Why we ride.

24 July 2009

For the past two years or so, I have spent most of my time on the bike alone. Daily rides either on my favorite city loop around San Francisco or in the North bay, laps at the polo fields, or now solo journeys out in the German country side. I love riding with people when possible, but for serious riding or personal time I tend to find myself out on my own, turning the pedals to my own rhythm. As I stopped through the local shop yesterday, it was interesting to hear some ideas about what type of rider one is by who they ride with and the style in which they do ride. I can’t say for sure how this all breaks down, but I do know why I ride solo so much, and what riding a bike means to me and the reason is, a pure love of riding my bike for myself.

Late last year, Garrett and myself took a little ride down to Milan for the Giro di Lombardie, which was one of the most magnificent rides I have ever done. And then in February, I had the chance to see and ride some of the most beautiful areas of my home state of California. And now luckily for me, I have another opportunity to come back to the States and ride from Portland to San Diego. With only my sister, who this will be a serious first on a bike (though she has been doing marathons and triathlons), we will ride about 2400km’s in 15 days. I am so excited to get on the bike and do this ride, and though it is with another person, mentally it is a battle only you can fight against your own mind and body. I am looking forward to that battle and the only reason I do this is because I seriously love riding my bike.

// Jonathan