A nice uneventful ride in.

On the way home yesterday, I was climbing out of the river valley, when I heard a characteristic humming noise behind me. Quick shoulder check, and yup, a guy on an e-bike with knobby tires went sailing past me like I was standing still. I immediately started thinking disparaging thoughts: "yeah, well, turn off that motor and see how fast you can climb. I bet you think you're getting exercise! My resting heart rate is less than 60, what's yours...90?" Stuff like that.

A few minutes later, I was huffing my way up out of a ravine, when I heard a characteristic "whush whush" noise behind me. Quick shoulder check, and yup, a guy on a carbon-fibre road bike doing a standing climb went sailing past me like I was standing still. This guy had the temerity to look at me as he passed by and give me a smile and a nod. What a jerk. Okay, maybe he was just being friendly, but in the moment, I felt like I was being mocked. I started thinking up excuses: "yeah, well, I'm just about 50 and I'm riding a steel fixie and carrying a 10-pound backpack, and besides it's an off day for me!" Stuff like that.

In all honesty, no, I'm not as fast as I was in my 30's, but even at my peak, with the best possible equipment, I was never that fast, not even close. I don't know why my thoughts go there - it's not at all helpful. Reminds me of that old serenity prayer that most of us have probably seen at our grandma's house: "...grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference...". *sigh*. Serenity now.

Have a good day everyone.