Life is ferociously short, and many of us ride because we want to be out and as close to the real world as possible. To pass things in a way that let's us absorb them, see hear and smell the details.
I like riding back form Florence and to feel the 'back to the barn syndrome' hit at around milepost 45 and to feel myself quicken the pace more then I though I could.
To ride up from the thick atmosphere of a Western Oregon valley of tall thick trees to the colder, thin air of the spindly, smaller trees by lava beds and mountains and then to sail back down into the pregnant and humid warmth racing the water of the MacKenzie River heading into the home stretch.
He died while living life as fully as possible. I saw this happen before in a bike race without travelling road closure when a cyclist was hit by oncoming traffic. It was something I never will forget seeing.
Some of my friends have been hurt in recent years and have hung up their bikes. Russell Morton, coop member of Burley design, best local racer in the mid seventies, race promotor for many years of the Tour Willamette.
Robert Craft, (Crafty Craft) one of the smartest and most creative racers I ever met. He runs one of the Paul's Bike Shops in town.
I am very glad they lived. Seeing hurt and near death makes you really appreciate life all that much more.
Your friend lives on in the memories of you and his friends and family, especially when they remember what they shared with him when they do what they did with him.
I had learned this more about myself in all areas...
.I have biked most of my life.. but found past 15 years or so I prefer kayaking, sailboarding over large morotorized craft.
would rather do ANYTHING outside (yes even love lawnmowing & gardening) than MOST THINGS inside.
Your discussions with several others re: bikes are fun to follow. I have had one bike with Litespeed - guess my best bike ever in most respects - .."modified full load" campy to the hilt, carbon fiber, titanium.....
I traded it for some green that was at the time needed a whole lot more than a 10th "good" bike..