As I write the rain is falling and the federal government, local governments, and school districts have closed for Monday. All done in anticipation of the approaching storm forecast to deliver rain, sleet, freezing rain, and finally 6-10 inches of snow all by noon tomorrow. However, earlier today the sun appeared, the weather was warm, and spring seemed to have arrived. I spent the morning splitting wood to fuel my wood stove and then took my Atlantis on a ramble. I wasn't alone. I haven't encountered as many cyclists outside since November.
The last rider in a large group that passed me yelled back, "nice fenders." I caught up to him at a traffic light, and we spoke. He asked about my wood fenders and then the Atlantis. He had never heard of Rivendell or Grant Petersen but said he had been riding steel since the 1980s. I mentioned Bridgestone, and he made a connection. He really admired the lug work on the Atlantis and told me he had sold his last steel bike last year to help fund the titanium bike he was riding. I admired his black titanium bike. He offered it had taken a year to save the money. He said it was light and rode smoothly. We agreed that a bike one enjoys riding is worth saving for. As we parted, he said, "I enjoy speaking with folks like you." He was dressed in black cycling tights and a lycra shirt. I wore my blue jeans tucked into my wool socks, my flannel shirt, orange vest, and hiking boots. It was an enjoyable and all too brief conversation. Before my ride ended three other passing cyclists had called out, "Nice bike!" I returned home with a bit too much pride in my bike and a renewed appreciation for friendly, passionate cyclists. Now where did I put that snow shovel and why didn't I buy studded tires for my Atlantis after the last snowstorm? To anyone experiencing or in the path of this storm, stay safe and warm. Two pictures from today's ride: <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KDh3DQuV-Ek/UxP2ncY8sUI/AAAAAAAAAPo/m2hhsjAQAUo/s1600/Atlantis.JPG> <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fHKTHjLt2t8/UxP28tSarhI/AAAAAAAAAP4/HMmI4yArbz8/s1600/Ride.JPG> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
