After School Bike Rides

I used to ride my bike a lot - much more than I do now.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’re probably wondering how that’s possible. In junior high and high school, if I wasn’t working after school, I was probably on my bike. Being on a bike was never about the destination, and most of the time I never knew where I was going. I simply enjoyed the ride. I picked a direction and I would wander. This was easy because I had a bike that embraced both dirt and concrete features as just that - part of the journey.

After living in the Bay Area for the past 6+ years, I’d lost that sense of wander when it came to biking. I’ve spent so much time on the same roads, I can visualize every twist and turn and found it harder and harder to get out of bed in darkness and dress for a ride.

Recently, I picked up a new bike that more eagerly embraces a journey off road. Part of me wanted to explore a new style of riding and a part of me wanted to go back to my roots of simply getting lost. Inspired by some beautiful adventures that Tyler and Naz have been on lately, I decided to get lost and catch a sunset in the Headlands last week. I had snacks, layers, and lights, but no agenda or clear sense of where I was going.

It was the first time in years I felt that same feeling from high school. I wasn’t on the bike for any purpose or direction, I was simply out there to enjoy the ride.