I can on the Spadra trail here in Clarksville to get myself back into hill-climbing shape. These hills are no joke man!
After a grueling session last week, I felt I was ready. I put the dog up so she wouldn’t follow and started my trepid journey. The first fifty feet weren’t too bad, but the thighs started burning. The 86-degree temps turned into a thousand. I swear you could have smelted iron on my black lycra thunder thighs. I stuck it out.
Stroke after stroke, I got to the top of a familiar hill I used to ride all the time. Ready to take a moment and enjoy the ride down, I saw the terrain. “What the hell?!” ANOTHER hill!? I don’t remember this! Thighs continued to scream and calf muscles just plain gave up and seemed to check out the second I pushed on the first pedal.
I finally turned down Stonehill Rd and I remembered what I love so much about biking. You get to see SO much! A pretty rock, someones lost quarter, that dog that you hate (carry mace), and so many wonderful people passing you FAR to the left to give you ample room. Biking is AMAZING. The breezes, the trees, and my favorite thing, the smells.
As a chef, I see with my nose. Blossoming vegetation all around me with all kinds of aromas! I sped through the countryside and became aware of honeysuckle, and a myriad of other early-blooming flowers, shrubs and trees. On my road is the fragrant and amazing scent of cedars and pines. It’s like I biked through a woodsy apothecary. It invigorates me.
I push in the pedals a little harder, empowered by the heady scent of the towering evergreens, thighs straining, heart pumping, and the beauty of God’s creation flooding every sensory faculty I have. What a wonderful, wonderful ride.
The final push to the house is yet another hill, and by this time I am in the lower registers of my gears, and I’m doing all I can to stay upright. Tired, but happy tired. I let the dog out and take some time to catch my wind. Fill her water dish, and play a bit in my raised beds. Yup, I still love it. As hard as it can be, there is so much to appreciate about our Arkansas world.