drizzle
It’s almost five o’clock in the afternoon and we’re going for a ride. The sky is heavily overcast, and it looks like it might rain at some point, but I keep this thought to myself—I don’t want to scare off the girls.
As we roll through Velká Bystřice, a second thought enters my mind. Although I am wearing a long sleeve merino jersey and a jacket, it is warm. It feels like the summer won't let go. I’m trying to think of a ride from last year with similar conditions, but I don’t recall any. The mix of the weather feels weird and really good at the same time. I search for a word to describe it, and only "mysterious" comes to mind. I guess that’s the word.
Reaching our favourite climb—Štrauzák—it was already drizzling a bit. The feeling of mystery for me got even bigger. This is my kind of weather. Cloudy, misty, a little rain, but not enough to soak you instantly. Puddles with circles forming from the drops of rain and a warm breeze carrying something our way. It’s like being in Vancouver again. I just need to close my eyes and I’d be teleported there. I tried it, but nothing happened.
The girls were okay with the rain. I could see the same sense of mystery and excitement on their faces. We were almost at the top of our climb but decided to take a turn to the wetlands and ride the long, straight gravel road between Jívová and Pohořany.
The breeze brought us two things. One, it blew away the rain, and two, the clouds partially covered the setting sun, so it got dark pretty fast. We raced against the darkness, navigating gravel roads and narrow, overgrown trails down the hill, trying not to get caught in it.
But today, darkness won. I was left with a reminder of what bikes really are. Every time I ride, they bring a deep sense of clarity and freedom to my mind. I see things more clearly, ideas come easily, and decisions seem to make themselves as my thoughts flow freely. To be honest, I’m a bit stuck in life at the moment, and I use every opportunity to go for a ride. That’s why I ride so much—I’m chasing that "clarity" drug they offer to help me get unstuck in life.
