Compromise

Mountain biking just up the street here can mean a few things. Either an after work rumble on Middle Cottonwood or a weekend bust up Hyalite Lake. Today was Hyalite Lake. And I am not talking about Hyalite Reservoir. I am talking about the tiny lake just under Hyalite Peak.  The mountain bike ride is about 12 miles up and 12 miles back and the most prevalent items are the waterfalls.

The usual pace when riding with my partner is that I just go at my pace and bust up the trail first. Much like a dog. And much like a dog I wait at places for her. She is like taking me out for a spin. Good thing there is no leash laws.

When she comes into view I flash her a smile and we take in our surroundings. This is how thing usually go. Sometimes conversation breaks out and we stop for a moment to reflect. I mean it is a beautiful place to ponder some of life’s greatest questions.

“So I think I will get those Voile Chargers and a Dynafit setup this winter”, I announced while sitting at the base of Shower Falls. She just smiled and looked up at the silken streams of water falling from the cliff.

Just down from the falls we waited at a bridge for some horseman to cross.

“You know … I am getting a Fatty … a snow bike”, she said confidently.

We leaned our bikes against a tree and climbed to Apex Falls mostly in silence. There was the usual, “Wow” and “Just beautiful”. And I thought to myself how weird that I am buying “slider gear” and she is getting a bike. I think I just figured out an important aspect of relationships … compromise.