Warmth is slowly returning to the north country and winter is bidding us a reluctant goodbye.
When October 2013 came around so did the snowstorms and I retired my little pink mountain bike for the year. Winter did her best work and piled on the snow and cold. It wasn’t until the end of March last year that I was able to get back on my bike. It only took me few weeks into spring to realize how much biking and living car free meant to me. I started to explore the idea of biking through the winter and by the beginning of May a battle had begun in my mind.
To bike or not to bike.
I thought about it constantly; while I was biking to work, whenever I was on the internet and before falling asleep at night. I obsessively ran through all the situations I would face during the coldest months of the year.
How would I respond to snow? Ice? Falling? Sliding cars? Low visibility? Plow trucks? Was I strong enough? Brave enough? Committed enough? What if I was injured? What if I had to wake up really early to make to work in time? What was I willing to sacrifice to make it work?
For the rest of the spring, summer and fall my brain was continually filled with thoughts of winter.
Then the snow began and so did this blog. For 4.5 months I have been immersed in all of the cold, snow and magic that winter brings. This winter season has been an incredible time of growth in my life; physically, mentally and spiritually.
Essentially, it has either been winter or my thoughts have been focused on winter for the past 17 months. In that timeframe my perception of winter has changed dramatically. First, winter was an obstacle that kept me off my bicycle, then a dreadful, shadowy fear that haunted my mind and then finally and unexpectedly, winter became a season filled with adventure and magic.
But now I am saying farewell to winter.
It is time for spring.
And flowers.
And green grass.
And ugly but somehow cute baby starlings.
And mud, lots of mud.
And rain.
And long rides.
And faster rides.
And rides with people.
And I am just slightly excited.
I am going to start off this spring by biking every day in the month of April. (Thank you Kel, for introducing me to the 30 Days of Biking website.) After that, I have no idea what will happen. But I know it is going to be an adventure!
I just signed up for the 30 day “challenge” too. We’ll see. I am a bit confused, since I can find no info on how my riding raises money to give bikes away. Yes, they have a donation page, but it seems to be a world-wide deal, not anything local. I’ll still do it. I like the challenge and the friendly “competition.” I WANT HEAT though! Bring on the 100 degrees!!
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Yeah, I did find it slightly confusing as well…maybe it is mostly through the event’s sponsors?
100 degrees!?!? Please tell me you don’t actually enjoy sweltering heat.
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I LOVE it!! I’ll take 110 over 20 ANY day!
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That is the saddest thing I have read all day
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Which is what it’s heading down to tonight. Yuk. 80 degrees next week for a couple of days. I can’t wait!
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I will get decently cool tonight here as well but thank goodness the temperature isn’t supposed to go over 45 all week. I love spring temperatures. 40-60 is perfection.
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Except for my daughter and wife, my whole family is like that. We’re just not much on winter. At least not the cold part of winter. I can appreciate the beauty God works in that, but just not the cold.
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I work part time in the mental health field……I might be able to find you a good therapist! 😉
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Good idea, I need one stat! But of course there is always the possibility that I am the sane one….
Just throwing that out there.
Looking out my window and the rain has turned into “almost snow”. I know I have sworn off winter and all but I think now is a good time to walk my dogs. They clearly need to go outside.
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Nice post. I admire your commitment and enthusiasm for cycling. I would sign up for the 30 day challenge except it’s not much of a challenge for me. It’s what I do. I cycle most days and, now that the warmer weather is here, I am cycling even more. However, I am considering the 100 pushups in 6 weeks challenge. I have more than doubled my count this week but still off your pace.
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Good for you! I kinda use the 100 pushups in 6 weeks challenge, this morning I did one of their set lists, then two 50 seconds planks and then one final set of pushups until I had nothing left. It makes my arms ache but it feels like the good kind 😉
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I have added pushup sets to my workout routine which also includes squats, an abdominal sequence, planks and now, pushups. I have transitions aways from free weights to using my own body weight so I can take the workout anywhere. Today, I notice my arms and shoulders are a little sore. That’s a good thing. 🙂
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I sometimes add squats to my routine but I don’t really like them. I really should get better at doing them though…
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They help with cycling. I don’t really like pushups. At least not yet but I know if I persevere, like you have, I will improve. I didn’t like the single-leg squats when I started 3 months ago either. Now, I look forward to doing them. 🙂
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I guess if you can do pushups without liking them I can do squats right? I’ll give it a shot, thanks for the encouragement!
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I’m excited about Spring too. I have never signed up for the 30 day challenge but I have friends who do it every year. It will be so easy for you.
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Figures, I blame you. You say goodbye to winter and it starts snowing here… Of course, it could be that I washed my car today. Man, a double-whammy.
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Umm…I guess I should have clarified a little better, but the title does say it all. I am “saying” goodbye to winter as in the present tense. Winter and I have been a team for quite a while now and actually parting ways is a process that takes time, counseling and a few snowstorms.
But because I am a responsible adult I will take my share of the blame and wash your car for you.
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LOL! It snowed again today.
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Yeah, here as well, my ride home felt like old times!
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HA! You admit you need counseling!! 😉
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Actually, winter is the one who needs the counseling. I need the snowstorms. And we both need time before we can say a final goodbye.
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Thanks for posting here and allowing me to follow along. You picked a good winter to begin winter riding.
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Thanks for reading and making me laugh with your lovely/humorous comments. It has been a good winter hasn’t it?
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Yup, back in the day I used to run everyday and all through the winter. Snow, blizzards, running past snow plows, sub zero weather, frost bitten cheeks…had to get the run in. Now..treadmills in heated rooms. Enjoy your youth, you’ll be 80 before you know it!! LOL
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All the snow is finally gone here on Cape Cod. There is a really fun bike ride in Boston next month called the Midnight Marathon. About a thousand of us travel to Hopkinton from South Station in Boston on the train and ride the Marathon route back to Boston. The ride begins at midnight on the eve of the Boston Marathon.
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That sound like great fun, and fits right in with your blog title 😉
Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
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I haven’t actually committed to the 30 Days of Biking yet. :-S I printed the spoke card and put contact paper on it but it’s sitting on my desk nagging at me to make up my mind. I go back to school on the 6th, taking 13 credits, and I work part time, and I have 5 kids. I really want to do it again this year but I’m really dreading the commitment. I know, I need to do it. I probably will.
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You are one busy lady, for sure! Good luck in your decision making 😉
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