Alone in the Dark...

This weeks Pirate ride was a no-go due to some cold-ass temps and rain, rain and more rain. We were in dire need of the moisture so all was good, but I was in dire need of some time riding time too. Thursday night came around and the weather had been bomber all day. Though night had come, the temps were still bearable. After lolly-gagging around a bit after getting the boy's to bed, I finally motivated at 9:00 p.m. to layer up for a two hour ride in the dark, alone. Night rides in the woods alone are one of my favorite things to do. The solitude and crispness of the night air, the quiet darkness, the uneasy feeling of something or someone around the next turn when you hear leaf rustling not far off. I just love it.

A few things I've learned from my lone-ranger night-rides; be prepared, be prepared and be prepared. You don't want to be lost in the woods, have a mechanical that you cannot fix, a light go out or crash your brains out when solo and far from help. Just using some common sense will get you a long way (not just in riding bikes, but in life, generally speaking). I was prepared, I was psyched, and I was dialed. It was a great ride, good times had and not once did I have to do the 'double-take'; was that a cereal killer hiding behind that long' rubberneck maneuver.

Winter is fast approaching. Time to get the Fixie primed for some good old fashioned Wudchuck and Pirate rides. Man, if you can stay psyched, winter is not that bad for riding. Staying psyched is key. Do it.