Accidents and Epiphanies
We just got back from a fantastic-feel-good-hugs-women-and-bikes weekend. It started Friday night as a group of us collected in a tiny (thankfully heated) cabin somewhere in southern Missouri. As we pulled up to the cabin, under a sky littered with stars you can’t see in STL, the thermometer read 19 degrees (F). The coolers on the porch actually served to keep the beer from freezing! We quickly unpacked and huddled in said cabin sharing said beers, junk food and stories–anxiously awaiting our early, cold mountain biking adventure on the Berryman Trail. I got to meet some new people and some new people got to meet singletrack.
We slept in and ate a HUGE breakfast and (finally) rolled out at 11:30 on the trail. The dozen or so of us covered the spectrum of ability levels and embodied the thing about this club that I’m most proud of. Despite such a wide range of experience, I feel confident that we all walked away smiling (even if a bit sore, tired and fractured). Good weather and great attitudes are always key. Luckily we have the latter, constantly.
Halfway through, Alice fell hard on a rock (pics coming soon!). Shaken and in real pain she soldiered on–even past the bailout point–to complete the ride with an attitude I wish was available for purchase over the counter. I was starting to think we should start a “wall of pain” photo section somewhere, but worried it wouldn’t be a ringing endorsement for mountain biking–or cycling, in general.
But, then I remembered my sister slipping on a step coming out of a hot tub and breaking a tailbone–while on vacation (!). Aside from implying an uncomfortable flight home, what is my point? That accidents happen and it’s OK document them; to celebrate the survival–and more importantly the conquering–of the fear after them. So, ride on, Alice! After the fracture is healed, there are trails and roads calling your name. (I know you know this).
After another HUGE meal, we settled outside by a fire and made s’mores listening to the John Butler Trio. Sigh. Cold seats, hot knees, sticky gloves. Nice combo. Good end to the day.
Sunday. Coffee. HUGE meal. Packing. Driving. Cranksgiving (more pics coming soon).
I’ve wanted to participate in Cranksgiving for years–ever since I first heard of it. I like the pun on the bike crank in the name, but am suspicious about it’s relation to the way one feels after riding with a consistently heavier backpack for 26+ miles and four hours. Sure, we could have done it faster, but that wasn’t the point (not without me trying–I kept asking if there was a prize for first!).
Actually, the mood was great and it was REALLY fun. Mixing recreation time with a contribution to the world’s less fortunate just plain makes people happy. Hot chocolate at the end makes them happier. Bikeworks’ Cranksgiving was a snowball of good karma and I’m greateful that Steph promoted it and even more grateful that so many of us did it. Together. Feel-good-hugs. Thanks, guys.