After hammering it from my house to the Waldo branch of the KC Public Library for last night’s Bike to Work Week kick off meeting (see Noah’s take here), I took it easy this morning. It wasn’t about training, or pushing myself, or numbers today. Today it was about enjoying the feel of the moist road under my tires. It was about sitting up as far as I could just to feel the cool air rush past me as I let the bike guide me down the hills. It was about spinning slowly in low gear up the hills, not to get to the top, but to enjoy getting there. It was about rejoicing in having a tailwind *and* nice temperatures. It was about finding peace amidst the rush of irritable drivers and feeling sorry for them, stuck behind steel and glass while I was out enjoying the morning.

I had an odd moment this morning when I felt like the Kona was the one in charge, and I was just along for the ride. I wasn’t steering, or powering the drivetrain, I was just a passenger, and she would take me where she would. It was a brief moment, but it was strangely exhilarating.

With a temperature spread of 13 degrees (high of 55.4, low of 42.8), I didn’t experience the low side until right at the very end. As I pulled into the parking lot, the wind started gusting near 20 from the west, and the temperature dropped noticeably between the street and the door. Today is also about being prepared. I knew the temperature would drop. While I rode in with mesh pants and a windbreaker over a base layer, I have my full winter regalia in my panniers for the ride home tonight.

I enjoyed it while I could, because the rest of the week will be on the colder side. Nowhere near what it’s been, but cold all the same.