what i see: the flatirons of the Rocky Mountains, fields of sunflowers against blue sky, huge dead snakes, prairie dogs yelling "biker, biker!" and running for their holes (saw one flip himself on his back trying to yell out his alarm -- almost fell off my bike), pro cyclists gliding effortlessly by me, packs of elk and deer, storm clouds coming over the rockies, truckers flipping me off, roads winding between canyon walls, summer wildfires lighting up the hills...

Rare sighting: during a ride in July called the Triple Bypass (120 miles over three mountain passes), I saw something that shocked me out of a very pissy mood. I'd spent most of the ride struggling, swearing under my breath, contemplating quitting, my head down and mood about as dark as can be. Coming down off Vail pass, going about 30 miles an hour, a dark shape came from the side of the road. A huge bear had started walking calmly across the road, in broad daylight, right in front of me. I slammed on my brakes, thinking, "I'm gonna hit him. I'm gonna die. He's gonna stop and eat me. I'm gonna die..." He kept going and disappeared into the brush, and I was shaking for the next 10 miles.

It's like something had reached down, given me a huge slap upside the head, and yelled, "SNAP OUT OF IT, YOU MORON! Look around you. It's beautiful, it's amazing, you're lucky to be able to do this, so shut up and appreciate it!"

Life on a bike.