We’ve all done it, seen the sun shining and then dressed wildly inappropriately for the actual temperature. We’ve all swapped out our school tights for socks too soon, or been that kid that digs out the summer dress and has to revert to the skirt and jumper only a few days later. Or in more recent years been that person on the commuter train platform who discarded their coat in a moment of heady excitement for the return of their favourite jacket only to have the cold bite through the fabric and wreak havoc on their nipples… ok maybe the nipples thing is just me but seriously though- leave unprotected at your peril in my personal experience.
But this is about riding and about change.
So I think, I had my first spring ride today. Now I say this tentatively since its 23rd February (2021) the day after the ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ was announced in the UK. I am tentative because February is early to be letting the word ‘S-P-R-I-N-G’ cross your lips out loud. As this is Britain a land of people with a tricky relationship with weather, I know full well that in a matter of days we could be plunged back into icy mornings, dark skies and fearsome winds. And then we will all feel very silly to have gotten over excited and all the lovely daffodils will droop. Because let’s face it Daffodils are the proper keen beans of the plant world.
I headed out at lunchtime to enjoy the warmest rays of the winter sun. And as I applied my trusty spf (skincare is important to us pale folks) I genuinely considered not wearing my base layer. I have nothing against my base layer but I will admit I much prefer riding without one. In fact, last winter on the milder days, I was known to wear just my thicker jacket with only my sports bra underneath. Liberating and very comfortable but also a little risky if you forget for a moment and unzip for any reason… but maybe those soties (yes plural) are for another time. So I was a good cycling citizen and I wore my base layer and bib tights even though from inside the day had potential for shorts. I had to be satisfied with wearing thinner socks and leaving the overshoes at home.
Spring (whisper it) is probably my favourite time to be riding. Its full of the potential and pent-up excitement for the summer to come. And because summer is on the horizon you train hard to make use of the long warm evenings riding in the long shadows and also because there is still time. Still time to tackle those mad goals you set for yourself in Strava when you were all hyped up on endorphins…no? Just me then. Still time to get your nutrition and training plans in place. Still time to find a plan new long routes and roads to explore. Still time to convince yourself that this will be the summer you go some specific hills and skills training. It’s the time when you can side eye your summer bike, from across the room and say to yourself soon, soon you will be throwing on shorts and a jersey and skipping out the door to while away hours on the sunny country roads.
I love spring. The anticipation, the new little lambs to talk to in the fields, more riders to nod and smile to and the sense that what was hibernating is coming back to the surface in full glory. Its like being on tip toes on the edge of something you can’t wait to dive into.
Today I was immediately glad for my base layer as the wind picked up around me. The wind that was blowing in a totally different direction than normal…. But I was out. Out on my bike humming to Kylie’s absolute classic ‘Love at first sight’ as I wound through the lanes in my sunglasses! Sunglasses not persimmon lenses, the luxury! The route I take is my safe route. No matter what this route feels ok. I am not in the best shape I’ll be honest and I’ve found that over January and February focussing on this short (13ish miler) spin but getting out as often as possible has really helped me tackle my winter training anxiety. It’s a slight but constant incline pretty much the whole way out for the first 6 miles and then I stop and turn back into the delicious gravitational pull and bomb most of the way home. But today I was blown up the hill by an almighty southerly wind. Great, but this meant a totally different gear strategy and was an epic slog back home.
And it made me think… think about changes and moments that pass you seeming normal at first but actually represent something entirely new. I thought of Mary Poppins and how that wind changing direction signifies a shift, something unexpected about to happen. I guess you could get philosophical about it, what with this route out of lockdown and all the potential and anxiety that seems to hold. I confess that one of the huge working from home perks I have enjoyed are my lunchtime rides (and walks when it’s too cold and wet to ride) and one of the first thoughts I had when I saw the dates marking the milestones in the roadmap was anxiety of how the traffic will slowly increase and the pressures to be out and socialising or back in the office will also increase and really all I want to do is spend another summer riding my bike.
So I’m going to hold onto my spring rides, and my bib tights and base layers for a little while yet.
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