Do you ride the Katy?

I get this question from time to time, when my wife or someone introduces me to her friends, acquaintances who are not familiar with my affliction. Not many people truly understand the underbelly, the "culture" of competitive cycling. Often the topic of cycling comes up with women, my wife or daughters friends, because my legs look better than theirs do. Other times the discussion of cycling is just a filler for dead dialog. It goes like this: "Uh, so, you ride bikes huh? Do you ride the Katy?"

Uh, well.....

Anyone asking me about bikes will get an ear full. You see, my life is all about riding bikes. It has changed me for the better. I wouldn't be who I am today without riding bikes, without my collection of bicycles hanging in my garage to remind me of who I am. I have parts for bicycles in the basement, my car, my office. I have old wheel sets, gears, tires, tubes, brakes, chains, lube, tools, spokes, cogs, old race numbers in every corner of the basement. In my laundry are countless jerseys, some ripped and tattered, stacks of winter garments used for sub 20 degree training during the winter months. I have pictures of cycling around me at all times. I collect pictures of me, cycling. See how cool I am?

Fact is, I would rather ride bikes than anything else and often can't wait to plan my next bike ride before unpacking the car from that days ride. Bauer (nicknamed little buddy) is always good for a call after a particularly hard ride, saying" Hey man, I just wanted to tell you that you shredded my legs off out there today". I usually respond by saying: "Thanks Mark, you liar, you will crush me at the race, like you always do, year after year."

I have bikes for all types for all occasions, 7 right now that are in complete assembly. I have a Cannondale 613 racer, an Independent Fabrications cyclocross race bike, a Surly Karate Monkey Singlespeed 29er, a voodoo Dambala 29er, a retro Trek track bike, a Santa Cruz Superlight full suspension, a Huffy Street cruizer (out on loaner), there are more bikes "in parts" on the basement floor, I could put together two or three more bikes out of parts, as most of my bike junkie friends can do. Local race promoter Rich Pierce is a master of Frankenbiking, he is a genius.

Hey, there are those that understand the sport and those that kind of do, most could care less. They are the ones who throw beer cans at us on Clayton Road. Message to the "cagers" (automobile drivers), don't honk at us, simply yield our right to be on the road too. We are not the idiots, you are. It is the law.

So no, I don't really ride the Katy, not unless I am doing the whole thing from start to finish. Not unless I am on a trifecta, a thirty five mile hammerfest in St. Charles County, a combined trail ride using the Katy Trail as a connector to Lost Valley, Matson Hill and Klondike Parks, starting at the Mound, in Weldon Springs. Not unless I am doing an 85 mile Time Trail to Marthasville and back to one up my bro's, who think I am at home on the couch with a jar of mayonnaise and a pound of bacon.

Nope, I won't ride the Katy...not unless you'll promise to let me take you out there for a ride, give you a taste of what I have gotten from the sport. I want to see the look on your face, the kind of smile and exhilaration only found when acting like a kid again. I'll ride the Katy with you, on just-the-right-bike and a big smile on my face too.