Rollin For A Reason: Post II

6:30 am Saturday morning:

The Edifice Complex, as articulated to the New Yorker's James Surowiecki by Steven Erie, a professor of political science and an expert on development at U.C. San Diego, is the allure of starting something big and sensational at the expense of finishing the project. Erie's term was meant to convey the trap politician's face when thinking about addressing the nation's infrastructure spending deficit. Some of you might have thought I was falling victim to the Edifice Complex.

This short post is to assure you that between my last post and now I have not strayed from the course. While I have yet to put pen to paper I have ridden the velocipede every day that weather allowed, and on the wetter days, took advantage of the stationary bike in my buildings gym. We're on par for the course.

Having said that, the order of the planned posts have shifted, so for now, I will share but a few thoughts.

The week before Spring starts might be the most compelling week of the year. The latter half of every season exposes the dichotomy of anticipation and appreciation. An eternal optimist I look forward at the best attribute of the coming season. Summer begets the sun. Fall is an explosion of colors; as if nature is violently preparing itself for something big. The palatable clear Winter air will yield to unrelenting brisk temperatures that, as a city dweller, have a way of wearing on your energy. But after weathering the temperature, the wind, and grueling omnipresence of weather related lack of comfort, we arrive in the cycle in life where we find ourselves today, the start of Spring.

This being my first year in Chicago I had accumulated a sizable amount of anticipation. As my colleagues and I sheltered at the office for year-end close I was constantly reminded of how Chicagoans take advantage of the warm weather. Finally, the day had come.

From the beginning of the week Chicago had been looking forward to the weekend. As I headed home Friday I had already envisioned how my weekend would unfold. Friday night I got home from work, exercised, and decompressed from a long week of long hours. To start my Saturday I made coffee, read the paper, and set off on the ride that I had been waiting for. As I turned north on the Lakeshore Path I quickly realized that everyone was collectively scratching the same itch that I was. The trail was packed to the brim! Veering around families, dogs, runners, tourists, couples, kids, I rode north, and more north, passing the Nature Museum, through the Lincoln Park zoo, around Millennium Park, and back home. To arrive home meant coming up the elevator and into a hallway overflowing with the smell of cumin, hot pepper, roasted vegetables, sizzlin eggs, and savory meat, for a Mexican style burrito.

Ride bikes, let strangers merge into your lane, make eye contact, care, and have fun.

Or, just listen to Bill Walton:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-walton-is-all-about-the-bike-1461191925