Folks, I can't begin to tell you how nice it was to commute in today. I was on vacation for two weeks where I got a couple good rides in but I was still suffering from two-wheeled withdrawl symptoms.

Then, when I got back Monday, I was raring to commute to work but I got a nasty cold over the weekend that only now is letting up. So today was my first commute in a few weeks.

It felt so good. Not only b/c I missed it but also b/c (a) I took the "wintertime" route which is a nicer ride, and shorter by 7 miles (13 total), and (b) my bike was absolutely gleaming. I actually washed it and lubed it the other day. (I do this only once or twice a year ... who's got time?) I also changed out my tubes and put in self-sealers giving my an added boost (psychological, anyway).

Where normally my bike sounds like some kind of tank, waking up whole neighborhoods with every turn of the crank, today it was eerily silent. I was just humming along.

It's nice to be back. I think I'm well enough to do the normal 20-miler home tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

Oh, one other thing. The winds are starting to shift and planes are starting their "wintertime" pattern, approaching SJ airport from the north. I expect to see noticable clues on the way home tonight that summer is slipping away.