Nothing compares to the freedom and the discovery of cycling! From the moment your father released your seat when you learned to ride, he opened a door to another dimension, you were no longer attached!
People say I'm crazy about biking as far as I do, and in reality, I'm not as far as many others. I don't travel just because I travel to explore new roads, I travel to explore myself, I walk because I like to walk. I'm sure it sounds cheesy, but it's true when I'm on my bike, time stops, everyday problems and stress disappear for a few sweet hours, it's just me and the road! So it was last weekend that I decided to take a long trip on Saturday morning ...
My alarm went off with a loud beep at 4:45 am "Shit," I thought, I'm not ready to wake up, but I knew that if I wanted to take a long walk, early in the morning would be the best opportunity. I got out of bed and found my cycling "uniform", my tight shorts, my cycling shirt, and my cycling shoes without the clip, all the pieces that laugh and generally ridicule people who do not "roll". After getting dressed, I finished my water bottles and placed them safely in their cages, I took a quick bowl of "raisin bran" and it was time to assemble them. I took my 19 lb carbon fiber companion out of the garage at 6 am, and with a firm "click" on my pedals, I was free.
The morning of 6 of a Saturday morning means that there is practically no traffic, at least in central Illinois :) Leaving the city limits, the sun appeared during the day, creating long shadows in the road ahead of me, the cool breeze lashing my ears The road was good, and my trusted motorcycle was running perfectly, quietly, but the tires rolled on the pavement and the gentle "hum" of the chain pedaling. The first 15 kilometers, I found maybe 5 cars, it was just me, my bike and the open road. The river valley was lit by the morning sun and there were patches of fog where the bodies of water lay, the world woke up. While continuing along Great River Road, the scene was impressive as the cliff line gave way to dark roads that cut the distance to unknown destinations.
As my route went from the lazy rural road to the main road, traffic also started to be more frequent, but okay, this is only part of the trip. The shoulder meandered from wide and smooth to narrow and dangerous, typical of these country roads, cycling is not mainstream here, cycle lanes are not a priority, over time, just learn to manage what you have. When I'm on a bike, time slows down, I have the opportunity to look around and assimilate everything. A road that had gone unnoticed caught my attention when I recognized the name before, this route must be the next time, another adventure waiting to be conquered.
The cycling jerseys are specially designed with pockets on the back for easy access to food and supplies. After 25 miles of driving, I decide to participate in a granola bar that I brought. However, I am waiting to reach one of the small towns to eat it, because the open road requires my full attention. Ahhh, sweet energy, the light snack restores my body and takes me further down the road. The dog barks occasionally when it sees me passing, warning me not to invade its territory, I listen to its warning and continue. Right now, I'm almost at home, going down more rural roads and going up hills. To my dismay, I find that my default route has recently been taxed, "Crap" !! My high-priced transportation doesn't work well with gravel and is a little over half a mile dodging large boulders as if I were navigating a minefield. The good thing about these rural roads is that they all seem to connect somewhere, a simple change in my route and I went back to the wonderfully smooth sidewalk of the road! After a few more kilometers, I stop at my entry at 9 am. I thank my bike for taking me for these 54 miles, for taking this trip with me, for allowing me to escape and for enjoying the experience of the open road. My house wakes up and her day begins, my journey is over and now the whole day is waiting for me.
People ask me why I do this kind of thing. I always answer, "If you have to ask why ... you will never understand." I know why I'm traveling, I'm traveling for myself, it's you
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