So, I decided to go for a bike ride today. Just felt like it, you know? The weather looked a bit iffy, but I have this old bike, I call her “Sunny” – not ’cause of the color, she’s actually a dull blue, but because she just feels like a sunny day, no matter what. Most of the time anyway.
Getting Ready for the Spin
First things first, dragged Sunny out from the shed. She needed a bit of air in the tires, always does if I haven’t ridden her for a week or so. Pumped those up, checked the brakes – squeaky, but they work. That’s the main thing, right? I wasn’t planning a massive journey, just a good couple of hours to clear my head. I grabbed my usual stuff:
- A water bottle, half-filled because I’m optimistic about finding a tap.
- My phone, obviously.
- A tiny toolkit, just in case Sunny decided to be less than sunny.
- No fancy snacks, figured I’d just power through.
Pulled on a comfy t-shirt and some shorts. Didn’t bother with all the pro cycling gear. This was about feeling good, not breaking records.
Off We Go, Into the… Grey
Set off, and the first twenty minutes were actually pretty decent. A bit of a breeze, but nothing too wild. I was thinking, “See? Sunny’s working her magic.” I took my usual route, down past the old park, then along the canal path. It’s usually quiet there, just a few dog walkers and other folks trying to escape.
The path was a bit muddy in places from rain we had a few days ago. Had to weave around some puddles. That’s always a fun game. But generally, things were smooth. I was just pedaling, listening to the birds, the usual pleasant stuff. My legs were feeling good, and I was getting into that nice rhythm.
Okay, Maybe Not Always Sunny After All
Then, about an hour in, the sky just decided to open up. Not a gentle shower, oh no. This was proper, heavy rain. The kind that soaks you through in about thirty seconds. My “always sunny” vibe took a bit of a hit, I tell ya. I was miles from any real shelter. There was this one tiny bridge, but about five other people had the same idea, so it was packed.
I just stood there for a minute, getting drenched, thinking, “Really? Sunny, you let me down today!” My t-shirt was sticking to me, water dripping off my nose. It was pretty miserable, not gonna lie. I almost turned back right then. Thought about how warm and dry my sofa was. It’s always tempting, that sofa.
Pushing Through the Wet Bit
But then, I don’t know, something just clicked. I was already wet, right? How much wetter could I get? So, I just got back on Sunny and started pedaling again, right through the downpour. It was actually kind of liberating. Water splashing up, couldn’t see much through the rain on my glasses, but I just kept going.
The rain actually stopped about fifteen minutes later, almost as suddenly as it started. And then, believe it or not, the actual sun came out. Weakly at first, then a bit stronger. The world looked all washed clean and sparkly. That was a proper good feeling. My clothes were still soaked, but I was warming up from the effort.
The Ride Home and a Bit of a Realization
The ride back was much nicer. The air was fresh, and that post-rain smell is always amazing. Sunny, bless her old cogs, just kept rolling along smoothly, no complaints, even after getting a proper soaking. I even managed to find that tap I was optimistic about and refilled my bottle.
Got home, dripping but smiling. Stripped off my wet gear, had a hot shower, and felt fantastic. You know, I reckon that’s why I call her Sunny. It’s not about the weather always being perfect. It’s about how, even when things get a bit rough, or downright soggy, the ride itself, the effort, and just being out there still ends up feeling pretty good. It’s the experience, the whole thing. Yeah, that’s it. Always a sunny outcome, one way or another.
