During the holiday season, people reflect on the things that are most important. Life, friends, and family make the list for most, including myself. For me, there is a commonality between my life, my friends, and my family. Bikes. Bikes. Bikes.
Life
Currently, my life is bikes. Each hour I am awake, and frequently in my dreams, I am thinking about bikes. My next ride, a new line on a familiar trail, a missed line on my last ride are thoughts that visit me each hour of the day. This isn't a bad thing, though at times distracting. Bikes in my life give me focus, and drive. I want to be better.
Friends
Friendship motivates me as a rider. This is difficult for me to admit as a self-proclaimed introvert. I have logged more hours as a solo rider than with a group. I like that. I am happy with that. However, riding with a group of friends (people that push me, support me, pick me up off the ground, and supply endless hours of laughter) makes riding bikes memorable every time.
Family
I come from a family of riders. Parents, siblings, wife, and children. We all ride bikes. However, the idea of family goes beyond these people. My biking family is my Rowdie friends that are always up for a ride. It doesn't matter if is a quick spin up the hill or a week at a destination location. These people just show up, give it their all, and know the meaning of fun.
My early morning Thanksgiving rides began as a solo ride 2012 but didn't become a Colorowdies' ride until 2014. Each year, the people that show up are people that love bikes. This was more than apparent this year as we woke up to an ice glaze topped with snow. The upper mountain temps were in the teens. The level of commitment was at an all time high fueled by friendship, bikes, and possibly some hot toddy. At the top of the hill, we unloaded the bikes, attempted some 360 skids, and snapped a few pics before dropping in on an icy descent. No speed records were broken, no new lines were attempted but hoots, hollers, and giggles broke the morning silence. There may have even been a yeti howl in the distance.
The upper trail dumps into a mid mountain parking lot. Fortunate for us, the lot was as slick as a skating rink and provided a perfect opportunity for a braaapping session followed by fits of laughter.
As we began the lower descent we spread out and took the opportunity to shoot some photos. Each time I stopped to grab a photo, I found myself laughing as each rider passed. The laughter was perpetuated by the knowledge that not one of these individuals needed to get out of bed at a ridiculous hour or even drive the horrendous ice covered roads. Though each and every person made the choice to show up to ride bikes. These are the people I count on. These are the people that share a passion to ride bikes. These people...friends, family, life.