the new wave

The times. I have heard. If only I had 10 cents for every time I heard. 29 epiphanies. 29 years. 29 times. I keep track of them all, some on paper, some only in my mind.

The road less traveled this time of year ranges from 9 to 29…degrees Fahrenheit. It is hard getting out especially when just getting back from Florida. Short 300 miles in 13 days there. I was hoping for more from the sun but the gatherings of family were calling. My little brother of 16 was calling. I hadn’t seen him in 3 years. He was held captive by my father during a divorce then woke up one day. I went out for ride after ride after ride in Florida. I got back one day to learn my little brother was asking about my whereabouts. There are no races now back home and despite my new riding calendar year beginning on December 18 of every year. I have to sometimes be reminded to apply the brakes at any given moment. I hear somewhere in my head the words of my brother Jay, “Slow down, not above 18 (mph),” just this last summer. I hear them again now visiting my li’l Bro…I went out for rides with him. It was like we were both 15 and unable to drive and our wheels, our MO, our transportation was our bikes. When an epiphany happens, just note it. While this was not an epiphany it was def worth noting.

He hasn’t ridden a bike in forever and has taken some bad paths over the last three years of life. He has picked himself up though, got back on, and rode. Little man rode over a 100 miles in about 7 days and still managed to go out with his girl. On a hybrid no less without bike shorts. Maybe the fun was riding through Wal-Mart’s lot screaming “Shopping at Wal-Mart supports the devil.” Later we stopped at a local shop in Sarasota Florida and when my little bro saw the technology in bikes he was hooked. He could not get off the Cannondale web page later that night; it was like a youngster’s first look at porn…all inquisitive like. The Cannondale Bad Boy, black wheels, matte black frame, black spokes, black nipples, black hubs, flat out punk, no less, no more. Once he got wind of the potential merger with Pacific (after an explanation), he was glued to the Trek site…Soho or Portland…commute to high school and crew, he came up with the best of bike arguments all on his own. If he is serious about riding watch out. He might put something down that you cannot pick up; nevertheless one more human on a bike is a good thing.

Today was # 29. These are the times. In 2004 I rode for the Bell’s Beer mountain bike team. I got higher than ever. I am sure the bike did it. Maybe it was my legs, stretching or nutrition; regardless there is nothing that takes the place of a bike ride solo or with your 16 year old brother acting like you are 15 without a care in the world. That year I bought a full suspension on a whim never riding one yet riding for 14 years. Today through a simple dialogue I realized not only life is short, brothers are irreplaceable, bike rides are like adventures, friends that believe in you are truly your friends. If that is epiphany # 29, it seems fitting to on a whim to ride a 29-inch wheeled bike from Fisher, nothing flashy, just flat out punk, like my little brother. Peace. dk