Last night was "Thursday Night Mountain Bike Ride" night.
And since thing one and thing two are spending the week at my mom's house, I decided to try and ride with the guys.
Morgan said he'd go slow and wait for me. Ok, I thought. That sounds good.
He told everyone that he'd be going slow with Lauren. No fast stuff tonight, it's slow night. Everyone agreed they wanted to go slow too. They liked slow. Slow felt good sometimes. So everyone would go slow and it would all work out fine.
Within 2 minutes they were gone, out of my sight.
What? No warm up?
I pedal along the road (we weren't even to the trail yet) frantically spinning up the hill with my heart rate already in the red zone trying to catch them. Even the new guy takes off. The new guy, the Russian finance professor who just moved here to teach at Cal. I'd sort of eyed him when he showed up. He looked a bit slower then the rest. Hmm, maybe that guy will be riding with me, I thought. He had that "virgin night rider" look to him.
After a while they soft pedal and I catch up.
Once on the trail, I can keep them somewhat in site. The switchbacks along the first flat trail are wide enough that I can see the twinkly lights ahead.
And then we hit the fast single track and they're gone. But I can see the professor in front of me. And in front of him is Morgan, going slow and waiting for me every so often. He'll stop and then the professor will stop and I'll catch up. And finally we catch the bigger group of guys, who are waiting for us, after they've gone slow. Because, it's slow night you know.
Down in the canyon, we spin along side the stream and they all slowly pedal away from me. And for a while I'm riding along in the dark by myself.
What am I doing here, riding in the dark in an urban park, in Oakland all alone at 10:30 at night? I say to myself.
I think I made a wrong turn.
When I catch up to Morgan, he explains that he's having a hard time going slow on his bike. This bike doesn't let me go that slow he says.
From the canyon, up the hill we pedal, me spinning and him grinding and standing in his only gear. Ok, he says, one more loop.
How far have we gone? the professor asks?
16 miles.
I'm done.
No you're not, Morgan says.
Yes, I'm done. it's 10:40.
No, come on, one more loop, he says.
Nope.
Yes.
NO, I say.
Yes, we're doing another loop.
Well, I'm heading down as soon as we hit the top. You guys go on. I say.
And we argue like this all the way up the climb.
I just want you to be happy, he says to me at times like this.
I am happy I say, but I'm not doing another loop.
And then we do part of the loop. But I'm done. So, we turn and head back. And that takes a while - the going back part. And they all take off in different directions.
And then apparently I make a wrong turn and end up riding down a different trail by myself, which is fine. But once I realize I'm by myself, I ride even faster so no bad guys will have a chance of grabbing me.
Finally, back in our neighborhood, riding down the last hill to our house I see our truck coming up the same street flashing it's lights at me.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? He's saying from the open window.
Where are you going? I say.
To look for you! he says.
I was worried! he says.
I waited and waited at the horse arena. And then started yelling for you. he says.
I didn't go by the horse arena I say.
I thought you guys went down Cinderella, I say.
And then we go home and the others show up in a minute and we eat chips and fig bars and drink beer in the garage.
