My Surly Necromancer basking in the sun along the Des Plaines River in Illinois
It has been nearly a month since my last post and in the past few days I’ve received a few letters from fellow bloggers who were wondering if I was OK. Well, in the words of the poor guy in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “I’m not dead.” In fact, I feel better than I have in many years.
Everyone in the Midwest knows how brutal this past winter was (second highest snowfall in Chicago history along with the coldest four-month period in Chicago history). About a month ago a really strange thing happened—I got up one morning and there was a really bright light up in the sky and it was giving off heat! It was such a strange sight that I almost called the police department, but a friend told me that it was something called “the sun.” It was such a pleasant thing that I got on my road bike and haven’t done much else since then (which explains why I haven’t been writing articles for this blog).
My first 1,500 miles for the year were all done on the snow and ice—which means that I rarely saw any other cyclists. However, now that the sun is out all of those wimps who spent the winter inside riding their bikes in the basement are now back on the roads (heaven help us all).
In a few days I will be publishing a review of the Tribesports Cycling Jersey—it is an extremely high-quality jersey that sells for an unbelievably low price.
sueslaght
June 8, 2014 at 9:44 PM
Your description of the bright light in the sky had me laughing out loud. Great to see you back.
Signed-one of those wimps who is back on her bike 🙂
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Glad you are back on your bike — I hope your road handling skills did not deteriorate over the winter (like a lot of the cyclists I’ve observed in the past three weeks).
sueslaght
June 8, 2014 at 10:36 PM
We have been cycling for about 4-6 weeks. Id like to think my skills are pretty solid. Happy riding 🙂
PedalWORKS
June 8, 2014 at 9:47 PM
LOL. Glad you are back.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Thank you kindly!
billgncs
June 8, 2014 at 10:04 PM
I’m glad you’re back too! Good to see you, figuratively speaking 🙂
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:33 PM
It is amazing how great the sun feels after it being gone for seven months!!!
billgncs
June 8, 2014 at 10:52 PM
Yep – we’ve been riding the I&M canal – great to see turtles instead of snow-flakes 🙂
sedge808
June 8, 2014 at 10:06 PM
big wheels
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:34 PM
Great for snow, ice, sand, mud and all-around fun!
sedge808
June 8, 2014 at 10:07 PM
love your ‘sun’ story.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:35 PM
I am beginning to understand why the ancient Egyptians worshiped the sun!
sedge808
June 8, 2014 at 10:36 PM
i hear u.
Joboo
June 8, 2014 at 10:20 PM
Never had any doubts whatsoever!! 😉
As a fellow winter biking enthusiast, and a fellow Midwesterner, I too have been enjoying that “really bright light up in the sky!!”
Keep the rubber side down, and pedal on!!
Peace, Joboo
All Seasons Cyclist
June 8, 2014 at 10:36 PM
I knew you would understand! I love winter cycling, but after seven months of snow and ice I was ready for some sunshine and calm winds.
Elaine @ foodbod
June 9, 2014 at 1:07 AM
One of those strange bright yellow things has appeared in our skies a few times recently too….still trying to figure out what it is before it disappears again!!!
simon682
June 9, 2014 at 2:30 AM
Writing or riding? Time to redress the balance.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:14 PM
When the sun comes out the desire to write really fades fast!
ATdF
June 9, 2014 at 3:00 AM
how many times? how many times i told you…come to italy my friend. yesterday 31° in the dolomiti (-;
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:15 PM
The Dolomites? Are you trying to kill me my friend? I don’t think my legs would ever get used to that much climbing!
ATdF
June 11, 2014 at 1:44 AM
(-;
Jill
June 9, 2014 at 3:40 AM
Glad you are okay…I was wondering as well. Glad you are enjoying that odd bright ball in the sky.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:16 PM
That bright light in the sky sure feels good on my pale skin!
elisariva
June 9, 2014 at 4:15 AM
My trainer is in my home office upstairs next to a sliding door and window. I rode next to the snow all winter!
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Next winter place your trainer on the other side of the glass — instead of tan lines you can start worrying about frostbite lines!
elisariva
June 10, 2014 at 1:18 PM
😊
Gwen Stephens
June 9, 2014 at 4:54 AM
Glad to see you back, and I understand as a fellow Chicagoan and year-round runner. My cut-off in the winter (when I pack it in and do a treadmill run) is -10 with windchill. Summer so far has been perfect. I hope it stays this way. We’re due.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:19 PM
It seems like most of the winter we had a windchill of -10 or more. I live just a mile or so from Lake Michigan and the wind off the lake was rather fierce this year – almost enough to make me want to ride inside (I said “almost”).
thehomeschoolingdoctor
June 9, 2014 at 7:02 AM
“However, now that the sun is out all of those wimps who spent the winter inside riding their bikes in the basement are now back on the roads (heaven help us all).” No stinking kidding! They’re already complaining about the heat and humidity! I’m like, “Hand me the water hose.” You will NOT hear me complain about the heat and humidity this summer. No way. Glad you’re back out killing the roads!~~Terri
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:19 PM
The people who complained all winter about the cold are the same folks who complain all summer abut the heat and humidity — you just can’t please some folks!
Mountainstroh (Tony)
June 9, 2014 at 9:04 AM
Welcome back and enjoy shiny yellow thing in the sky
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:19 PM
I am enjoying every minute of it!
runnershealth
June 9, 2014 at 12:33 PM
Hope you’ll have a really great summer!
Happy cycling.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:20 PM
It’s off to a great start now! Happy running!
shenrydafrankmann
June 9, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Took a lot of dedication to get the base miles in this year, but I am glad for forcing myself out on those cold days. I can relate to your post. I am riding a whole lot more than writing!
All Seasons Cyclist
June 10, 2014 at 1:21 PM
You are so right — those base miles were hard to come by, but really worth it.
rantsrulesandrecipes
June 16, 2014 at 1:24 PM
Anytime you get to begin a sentence with “My first 1500 miles ….”
Means you’re a bad a$$!
All Seasons Cyclist
June 17, 2014 at 9:57 PM
I am now at 2,400 for the year and hope to get in at least another 2,600. I average over 6,000 miles a year, but our first grandchild is due in August and I imagine I will miss several days as a result (family always comes before cycling).