Sometimes, I wish I had more freedom. Im not complaining because I genuinely do have a good life, but there are rides, races, festivals, events, and overall opportunities that I need to miss because Im a father, husband, and employee first. My life as a cyclist must fit in there however I can manage, and tonight I managed to ride a Rodale lunch ride favorite, Powder Valley Short.

I was hoping for some company but Cody bailed after a hard day of work and Matt had to work until 9 so I was on my own. 

The weather was perfect- about 70 with almost no wind and a golden sun hanging in the sky. Ive never ridden this one, but after visiting the Emmaus Cycling website to get the course, I saw the mass of riders who were able to make the lunch ride today my mind was made up. I loaded the course onto my Garmin 305 and headed out. The ride takes you out over some of the most beautiful roads in the area, over some great climbs, and absolutely ripping twisty downhills. Scenery is filled with ‘old’ PA classic farm country, including barns that still have hex signs (although the olde PA Deutch has been replaced with modern English sayings.)

As I rode I imagined the group around me protecting me from the wind and pulling me up the hills. I pushed down a little harder on the pedals. Up the climbs, down the descents, with the wind blowing through my helmet. I listened to my chain move through the pulleys- I should have put some lube on, there is a small chirp with each revolution of the cranks. The air is warm, warm enough for shorts and short sleeves. I follow the GPS where it tells me to go barely familiar with the roads I am on, so it feels both like exploration as well as a guided tour. The fields are turning green. The trees are blossoming. Some horses graze in a field.

Eventually I end up on a road I know well- I used to commute this way to Philly for my old job. Heading in down the long hill into Vera Cruz, Im on the edge of flying. A driver pulls along side me at the four-way stop in town and shouts ‘I had you at 45mph!’ I smile, click in, wave and pedal off. At the bottom of Vera Cruz road I click into a low gear to spin to my house- my legs are spent from the hours I have put in this week and the feeling of real fatigue sets in. Rolling into my driveway I smile again knowing I have a massage scheduled with Jess on Saturday. Tomorrow will be a rest day but for today, I imagined I was riding with the cool kids.