Letters from the bike trail

[Marquise]

Dear Cycling Gods,
Thanks for two days of fabulous weather on a holiday weekend and for making my husband's injured toe feel good enough for him to spontaneously decide to ride with me today about a week earlier than expected! Also, thanks for getting me through 30 miles two days in a row even though I'm old enough that I'm more of an every-other-day cyclist.
Yours,
Grateful Cyclist
P.S. I hope his return to the bike doesn't backfire and said toe is better for keeps.

[Biciclista]

Dear strong rando guys who let me draft off you at 20mph
THANKS! that was sure fun!!
slow but steady (usually)

[Bike Writer]

Dear Hill on Nine Mile Road,

You treated me so poorly when I climbed up your steep face this morning. I got up early enough so that I could get a ride in while it was still cool out, but you made me sweat anyway and plastered my hair to my head under my helmet. You nearly took all my breath away and I sure panted hard at the your top.

However you have a redeeming quality! It sure was a pleasure to have a l-o-n-g descent that went on for nearly a mile. I like the way you make up for being ornery, gave me a big smile and a feeling of contentment. In the end, thank you!

Sincerely,

Happy Coaster

[owlice]

Dear Mother Nature,

Yes. Yes, it IS hot enough for me today. More than, even. I'll take this over thunderstorms when I want to ride, though, so thank you!

Sincerely,
Sweaty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Planters,

Six servings? This bag of trail mix contains six servings? Really?? Okay.... three tablespoons in a serving, but what I really need to know is... how many tablespoons in a handful?

Hungrily,
Munchy

[Owlie]

Dear group of boys playing on the trail--
I will agree that it's a multi-use trail. You've got every right to be there. I just ask that you exercise some caution if you want to lie down on the trail! There are lots of people who use that trail who are faster than me, less cautious than me, and bigger jerks than me. But thank you for saying hi, apologizing, and wishing me a nice ride.

--The girl in the UK flag jersey

[Deborajen]

Dear cyclist who passed me on the bike/walk path this morning,

Thanks for the polite "on your left." Although my dog was peeing to the left of the trail and I was standing on the far left edge of the pavement beside her, I was pretty sure you weren't really planning on passing us on the big, sharp rocks to the left of us. Hence the friendly wave I gave you in return.

And to your "thank you" as you did pass us (on the right ), you're certainly welcome! A polite heads-up is always appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sharin' the Path

[Catrin]

Dear cyclist who passed me on the road Sunday.

If you are going to pass me on the right please say something! My mirror is on my left bar, and I just plain didn't see you or hear you coming as I was watching a hawk on the other side of the road.. Thankfully I take surprises much better than I once did on the bike, but I almost choked on the water I was drinking from my Camelbak as you smoked me. The wave was nice though, thank you!

[hebe]

--The girl in the UK flag jersey

Dear weather,
I'm still waiting.

love from a cyclist who is knitting a lot more than usual at the moment.

[Owlie]

Nothing wrong with knitting. It's too hot to knit...and I broke a needle.

Dear 40-something:
One, you're a moron for riding in the wrong lane of the trail. Two, yes, I passed you on the right, because you were in the wrong lane. Three, yes, I passed you at about 18 mph, because I didn't want to be anywhere near you in case there was someone in the lane you were in going the opposite direction. Yes, I'm a girl. I'm also 20 years younger than you. Why should these facts offend you so? Was there really any need for the dirty looks and the very aggressive pass before you zoomed off? Is your ego that easily bruised? You need to seriously reexamine your outlook on life. Getting that stressed over such minor things is probably not good for you.

--That Girl
PS: I passed you again while you were sprawled out under a tree, if you didn't notice...

Dear driver:
Yeah, there's a stop sign there--FOR YOU. No harm done, but you gave me a heart attack.

Dear other driver:
While many other cyclists may blow through the stop signs on the trail, I don't. I was not about to start pedaling through the intersection. I merely had to roll/hop forward a bit so I could see if there was traffic coming the other way. I'm not trying to get in your way, that's for sure.


Dear self:
The middle of the trail is not the place to go "Ooh, what's that bird?"

Dear Hawaiian shaved ice shack next to the trail--
Thank you for being there. I love you.
The cyclist with the blue tongue and lips.