Ride Date: January 29, 2016.

Leaving the office to ride was hard as hell for the first four Fridays. I’m changing a ton of systems right now, and much of it must go live in the next month or two. I typically work a lot of hours—I truly don’t count and don’t want to start—but 2016 has been a step up. I’m excited to be making some critical changes and working on new projects, so the hours fly past. When the tasks are change and/or  new books, I have zero issues working long and hard. I love it, in fact. So leaving on Fridays has been tough. I have not really wanted to go, to be completely honest. Once I am in the car with the bike loaded, I switch into wow-great-to-be-going-riding mode. Most Fridays.

This feeling changed in week 5.

I’m still working like a dog—maybe more to be honest. But I’m also savoring the Friday ride. I think about the ride most of the week, pondering which trail to take and what time I can get out. Come about Thursday night, I can’t wait to get out on the trail. I’m also more focused. I know on Thursday that by Friday noon, I better be on top of things if I want to ride.

My friend Joel texted me on this particular Friday morning, interested in joining the ride. I suggested Reimer’s Ranch again, as it is close to us both. “Yes, sir,” was Joel’s response. Cool. Joel lived across the street from my house in Austin, and we started riding together a few years back. He moved out of the hood, and we kept riding together and became friends. Joel’s a strong rider, and excels in technical, rocky climbs. He’s surgical with his lines and strong as an ox. He’s also a soulful, soft-spoken Texan. I always enjoy riding with him.
 

At Reimer’s, we took the advanced loop, which I hadn’t done for years. It’s a great loop—not really that advanced, just some tricky rocky sections strung together by a serpentine piece of singletrack that loops along the rocky hills at the park. Joel was a bit whipped, as he had already spent an hour and a half swimming with his training group that morning. No matter—he was strong as ever on the climbs. I like riding with people who have skills I lack—it makes me try a bit harder. And I did—rolling over a couple of spots I hadn’t made before.

Weather, by the way, was perfect, with bright sun and mid-60s temps. Austin winters can be cooler than you might think, but this one has been spectacular.

A fine day of riding. I can’t wait for next Friday.