I love to have my music when I ride my bike. Not only do I rely on it to set the tone of the ride, but it forms an imprint of my path for me. After having specific songs playing while I ride I can have perfect recall of where I was along my course when I hear the same song play. It also works the other way as well.  When I pass a specific location that was a part of my recent ride I can link back to the song that was playing while I was riding in that spot.

Usually it is based something significant such as a hill or a fast decent but the association is a perfect match. Monday evening when I overcame my hidden hill nemesis I was listening to "Smells like teen spirit – Nirvana".  When I clobbered the last big grade of the night it was The Rolling Stones performing "Dead Flowers" live.  I pulled into my neighborhood for my cool down loop with The White Stripes playing "Seven Nation Army".

It is a fun phenomena to experience. Just another way I enjoy myself on the bike.  

It was a spectacular day for the Tour de Open Space.  The sky was an electric blue color; not passive at all.  The wind was almost non existent and the temperature was on the verge of being just a bit too cold for shorts and short sleeved jersey.  Perfect day for a long ride.

When I had reviewed the maps on line I had misread the elevations thinking that the difficult ride climbed over 6000 feet and the rolling hill ride had over 2000 feet of climbing. I would have been happy with climbing over 2000 feet over the course of 35 miles so I was easily talked into the rolling hills ride. I was off by about four times the actual numbers.  It turns out the the rolling hills were a little less than what I have been using for training. Never the less the rolling hills ride was extraordinary.

The ride was a "start as you go"  and I was on my own so it was hard to know when would be the best time to leave. I tried to stick to the posted start time and I left for my ride at about 10:00 AM. Since I was on my own I kept my music playing in my ears.

A group of about eight riders and me all pull out and onto the road together. As soon as we were on the road, the big ride goes off to the left to start with a large climb, we keep right and stay in the valley next to the Wickecheoke Creek. For next five miles the road is flat and winds along this creek.  

At this point if you look to the left you can see the road that is the first hill of the “big ride” and you can see it start to tower over the creek.  That rise is one of my first big riding challenges.  When I first started to ride that hill was insurmountable without having to get off of my bike and walking.  These days I love to take that path and push over the !  Needless to say I was starting to regret having stayed to the right.

The group I am with are enjoying themselves but they are not forming any lines to increase the speed of the pack.  It is okay with me but since I don’t know anyone I am on my own within the group.  Even still the speed of the group is a good pace and I figure by the end of the ride we might know each other a little better.

As we come to the “T” intersection on this road, the course turns right and we are faced with the first rolling hill of the ride.  I am excited and gobble up the road as quickly as I can.  My legs feel good as they are tested with the first sign of resistance.  The course turns left and as I cross the road I am able to see the group I was with behind me, just inching up the hill.  I have no reason to wait so I press on and look for the next group ahead of me to join.

I suddenly recognize the road as one that I take on my commute to work.  I also know that this road has a good grade on it and we are heading in the uphill direction.  In the mornings when I am traveling in the opposite direction, I can put my  car in neutral and coast down the entire hill, having to use my brakes to keep my speed in check.  It is a decent enough hill and it starts to take its toll on a number of the riders.  Some are moving very slow, some are walking up and other are stopping to catch their breath or wait on their friends.  I enjoy the push and though I can not accelerate up this hill, I am able to get over the top experiencing only a slight dip in my split speed.

We are now very close to where I do my training rides and I start to think how I can piece together some of the roads I have just covered with some of my training rides to open up a new and beautiful ride.  One of the nice things that I notice is the amount of shade that is available and how good that will feel as we start to get into the summer heat of July and August.  

I ride about 22 miles in total before stopping at the rest stop.  This is a little more than half way through the ride and I am feeling great.  The driveway that leads to the rest stop is not very well paved (they almost never are) and it might have been a mistake to have ridden down part way.  

I make a quick stop and start back on what looks to be an empty road.  This part of the trip circles back over some of the same roads and it affords some of the most expansive views of the often underrated New Jersey countryside.  If you were to be dropped into this area and asked what state you are in, I think New Jersey might be your 50th guess.  It is overwhelming.

For the second time of the day I ride past the covered bridge and I start up a small hill that will start me back to the starting point. For the first time all day, I am passed on the hill!  I can not believe this because having skipped the big hill ride,  I have turned this ride into a mission to overcome everyone I encounter on these rolling hills.  I also notice that the bumps in the road are starting to pound a little hard in the seat.  I look down and realize that my back tire is low on air.  It is always strange to me that after 28 miles of riding with seemingly no change I would suddenly be low on air.  

I know I must have a leak but because it is my back tire and I am so close to the end of the ride, I really don’t want to change out the tube.  I figure I would try and pump it up and see if I could limp along for the rest of the ride.  I am able to do this but I have to stop two more times to pump air into the tire before reaching the end of the ride.  Without this issue I could have finished this ride very quickly but I was slowed down by this problem.  Looking back I think I must have picked something up when I went into the rest stop down the gravel road.  

I pulled into the starting area and I could smell lunch cooking for us.  It is amazing how good grilled food smells after a 35 mile ride.  There is a tent set up with amazing food choices.  I have a grilled portabella mushroom sandwich with spinach, olive oil and goat cheese.  I also have some pulled pork and slaw.  I have never had such a good meal at an organized ride before.  

I sit by the waterfalls and take it all in.  Between the food, the exhilaration of the ride, and the sunshine I am peacefully euphoric. I make sure to collect the cue sheets for the “big” ride so that I can do this ride on my own at a later date.  I cannot linger as I have to get home, but I take one more moment to reflect on what a treat this has been to have had the whole morning to myself to do this ride.

April 7, 2013 - Days like this make it easy.  There is nothing like getting out in the sunshine.   

Yesterday I took a route that does not follow my usual path.  I picked it for the hills.  It is a short ride (20 miles) but 4 big hills.  When on that ride I feel as though I am either climbing or descending; I never feel like I am spinning.  It is fun and a good workout but it does not have the same mental impact as when I get to spin.

Today I took my normal route.  This route gives me the opportunity to ride 20 miles or more. I can add a loop or two to increase the miles and still keep the scenery fresh. The extra loop today got me up to 27 miles. I know these roads so well that I can anticipate when it will be difficult and when it will be easy.  The wind was strong and it caused a shift in what I normally encounter.

Even though the wind makes it hard to keep a consistent speed, I can (try to) keep a constant cadence.  I can not do this when riding the hills.  There is something about that pedal stroke that causes the endorphins to flow. I can't explain it, but I am so affected by it. I know when it is happening as an amazing sense of calm and euphoria washes over me.

I know that my blood chemistry changes and I can feel it happen.  It usually happens at the same time that the sweat starts to become noticeable.  Another “boost” comes later on during the ride but the state of well-being remains elevated throughout the entire ride.

As I said, this ride does not have any major hills but it does end with a short steep grade hill about 3 miles from the end of the ride.  This hill gets my heart rate up and I can feel the deep pumping in my chest when I ascend.  I know that with every stroke of my heart, the blood flows faster throughout my body.  As I reach the apex of the hill and I am able to back down on the pedals I can feel a cascade of hormones flood my veins. I am lead to a blissful peace.

So many times I think that this is a placebo and that I cannot possibly be producing such a difference in my current chemical makeup.  Then when I step into the shower and the water runs down my face and you can taste the saltiness I realize that this has been produced from within.  When I my heart rate comes down and I notice how hungry I am, I know that the food deficit is due to the chemical conversions. My skin is pink, soft and warm and it goes beyond the results of the increased blood flow.  The physical signs are all there.

So many of the people I talk to about riding don’t understand why I like the hills so much.  First of all I am not built for speed but my competitive nature causes me to strive to excel at some aspect of the ride - hills help me to feel accomplished.  Most of all, it is that extra boost I feel when I am on the other side.  I don’t love the descent but I love to come over the top.

I first want to thank everyone for coming together as we all try and comfort each other. Over the course of the past few days many people have shared their condolences with me. In doing so the word inspiration has been used often.  As much as that word is appropriate, Donna's imprint on my life goes far beyond inspiration.  No one person has shaped my life more than my sister.

If you were fortunate enough to have Donna step into your life you were transformed, your perspectives were shifted, your focus was sharpened and your appreciation for life was stimulated. I am sure that my words only reinforce your own understanding of this phenomena.

Donna's life was so incredible, so rich and so full. Not many of us are able to live life the way that my sister did – Donna lived every day as if it were a gift. The simple things in life that most of us take for granted were never lost on my sister.

Donna always looked forward.  She never forget the memories that made her smile. She always enjoyed the present and found a way to turn the now into one of those smiling memories.

People say that when it comes to love the more you give away the more it will be returned to you. Imagine for a moment the amount of love Donna had in her heart when you think how much she gave away to each and everyone of us. The love that you returned to her enriched her life as much as she enriched yours.

When you think my sister never forget that love and remember to share it with someone. When you do my sister's soul will be lifted up along with yours and the people who receive your love. Never stop loving, never stop looking ahead and never stop embracing life. That is how my sister lived and that is her legacy.

Today I needed it.  The sky was blue and the temperature was above forty.  Perfect day to get out there.  I needed to clear my mind.  Nothing is as purifying as being on my bike.  I am alone with my thoughts and that is exactly what I needed today.  I needed to listen to my what my mind had to say.

It was one of those amazing day.  The trees are still bare but you could see the buds swelling with anticipation. The daffodils were all at different stages. Some with just their green tops pushing through the earth. Others pregnant with color just waiting to break through and paint the landscape.  The few that spend much of the days bathed in the sunshine are already extending their yellow trumpet narrowly outward, not yet having had the chance to widen and open all of the way up.

An amazing variety of birds were were all out taking in the sunshine.  The vulture who ran from me and at the last second realized I might catch him. Even though I was no threat, he lept up and took to flight in order to avoid me.  The red tailed hawk dashing into the sky to seek his prey.  The lack of thick ground cover must make his hunting easier at this time of the year. The heron who looked so awkward until his wings spread out as he flew so gently above the earth. Spring is starting to show itself.

I am always careful but today I stayed out of the world with the people and the cars. I find the greatest peace on my rides. A sanctuary within the hectic world. When I penetrate deeply into that quiet world, I can ride with ease.  The end result was a time that was greater than ten minutes faster than the last time I did this same ride.  

Today I had someone else with me.  She helped me to be focused.  From now on she will only be in the peaceful world, but she will be ever present when I am able to get out into that space.  It made me happy to know where I can find her.

I can feel it in the air when a storm is possible.  It is always a risk when I head out for a ride in these conditions.  It is not pleasant when it rains but it does not prevent the ride. I will put my phone in a zip-lock bag and get ready to get wet.

This particular ride started out dry but as I said the sky was hanging heavy. I had planned to follow my twenty two mile training ride.  It is my most familiar ride but because of the ominous atmosphere I was trying to ride at a quick pace so as to beat the weather.

The map of this ride is shaped like a lollipop; a long straight path followed by a big loop that comes back into the same straight that I use to get out to the loop.

The rain started when I was riding the loop. It was upsetting as I was really hoping to have avoided getting wet. The concern of getting wet was soon diminished with the first cracking of thunder.  Panic started to set in as I could see the lightening in the sky followed almost immediately by the rumble.

Sitting on a steel bike, in the middle of a farm field, soaking wet with bolts of lightning lighting up the black clouds does not engender comfort. As you would expect I started to search for any type of shelter where I could hunker down a wait out the storm.  I started to think about getting into one of the ditches along the road that is used for run off from the field.  I would be very wet but I think it would offer me the best protection from electrocution. I considered continuing my ride as fast as I could and keep my fingers crossed that I would be able to outrun the danger.  That thought was just dumb!

Finally I saw a barn with its door ajar and felt this was my only choice.  I pulled up on my bike and leaned it against the outside wall and stuck my head in just to be sure I would not be met by any guard dogs.  The barn was housing several horses and about a dozen fierce guard cats.  When the cats realized I was not there to feed them, they quickly ignored me and when along their way.

Oddly, almost as soon as I got squared away inside the doorway of the barn my phone started to ring.  I expected it would be Lisa (my wife) even though I had called her when the rain started only to learn she was not home and could not pick me up. As it turns out the phone call was from my brother Paul.

As I stood in the doorway of that barn I looked out at the fast moving dense clouds.  I watched those clouds ignite with lightning.  I watched the rain come down in sheets and I listened to the roar of the thunder claps. I heard my brother tell me that my father had lung cancer. I was engulfed by a storm far larger than what I could see in the sky just outside that barn door.