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| Temporarily at rest North of London, ON August 2016 This photo supports this week's Thematic theme, please be seated. Head here to share yours. |
Years ago, biking to me was a means of getting as quickly as possible to a given destination using nothing more than your own horsepower to get there. I never bothered to take the time to enjoy the scenery along the way. As long as the data streaming off of my cycling computer looked good, I was happy.
These days, my priorities are a little different. I still ride with a cycling computer - now GPS-based - but I try to not be so beholden to the numbers. I look around a lot more while I'm riding, and if I like what I see, I won't hesitate to pull over and take it in a little more profoundly.
My numbers may not be as impressive as they once were, and I may get home a few minutes later than would otherwise be the case. But it's a tradeoff I'm only too happy to make. Because an average speed data point isn't nearly as resonant to the soul as the sight of a giant tree hanging over the side of the road. Or the smell of fresh cut grass in front of that Rockwell-esque farmhouse with the horses out back.
Not everything is a race. And places and moments like this deserve to be savored.
Your turn: What makes you stop and smell the proverbial roses?
Ride safe!
ReplyDeleteYep. I do the numbers thing as well, but like you I will happily stop and take a look around.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes I just need to when I'm on a hilly bit.