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