It’s been a hard winter. And since this post is near the end of July, apparently a long spring and a chunk of summer as well. I won’t get into a lot of details, but the thing to know is that my cycling frequency sort of fell off a cliff late last fall, and the cycling I’ve done since has been very low mileage. I just sort of couldn’t. Physically I was fine, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t really want to be on the bike. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t stop, I just slowed way the heck down. 20 miles was a big ride. I had to force myself to go out when I did.

But something happened just a few weeks ago. I started enjoying it more. I wanted to be back on the bike. And what do you know, my mileage has started to clime. I did a 60 mile ride this weekend, followed by another 35, and it felt good being out there doing them. 60 miles was nothing to get excited about last year, I was eating centuries for breakfast, but for right now, it’s a ride that shows real promise. It’s something I can work with. Something I can build on.

And so I’m back. Not back as in back to my old shape, but back to actually wanting to get back to my old shape. Back to that spot where I’m wondering how many miles I can get away with next weekend. That’s something I can work with.