A long week at the office under florescent lights and locked into the unholy trifecta of Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Outlook could be the most difficult thing for a cyclist. For starters, the body position — if not monitored and checked — rounds the shoulders and curves the back. The lack of fresh outdoor air, wind and true natural surroundings can dull the senses. The internal struggles to hit deadlines and deliver brilliant work do not release a steady flow of endorphins.
By Friday, it’s time for more cowbell. Any cowbell. Bring it. Ring it loud. Let out a hoot. Then get home. Pedal. First Saturday. Then Sunday. Sweat. Climb. Be alive.
Ever have weeks like that? This one has gone that way for me. But tomorrow is 80 for Haiti. Anticipation is building. There will be elevation. There will be sustained uphill sections. If we’re lucky, there will be remnants of snow (on the side of the road). We will help raise money for a country and its people who need help, who can’t complain about long weeks in the office. It’s so basic, I’m embarrassed to even grumble. And so today I pledge to be 100 percent grateful. For these people, we must ring the cowbell, open our wallets and leverage our humanity. Any way we can. For me, part of that way includes the bicycle. It’s why more cowbell is the Friday crave. This weekend, I’m doing a dollar per mile. One one to get started, though, is a Penny per Mile. Who are you ringing your cowbell for?
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