Riding Alone

Last night was a fun night to ride. The cold temperatures finally arived during the day yesterday. I think it was actually below 50 degrees when I started riding at about 5:30. For the first time, I was able to wear a long sleeve shirt for my ride. It was nice to combine the lights and the cooler temps for a little spin time by myself.

I packed up the singlespeed and lights and headed to River Legacy park in Arlington. The MTB Trail here is a loop that is just a shade under three miles. It is a very easy trail that I have ridden many, many times. The first lap it was still daylight and I was able to rail the corners. The straights were dry and very fast and the corners still had a bit of tackiness from last weeks rains, so they bit very well. It was probably one of the faster laps I have ever turned out there.

Starting with lap number two, I had to turn on the light. This did slow my pace a bit. I was trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness and focused on not slipping out of corners or off of the defined tread. Constantly scanning ahead. Focusing the light around the corner instead of through the corner. Noises make concentrating on the trail difficult. You can't look to see what is to the side, though. Or you will find yourself lying on the ground wondering what hit you. Ahhh, the noises.

I love to ride by myself at times. It can make the problems of the world disappear. Or it can make the solutions crystal clear. Its cleansing. But doing it in the dark reminds me of the feelings I had as a child. Did I ever pass the guy that was entering the trail just in front of me? Is that set of eyes a raccoon or a bobcat? The slight uneasiness that can be experienced when normal senses are taken away. Its a beautiful feeling.

An hour after I started, I rolled out of the woods and back into the parking lot after the fifth lap. Not bad. I was cleaner, simpler and refreshed. The beauty of riding alone in the dark.