I set out to ride thirty miles alone
I give a solidarity wave to the construction workers picket line
Outside a new tower where the condos start at $2M
It feels good when the striker smiles and waves back at me
Soon I am whizzing down Tigertail
Taking great care as cars pass too close by me
I will not risk passing inside the stopped car ahead
Sure enough he turns right without using his turn signal
The traffic gets lighter towards the end of Tigertail
I gaze at the beautiful peacocks roaming around
Wondering if they scratched any expensive parked cars
They are the kings of the street hooligan bird gangs
Its time for a short sprint along Bayshore Drive
Slowing down as I enter Alice Wainwright Park
Lots of cute young mothers with babies and toddlers
I think back those distant happy days of taking my young kids to the park
Time to pick up speed on Rickenbacker causeway
The spectacular Miami skyline always takes my breath away
I tell myself to stay focused and pedal hard
The bronzed bikini babes on the nearby beach steal my gaze
Now I attack the very steep long climb over the bridge
My legs will ache and my heart will race before the top
I tell myself to push hard stay focussed on the ascent
Trying not to be distracted by the supermodel lycra clad joggers on the path
A short rest coasting down the hill at 39mph
My bike computer flashes drink time
I am not thirsty but decide to obey her orders
I miss chatting to my biking companion Randy
I hope he comes back from his business trip soon
Now turning onto Virginia Key with a welcome rest stop ahead
15 miles into the ride my full bladder is screaming at me
I visit the well maintained restroom and step outside a lot lighter
I take a photo of my parked bike
Ensuring the sun sea and sand are all in the shot
Is it so wrong to gloat to my friends wintering in their cold northern lands
I mischievously hit the send text button without feeling any guilt
One more loop towards the village of Key Biscayne
Passing slower bikers who look at me with disdain
Slow moving traffic is ridiculed by my 22 mph drive by
The drivers are annoyed when I weave through their stationary cars
Another loop back to Virginia Key
Gawking at a photo shoot with supermodels on the beach
I pretend not to look at them
They pretend not to look back at me
The photographer clicks away with abandon
Time to head home faster with a welcome tailwind
Checking my rising heart rate on the computer as I climb the bridge
I decide to ignore my maximum heart rate warning
I wish I was young again
I take the underpass at the end of the causeway
Passing a homeless man sleeping under the bridge
Cursing myself for not stopping to give him some money
He gazes at me as I ride by
I sip on my hydrating electrolyte drink while his belly is probably empty
Why is it that some folks are unable to put a roof over their head
I reach home and the end of my ride
I am tired and sweaty but strangely sad that its over
Looking forward to my next adrenaline fix tomorrow
Hopefully my cycling friends will join me on my next ride
Alone and dripping in the elevator I realize how badly I need to shower
Fortunately nobody else steps into the elevator
My life is split into two distinct parts
I ride and I sweat
I think then I write
Nothing else matters