After a couple of weeks being off the bike due to my face injury at Goat Camp, I finally got back on the trail. I had tried doing a bit of stuff in the outdoors late last week but the “brand new” skin on my lips was quite sensitive and the slightest of breeze and direct sunlight was unpleasant to say the least. Today I gave it another shot and decided hit up one of my local trails, Lake Calvera, which I ride to right from my front door. Will has a two hour hockey practice tonight so I decided to take Jake out for some one-on-one Dad time on the trails.
We had a great time out on the trails today. I am always amazed at how easy kids put up new skills. Most of the time I show them something once, they do it once and then it is locked in. Man I wish I could still learn at that rate. I have made a point of gradually progressing the length and difficulty of the rides I take them on each outing and today was no different. I took him on a lot more twisty and rocky singletrack that he has done in the past. I also made a point to get him to the “Back 40” of Lake Calvera which meant he had to do a good deal more climbing than usual out there.
For me I can tell it will take a few rides to get my MoJo back. I still have some numb spots on my face which makes for a really weird sensation (or lack thereof) to feel the sun and breeze only on a portion of your face. The good news is that the spots are getting smaller everyday. In what little technical bits I did encounter today, I caught myself glancing at where I don’t want to go. Not good. I’m sure after a few rides I’ll get “it” back but it was an odd mental riding state today. What I lacked today in riding prowess was more than offset by the high quality time I got with my youngest son who put in a solid 14.4 miles today.
-Bill