Yesterday turned into an epic ride, quite unexpectedly. You know those mornings you drag yourself out, motivated by a need to shake off the blues? That was me, ready to pedal away my gloom on Darkwing, my trusty bike, heading towards Marshall Canyon. The plan was simple: do some intense sprints in a quiet spot, the kind that leave you too spent to worry.
My mind wandered back to the origins of these epic rides, to a time 22 years ago when training was my daily ritual. Great Training Weather – “Good morning, world! The weather here has been wonderful, albeit a bit chilly. I’ve taken two days off to recuperate from last week’s training sessions. It seems I’m well on my way to having a fantastic season.”
Flashing back to yesterday, I stumbled upon an old trail by chance, a hidden gem I’d previously shown to my biking buddies. It was like uncovering a long-lost treasure. Soon, I slipped back to 2006, when I wrote Stupidity Lives On – “Ah, the early days of March 2006. The internet felt more like the Wild West and less like a valid tool. Let’s dive into the chaos and charm of those times, shall we?”
As I pounded the pedals, a sense of exhilaration washed over me. The ride down was not just thrilling due to the mix of speed and sweet nostalgia, but it also ended with an adventurous merge onto the highway, sending my thoughts adrift to 2008. It was then I had penned my experiences at Morning Commute , detailing my daily mini-epic commutes to Univision Computers on my K2, slicing through the city like a caffeine-fueled hero in a low-budget action flick. Simultaneously, in a parallel narrative at Makes For Indoor Training, I greeted the day from Missoula, Montana, filled with optimism for the perfect day for a road ride, blending my journey’s physical thrills with the reflective musings of a cyclist’s life.
What a ride! It brought back all the reasons why biking is my passion. Flashing back to the adventures of 2009 inspired a post in 2010, you can find it at Meadow of Giants – “This is part 11 in a series dedicated to my favorite snapshots of 2009. The latest addition to this nostalgic journey is aptly named ‘Meadow of Giants’”, capturing the essence of why I cherish these moments on two wheels.
Ah, speaking of memories… not all of them sprinkled with sunshine. Flashback to 2012 and the snowy escapade: “Oh man, talk about a winter wonderland adventure this morning! The snow was just dumping down like there was no tomorrow when I decided to brave it on my trusty ‘fatty.’” It was one of those moments that mixed a dash of madness with a whole lot of unforgettable thrill.
And speaking of snow, which I affectionately began referring to as devil dust… 2012 brought its own brand of a chilly escapade: “Oh man, talk about a winter wonderland adventure this morning! The snow was just pouring down like crazy when I decided to brave it on my trusty ‘fatty.’” It was one of those moments where the wonder of winter truly tests your mettle, turning every pedal stroke into a memorable battle against the elements.
Eventually, my passion for biking seamlessly transitioned into the winter months. By 2013, I found my ultimate winter joy: cabin to cabin snow biking. There’s something uniquely exhilarating about traversing the snowy landscape, from one cozy cabin to the next, all while aboard my trusty snow bike. It’s undoubtedly my all-time favorite winter activity.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on where winter riding led me. Fat bike racing became the new thrill. By 2014, I dove into the JayP Backyard Fat Pursuit Part 1 – the first 30 miles teaching me about “Expectations… and perspective. Have no expectations. Don’t expect a groomed surface, or to ride, that it’s all downhill from here, or even that you are almost there.” It was a journey that redefined endurance, pushing me into the depths of winter’s embrace on the back of my fat bike, each pedal a testament to the raw beauty and challenge of the frozen wilderness.
But that extreme challenge? That’s not the heart of my love for biking. It’s more about survival in those moments. What really captures my biking soul is cruising on a beach, far away from any devil dust. Like that unforgettable ride last year, 2023, during the Fatty Ride @ Cape Lookout – it was all about the wind in my hair, the sun kissing my face, and that wild, carefree vibe. Just me, my fat bike, and the endless beach, a perfect escape into the blissful simplicity of nature.
It reminds me why I love biking. Yesterday I got home feeling lighter, reminded that the best rides are those unplanned ones that lift your spirits. Cheers to more unexpected adventures on two wheels!
All these adventures that danced through my mind during yesterday’s ride share one thing in common: they each unfolded on this day in history. It’s almost as if March 6th has been my personal day for milestone biking memories, a thread connecting diverse experiences from braving the snow to beach cruising under the sun. For a walk down this memory lane, each tale can be found documented at https://williammartin.com/0000/03/06/, a collection of moments that shaped my journey on two wheels.
Boneshakerbike 