Off Season.........?

Today is February 1st and most of the Michigan cycling community should be enjoying their off season. Eating ice cream, drinking beer and loosing themselves in something different. The opposite seems to be true.

Michigan Mountain Mayhem is Sold Out, Barry-Roubaix has less than 200 spots left, Steve Kinley heads up a ride every Friday and many already have there 2012 planned with rides, races and trips. Training plans have started, Simonson appears full on and I can't remember the last time I had so many people ask me to ride in January. Is it the weather? Mid 30's-50 is a lot easier than teens. Is it trying to get a jump on the season / competition? It's a long season with Barry-Roubaix through to Cyclocross Worlds. Not to mention the 'winter' events of Fat Bike races and the LOHS.

What's the problem JMAK? Nothing, I think it's F'ing great! Get out and ride! Some people run, walk, etc. but I ride a bike. It's what gets me going. I'm on a single speed for the first time ever. I love it. It's great going on rides and not being able to hammer 20mph. Anything over 16-17 and I'm spinning like a fool. With this new found pleasure the same old route(s) have become new again. I look around more and notice things you can't see during the summer. The leaves are off the trees and you can looking through the valley on a trail or at homes that were hidden. It's not the same scenery. There's a sense of calm. Riding for the fun of it. Not looking at the monitor for the next interval or wattage level. My screen only has the time of day and ride time. On more than one occasion I found myself riding longer than I planned because I was having so much fun. All to soon that fun will turn into training. I'll try and hold it off as long as I can.