Glory Days

I worked this weekend at the hospital and when I rotate through my weekend I have to take a couple of days off, one each week. So today, I had the day off. It was one of those perfect days. I got to sleep in, make a bacon and eggs breakfast, caffeinate (on tea, remember..wife, no coffee) and get ready for a late morning group ride. Now that is my kind of day!

But it got me thinking about old times as I never get to do this sort of thing, being the 8 to 5'er that I am. I did get a nice taste of this last Monday, too. Thanks for the company Linsey.

So I rolled up to Le Petit and grabbed my pre-ride croissant. I have to say that I'm liking the whole Le Petit vibe, not to mention their awesome baked goods. The group gathered. Alex and Sarah, Monica, Travis, David G. and I and we headed out.

The sun was warm and the pace was easy. I could have happily napped on the back of the paceline. I started daydreaming about my days as a college student...when I had free time to make the daily group rides that our local club put on. I was a club rider long before I was a racer. My idea of fun was a few hours of casual riding to a nice bakery where we could have a pastry and espresso and then motor back home. We had all of our favorite routes, determined by the destination food stop. But don't think Missoulians on Bicycles folks. These guys (and gals) moved along nicely and we covered some ground. And there was always one significant climb that was involved.

We cycled up Hwy 200 and Alex reminisced about his racing days, when all he had to do was ride the bike. Sara wore her vintage, Louisville club jersey and the two of them rode side-by-side like boyfriend and girlfriend, no kids, no worries. David could've been on a country road west of Kalispell and Monica on Ironman Canada, both putting in endless miles. And Travis was sporting a symbol of a past conquest with his LOTOJA jersey. There was a great mix of riders, just like the group rides of my past.

Alex and Sara turned back at the Potomac store and the rest of us headed up towards Lubrecht. At the Garnet turn off we made the right and began the nearly 4 mile climb to the end of the pavement. It has been a few years since I've done this hill and with its 14-18% grade sections about ripped our legs off. It reminded me so much of the canyons in the Santa Monica or San Gabriel Mountains that we used to ride. Our food stop was the Potomac Store, a far cry from Cafe Casino in Santa Monica, but allowed us a few minutes to refuel before working the last 25 miles home.

So thanks to everyone who played a part today in jogging my memory and stirring up some happy images.