"The Saugatuck" is my weekly meditation. The Saugatuck is the longest standing ride in my repertoire of bike routes. I do it every week. When I don't do it I feel empty, antsy and agitated (even if I've done a totally different ride). I could liken it to an obsession. But, very little else comes close to recapturing my mental clarity than this 20 mile loop.
Why you ask? Or if you didn't ask..let me tell you why anyway!
I think we can all agree there are many forms of meditation. All meditation is is the act of something that brings you great focus and peace, just done in repetition long enough that it becomes a natural way to bring your mind into zen.
First of all, the drive. There's nothing like leaving the noise and bustle of southern Connecticut and Fairfield county. Winding your car up and up curvy roads, rolling hills and charming farms and then finishing with the narrow twists and turn that wind along the breathtaking Saugatuck reservoir. I drive like I'm flying. I'm flying fast and the stresses and worries are blown out the window along with the sound of my Pandora shuffle and my terrible singing to it.
Second of all, the spot. If you've ridden long enough you know that the choice of where to ride is only as important as the choice of where to start and therefore to end (and celebrate) the ride. Here, we can sit on the trunks of our cars and sip our post ride beer in peace while looking off towards the distant water through the trees. And should the mood strike us, we can walk down the trail to the water and sit on the rocks until the full moon comes up and reflect its bright light down on the water. Magnificent.
Third of all, the ride. This ride is like a song. It's a beautiful orchestration of uphills and downhills. It's got a long steady climb to start..but not the kind that has you digging your heals down but rather the one where you can (with practice) find that perfect gear and pedal smooth and efficient up to the top and around the corner and still have energy for the 15 miles you haven't pedaled yet. It winds through town and small bustles of life. It curves through residential streets and down a long section of horse pastures. There's a section of short and sharp rollers where there's not a house in site for a couple miles. Lastly, it returns to civilization and sends you sailing down a hill that is that perfect grade where you feel like you're flying but not quite so steep to where you're terrified. Sometimes I feel like sticking my arms out but my mind is so absolutely focused on every dip and crack in the road that I have space to focus on doing very little else.
And that I think is the point after all. Cycling takes so many senses. You must be aware of your gear, keep an ear and eye for obstacles, manage each pedal stroke and position yourself just right. When you find a route that you can do without even thinking about what turn to take or what road to follow then you can use every single one of your senses to do all of those things. And on top of that you get beauty and a treasure of different terrain to train on...it's something to truly be thankful for.
Here's to hoping you find your weekly meditation, whatever it might be.
