Racing with the Dark Horse

Out we set. Clad in our sleek lycra. Slick wheels cutting the crisp morning air. We were a pack of crazies on a mission to ride.

The pace was at warm up level. But I had ridden with these guys before, and I knew what could happen. I was alert, and I was sure to keep on that last wheel. No dropping this babe so early on.

A few moments in, I noticed a rider behind me. I asked him if he was with this group. Yes, he replied. I asked him if he rode often. He shrugged and casually replied…oh, sometimes. I noticed him dropping back a bit, and tried to keep him in sight. But I had my own concerns of keeping with the pack.

Warm up continued. Until we hit a straight stretch, and we would be going straight for a while. Then, boom! It hit. The pace increased rapidly. I laid it down. I was determined. There was no way I could keep with the pack, but I was determined not to let them out of my sight. Next thing you know, the mysterious stranger was on my wheel. So on we went. I pushed as hard as I could. I struggled. But, I could see them. After what felt like a really long time, the mysterious stranger smoothly shifted in front of me. Oh, my turn to draft! Very quickly we fell into a smooth stride. It became evident that this mysterious cyclist who casually claimed to ride sometimes actually rode all the time. What a smooth rider. I could interpret his every move, and felt myself completely in tune with his stride. Our pace increased. And soon it took all I had to stay on his wheel. My god. How fast were we going? The adrenaline rushed through my veins into my core. My whole being was electrified and my legs weren’t stopping for anything. Could it be? Was the gap between us and the pack closing? As we slipped past the group, smooth as silk, I took a sideways glance and made eye contact with my husband. I believe I had a bit of a smug look on my face. This was one of the few moments in my life when I felt really cool!!!

It had to happen. They let the hammer down, for real. My moment was over. But I continued to push onwards. And soon enough we were at the end.

The way back was difficult. I had used up so much energy on the race out.  But I laid it down as much as I could. The mysterious cyclist had disappeared, apparently to go onwards to complete an astronomically long ride.

As I lay on my bed, completely useless from the effort, I giggled with glee as I read a note from my new Facebook friend, the mysterious cyclist. He was thanking me for helping him out in the ride, and complimenting my pace. What a true professional.

It turns out that he is known as the Dark Horse. And, he doesn’t just ride sometimes. All I know is that I had the time of my life riding on his wheel.

I truly believe that in life it is the moments that we completely put ourselves all in that we experience the most amazing things.  Thank you Dark Horse for pushing me past my limits!!

{Would you like to learn more about the Dark Horse?  Stay tuned…}