I headed out with three of my best cycling buds this morning for what started out as a cold start but turned into one of the nicest, most enjoyable rides I’ve ever been on. It was so much fun that I didn’t even mind that we started out with the wind at our back – well, technically there was no wind for the first hour so we didn’t know that we were in for a serious slog back.

That said, with four horses it really only sucked for a couple of miles each seven or eight.

I don’t know what Michigan did to get in the Lord’s good graces this year but this has been the best fall for cycling in years. Heavy on the moderate temps and sunshine, sparse on the rain.

70 miles, 3h:51m with nature breaks – and the climbing! Holy smokes, we had a bunch of great hills.