Mt. Fuji and Fall Cycling Blues

photo by C. Rayne

About now cycling becomes a bit more of a labor of love than the daily pleasure it is when the days are long and evenings warm.

When late fall rolls around, the commute to and from work occurs with LED lights blazing, booties on over cycling shoes, and insulated gloves on to fight off the chill. An evening that several weeks before would have begged for longer rides, now seems to pull us inside for a warm meal. Seasonal colds and H1N1 threaten to take us off two wheels for longer. This is when discipline and inspiration play a key role in determining whether we stay fit through the winter or give up some of our legs over the colder months.

In Tokyo/Yokohama we’re lucky as it never gets too cold to ride. I spoke with a bike commuter in Alberta, Canada this past summer and asked him if he commutes year round. He said that he draws the line at -18′ C and by comparison our occasional zero degree mornings seem tropical. Nonetheless, its hard sometimes to put in the clicks. Previous weekly totals get shelved in favor of more sedentary projects – excuses are easier to come by, work get’s busy and things “need” taking care of. In reality we are what needs taking care of. I’m not the same person if I haven’t been out for ride but I forget that sometimes.

Not long ago, something in the air made it feel like a very good idea to go for a bike ride after work. One of the people I cycle with said, “we need to get out as we won’t have many more days like this.” We got out for a casual easy tempo ride with heart rates well below aerobic thresholds but this was a ride for the soul not so much the lungs and legs.

At the top of one of my favorite training hills we rounded the corner to see Mt Fuji for one of the first times this fall. It’s only 100k away but it’s obscured by humidity during the  summer so seeing it there with sunset blazing around it reminded me that the fall chill comes with pleasures all its own. While much of the ride may need to occur under cover of layers of nylon and darkness, there are reasons to turn back around after work and get out. Its good for the legs and good for the soul.

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