Now isn’t the best time

It’s my second Pacific Northwest winter and it’s not exactly cold. Slightly chilly, maybe. But not cold. 45° and raining is the big challenge at the moment. It’s too warm for true winter gear, too chilly for summer wear. Too wet without a jacket, too sweaty for a my PVC jacket.

If I had a lot of money to pour into gear, I’m sure I would figure out a good solution. Probably a Marino wool-based solution.

But not now. Now I’m cobbling together a few clients in an effort to support myself and family and pouring money into gear isn’t in the cards.

Speaking of gear I can’t replace, I’ve lost my beloved Garmin 500 cycling computer. I brought it on a ride over the Thanksgiving weekend, only to discover a the trailhead that my mount was missing. In an ironic effort to avoid losing it, I stowed it away but haven’t seen it since. It’s one piece of riding gear I’ve come to rely on and am feeling it’s loss.

And speaking of GPS, Strava is promoting the Rapha Festive 500 which seems exactly the type of “race” I’d enjoy. Between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, bike 500 km, upload it to Strava, and blog about it. All the riders who complete the challenge receive a Rapha Festive 500 woven roundel. Flexible, free, alone. My kind of race.

I scoped out a nice route running the length of the Oregon Coast that fit the bill. It’s over the 500 km, but I figure doing a few extra miles to end up at my in-laws in Brookings would be a fitting end, and worth the extra few miles.

But it’s not to be. Not now. Riding 500 km without health insurance isn’t the best idea for a father. Plus I haven’t exactly been attentive to my training. Oh and heading out on a bikepacking trip over the holidays while leaving my wife alone with six kids isn’t exactly the best way to strengthen a marriage.

So biking, in many regards, is not ideal at the moment.

At some point I can start buying and testing gear. Maybe get a new GPS. And maybe, just maybe, head out on a long coastal tour.

But for now, I’ll content myself with simply riding. Even with the wrong gear in soggy conditions. Even if I can’t track my stats. And even if I’m not really going anywhere.

Just because I love to ride.