December is definitely here and I don’t know about the rest of you, but it’s bloomin’ cold over her in the good old U of K. When I checked out LovingTheBike.com yesterday morning (as I do every day, like a good ‘employee’) I was filled with a sense of wonder tinged with a massive amount of jealousy!

I’m sure you have noticed that Darryl has made the family move of a lifetime and set up camp on the wonderful island of Grenada, and posted this about an idyllic morning ride.  Well ‘D Dawg’ you might have the glorious beaches and crystal blue waters, but I have wet roads and bitter winds…the making of a strong spring rider.

Winter is a hard time to get on the bike and get the legs rolling. You may have chosen to have a little time off the bike as I did and have to get back into the routine, but winter is a great time to ride.  You’ll feel super strong in the spring after putting in the hard miles and those fresh, sunny roads in a few months time seem to just roll so much smoother than those presently.

Winter also gives you the added enjoyment of getting all of that expensive, lovely winter kit out of the cupboard and strutting your stuff.  I have a real thing for kits, as many of you do too I’m sure, and there is nothing finer than showing off your style with a matching winter kit right from the cap down to the pedals.  The cold weather just means there is more lovely kit to wear!  In the summer we can select the Euro-cool white kits but for now, it’s understated and hard working clothing which takes centre stage.

There is also a real sense of camaraderie built up through the winter within the various chain gangs.  It can be a hard time to ride through harsh weather and sometimes the only thing that gets you through is wanting to not lose face in front of your riding pals. But when those sunny months come around and you look around the bunch you’ll know the faces that struggled through the winter with you and seek those wheels over others.

Those are the riders you follow because the trust has been built up through the wet months and there is an unspoken pact between you. The ones that have put in the effort and dedication to mean that when the weather is fine and you can sit outside the mid ride cafe, you can be proud you put in the tough miles and enjoy smashing all of your lazy friends for the whole summer!

Get out there and ride this winter. Don’t let weather stop you, there is kit, tyres and equipment to make it all possible.  Make December the month to change, and don’t wait for those useless New Year’s resolutions.  Do it now.  Get wet and wild!

Stevie

Wonder – To believe in life is to see the beauty and wonder around us, and to hold close the magic of it all.

As I sit here this morning I feel as if my day has been complete.  For some reason, I was totally awake at 5AM but laid in bed just a little longer before crawling on out.  I then took off on an early morning bike ride which is something I rarely do, because even when I’m up that early I don’t feel energized enough for a hardcore ride.

Maybe it was because I woke up to another magical Grenadian day, or maybe I was able to tap into some hidden energy source…….because not only did I feel more fired up than most mornings, I felt even better than when I ride at my peak time of the day.

As I rode, I enjoyed the Sun as it was making its way up in the sky, watched people getting their days started, and looked at the waves crashing in as they greeted the Grenada shoreline……all as I sped by at the speed of bike.  Without thinking about it, I was taking in everything around me subconsciously as I focused mainly on my biking.

It wasn’t until I got home and sat down to write this message that I looked up at the calendar on the wall in front of me and saw the quote at the top of this post.  Right then I was taken back to the unconscious thoughts from my ride.

Life really does hold a lot of magic within itself.  Even as we whiz through our day keeping busy with whatever it is we happen to be doing, and always trying to get more things done.……our subconscious is still taking in the beauty and wonder of it all.  If it can’t be processed right in the moment, then hopefully it can once you slow down sometime during your day.  Letting the sandstorm in your mind settle down.

What’s even better is taking in the moment as it happens.  That’s something I’m still working on.  To enjoy the movement of life and witness the magic in real time.

Bike ride is done.  The surf is up….and now I’m going to go play in the waves of life, and enjoy all the great things this world has to offer.

Happy Make it Happen Monday.