The Daily Grind

By Rob Manning

The winter that wasn't...

Maybe Al Gore was right...

As we sit in front of the TV avoiding the bitter cold and swirling winds that old man winter conjures up, usually riding is the furthest thing from our minds. This year things are quite different. On TV we've seen images of Denver being covered in snow, Texas dealing with bitter cold (for them anyway) temperatures, and ice storms in midwest states that we normally think of as having a "warm winter". Here in the northeast, we've had one of the mildest winters on record. Instead of seven degree weather, we've had SIXTY-seven degree weather. Simply remarkable!

Riding has been phenomenonal since there has been very little ice and lots of good pliable ground to roll over. Instead of the usual cold temperatures and snow, we've seen occasional rain and loads of sun. Now, being from a part of the northeast where I normally don't see the sun from November to April, I'm a little surprised. Normally I'm sitting inside going crazy spinning on a trainer, surfing any number of a dozen web forums, and contemplating building another bike. No, there is no new bike. There aren't even any new parts for the regular ride (that bike is all I ever need it to be) or the singlespeed. At this point, I've put in more miles outside on the trails than I have ridden on the trainer. THAT'S really something to be said for January.

All those miles add up though, and during the off season, you realize how much you really need that off season training and that push to excel during the riding season. Instead of humping it up some of those tough climbs, I've been resigned to grinding them out in the granny gear. Instead of riding for hours and barely feeling it, I'm stuck resting every half an hour and having a snack. My legs just don't feel like they have the juice they did during the season. Despite all those problems, it is GOOD to be riding. It's even better to be riding outside in weather fit for a short sleeve jersey and realizing that it's not even the middle of January. Once again, it's the spirit of the ride, the love of the bike, and the thrill of the trail that makes the time in the saddle worth all the suffering.

I don't know if Al Gore was right, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.