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This morning you might have noticed quite particular. Yesterday it was drizzling. This meant that we could go for a run, despite the rain, and end, still dry. This morning however a bike ride was cancelled, or maybe even several. The reason is that it was wetting rain, or “heavy rain” as a weather app called it. It’s the type of rain that soaks your trousers, and your hair, if you still have hair, and doesn’t allow you to stay out for long.
If I had cycled to Geneva as planned, for a bike ride, then not only would I have been soaked by that rain, but I would have arrived in Geneva, to find out that the group ride was cancelled. The cancellation was at 07:50 this morning, so in theory I would have seen it before setting off.
The paradox is that now, at 10:41 the sun is coming to come out, and bike rides are more appealing, once the roads have time to dry, and tomorrow will be a good day to be outdoors.
The Seasonal Change
For a few days we have lost 10°c, we have had rain, and even snow, and wind. All of these combine to make cycling much less interesting. If it’s cold, windy, and rainy, then other sports, like running, indoor climbing and more are appealing.
With the shift in seasons winter gear makes sense once again. A week ago people said “I see you’re dressed for winter”. This week winter came back and my clothing was suitable. I know the weather. I spend one and a half hours per day in it, if not more. I dress for the mechanical failure, rather than ideal weather.
Scheduled Inflexibility
Years ago someone saw a weekly scuba dive as breaking the routine. Over a decade later that routine is still the same. The routine, to break routine, became routine. Cycling groups have the same routine. They decide “We’re doing our rides on a Saturday and they stick to that. If the weather is bad, they don’t postpone by one day, they postpone by one week. The result is that the routine is great, with great weather, and fragile in bad weather.
By having the freedom to shift by one day, the pleasure is amplified. It’s a shame to plan an activity, and then to cancel for at least a week, when shifting by one day is feasible. Weekends are two days, but people schedule for both days.
Enforced Rest
After the Wednesday ride being cancelled, missing the Thursday night to be rested for the Friday run, and then Saturday rides being cancelled due to rain I am no longer at risk of overdoing it. I am now recovering according to Intervals.icu and Strava. Tomorrow I have a solo run. I don’t know if anything social is planned for Monday.
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