Summer is without question my favorite time of year. The sun takes its time in the evenings and the long days are full of opportunities to do things after work. The joy of daylight when work is over creates an atmosphere that is much more pleasant to work on bikes, ride them, or just enjoy the delayed darkness. When September rolls back around the calendar, the days are not quite as long, signaling a bittersweet moment.
Summer is almost over.
Officially, summer ends with the fall equinox, but that’s only true if you want to look at it like a nerd. All those years of tapping my foot in classrooms and counting the weeks, then days, then hours until I’m released into the wild to ride BMX with impunity have helped dictate when the sunny months begin and end for me.
So what did we learn this summer break, kids? Well, we got to ride some interesting bikes and do what many of our readers would love to do in colder climates. I also got to take some photos, a subject I covered in last month’s column. California actually has a few advantages – relatively temperate weather and varied terrain mean we have bike season almost year-round.
In a few weeks, many of our dear readers will see the leaves changing. Soon, their beloved motorcycles will be stowed under bike covers or in garages. Of course, I don’t mean to insult the battle-hardened folks who have adopted the United States Postal Service motto: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness of night…” To those brave people, our salute goes to you and your Aerostich. For the rest of us, winter is just around the corner.
As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, for me “last call” has always meant staying out long past my bedtime and missing out on important time spent watching cat videos on the internet. For others, it means the bartender needs to be annoyed a little. While it might seem a little counterintuitive to take a leaf out of their book, I’d say that this kind of foolhardy exuberance is exactly what you need when you’re facing a change of seasons.
I hear you, dear reader. You may be saying, “Well, a big bike ride just isn’t possible with the kids back in school and work getting in the way.” Those are certainly possibilities – everyone has their own struggles and commitments.
That leaves us with small victories as summer winds down. Enjoy afternoon drives, maybe short weekend trips, or maybe a day or two at the track before the icy hands of winter take a firm grip on the land. In Southern California, that party doesn’t usually end until November.
Yes, the end of summer is a bitter pill to swallow, and if you’re like me, you’ve made big, extravagant plans. Some may have reached their goal with precision, while others missed their proverbial peak – that’s life.
Instead of moaning about what we didn’t do this season, let’s remember what we did do. Where did you go and what did you do? Did your lap times drop as planned? Or did you get a chance to put in the miles?
Right now the “winter” racing season is starting on the West Coast, so that’s an advantage for me. Let’s not think about what we could have done. Instead, let’s focus on what we can do. Grab your keys and your gear and get out there while the sun is still shining.
