At spring's door

Any day now.

One morning, we will wake up, look out the window, and all the snow will be gone. Crocuses will be erupting from the sodden turf and the robin will await the worm with cockeyed anticipation.

Riding a bike might seem like fun again.

To some, of course, riding a bike is never unreasonable. Cutting a singletrack trail through freshly fallen snow has its unquestionable charms, and arriving at a destination with one's own power, and icicles forming under one's nose, can be quite ennobling.

But it's hard to be a hero every day.

Day in and day out winter commuting takes it's toll. It's impossible to be footloose and fancy free in heavy boots, windpants, snow-caked gore-tex, balaclava and goggles. And, as happened with me, my bicycle, usually a symbol of freedom and fun, becomes an obligation, the thing whose accusing gaze I avoid as I slink past it on my way out the door.

So here's what I'm looking forward as I await the crocuses and the robin: shedding the winter weight of excessive clothing layers; replacing the winter tires on my bike with skinnier ones, colorful grocery panniers (like these perhaps); leaning the bike against the wall of my front porch, so always ready for spur of the moment biking; being able to carry more groceries than I can when walking; riding in whatever I've got on; filling my trailer with gardening supplies; riding home with freshly picked veggies wrapped in newspaper; not minding getting caught in the rain on my bike...

Are you impatiently awaiting spring?

Comments

[the village scribe]

Yes indeed I am! For starters, I'm looking forward to each additional ten minutes I get to be on the bike that I didn't have to spend layering on clothes.

Meanwhile, I love the bright, fresh, hopeful, new look of your blog. Even if it's still grey outside my window, at least it's green on my computer screen.

[Justyna]

Thank you! I though that after two years, I was due for a change.

[John]

I didn't ride much this winter. Maybe four times. So I'm with you. Tomorrow the forcast is for a second day of 60 degrees. I'm working and I may ride. The only glitch is the changing of the clocks. That could be a problem, because the clock will say 5:30 but it will be 4:30.
That's early.

[Dottie]

I'm definitely impatient for spring. There are things I will miss about winter, but I'm sure I'll get over it :) Thursday and Friday the weather was so perfect, and now all this rain on the weekend is upsetting. I want to take my studded tires off, but I'm worried this weather is a trick and all will be ice-covered in a week.

[sassr]

"But it's hard to be a hero every day."

"Riding a bike might seem like fun again."

You must have a very delicate constitution.

[Justyna]

Indeed. And you are so wise in pointing it out to me. I think I'll take my delicate constitution and write another post.

[Jennifer]

And sassr must live in California.

[sassr]

I live in chicago and rode every day this winter