I’m not one to invite people to ride with me. I spent so much time in years past just using the time on my rides to listen to something — music, a podcast, a book, a ballgame — and working my way through the countryside.
Then I met Chris and we started hanging around on rides. Chris is a cool dude, but what I liked most about him was his willingness to just go. Anywhere. He had no reservations if we came upon an odd track or trail or dirt road. “You want to go this way?” or even just, “I wonder what’s up there?” The answer with him was always, “Let’s go find out.” This was in stark contrast with a guy I met on base riding some hills. He was newer to the area and didn’t have the off-base experience yet, so I offered to show him out. The problem was, I’ve never been afraid to get off the beaten path. Dirt. Gravel. Farm-road cement (which can get a little irregular). It wasn’t long before I noticed he wasn’t too pleased with my choices — too robust for his delicate frame. I got him back to base and never saw him again.
But Chris was never afraid of adventure, and he did all that my routes asked for…and then some.
That’s the kind of person I’ll ride with. That’s why I sing the praises of such a good gravel bike like the Revolt. My routes always start and end on decent roads, but somewhere along the way, you’re probably gonna get dirty. If you don’t like it, well, there are a lot of other people with whom you can ride. Catch up to them.
That’s not a problem with me though. Through Chris, I met Joon, and now that Chris has moved on (living the dream in Germany), Joon and I have been hitting the road together for a few years now, and it’s been just as much fun. Joon doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff at all — although for some reason that I’ll never be able to understand he thinks he needs more than just a Revolt. But Joon and I are quite different in more than just that. I can’t remember a time where I’ve ever invited someone to ride with me (I have had someone ask though). I mean, someone who’s not already in my group. I never hear a guy say “I’d really like to get out and ride,” and then turn around and say, “I’m going out on Saturday. You want to come?” Joon can’t say no. Them: “Hey, I hear you like riding.” Joon: “Yeah. You want to come?” It’s a reflex reaction with him. I can think of at least a half-dozen people I’ve met just through Joon doing that. Even if I tell him, “Hey man, we’re doing some rough stuff on Saturday,” he’s the type who invites a guy who’s riding a road bike on 25s (to be honest though, other then a flat on the way, this wasn’t a big problem).
Still, it’s never been disappointing. I’m old and set in my ways, and wouldn’t naturally meet new people. Joon forces them on me. It’s always turned out pretty good. It works with our style of riding — slow, relaxed, friendly. If one were to watch us closely, you’d see the mix. I might be up front with Joon while someone else is behind us chatting away. I’ll stop for a picture and fall to the back, then end up with whoever’s at the back of the group and start up a conversation with them. I think we all pretty much rotate through several conversations over the miles. It’s one of the nicest things about riding in such groups.
Yesterday, we had our biggest group yet. Seven people. Lots of room for plenty of interesting conversations. Lots of fun. And I put the route together to say goodbye to someone who’s been riding with us for a while — Roy. He wanted some hills, we got some hills. He wanted the railroad trail, we got the railroad trail. I threw in Admiral Yi’s tomb and some inadvertent wildlife, and it was a complete ride. Roy’s on his way back to Washington state, and I hope to see plenty more out of him on Strava, but while he was here we had a lot of fun together. A lot of those pleasant conversations somewhere in the pack…
