There Is Something Better Than A Great Bike Ride…

I geared up and got ready for my afternoon ride.  Shoes, check.  Helmet, Check.  Gloves, phone, shades, triple check.  H20, tires pumped, check.  Cycling shorts pulled to the exact line that transitions from tan to ghostly white, check…

I kissed the wife and kids on the way out the door and I was off on my normal 16 mile early evening excursion around the block – just a recovery ride as the legs were feeling a little sluggish.  I made the quick 1/4 mile loop to the end of my road, turned around and proceeded to hammer the pedals (just to spin them up of course).  When what do I hear but, “Dad, mom’s taking us for a ride around the block!”.  I responded as I drew even with them, “Can I go with?”  So I turned around and headed back to the driveway where my ladies were all getting ready.

We did the first 1.75 miles at around an 8 mph pace (my youngest’s first excursion on her big-girl bike with a front shock, knobbies and the whole nine yards) before I broke off and proceeded to kill my recovery ride (the remaining 15 miles @ 18.5 mph), arriving in the driveway feeling absolutely awesome.  The remarkable thing about this abundantly sunny ride was that this was the first day this year with hardly a breeze.  In fact, I could have ridden the entire thing at 20 mph without much problem at all – except that it was a recovery ride day (I was a little bummed out to waste a no-wind day for a recovery ride to tell you the truth, but it is what it is).

Afterwards my awesome wife had dinner ready just as I got out of the shower…  It just doesn’t get any better than that…  At least not as far as I can imagine.  So the point is this; while I do love my solo rides, riding around the block with the wife and kids first is that much better.