Seasons
Growing up in the UK, the seasons were something I often took for granted, or even complained about. Winter, in particular, was something I dreaded and would usually wish away while waiting for spring and summer to arrive. That perspective changed after living in California for four years. Sunshine every day sounds great on paper, but after a while life can start to feel somewhat sterile, with no real shift throughout the year.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still not a huge fan of winter, and after the past two months in the UK of constant rain, I’ve definitely been cursing it. But on the flip side, when it’s sunny every day and summer feels endless, there’s no natural moment to slow down or take stock. That constant stream of sunshine can make you feel like you always need to be on the move. Maybe that comes from growing up in the UK, but whenever I looked outside, saw blue skies, and felt warm temperatures, I felt like I had to be out doing something.
Now you might say, “Listen to him complaining about getting to live in California for a period of time, enjoying amazing weather and riding conditions every day.” And don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly grateful for my time there. It’s where I met my wife of nearly 13 years, made some amazing connections, and lived in an environment that couldn’t have been more different from where I grew up. What I’m really trying to express is the appreciation it gave me for seasons, and how they carry us through the year in a natural, cyclical way.
At times I feel like I could have been a weatherman, I check the forecast so much. My wife, by default, doesn’t even bother checking her phone anymore, she just asks me if it’s going to rain, be sunny, and what the temperature is. I think as bike riders we probably follow the seasons more closely than the average person, always looking for clear skies, low wind, and the perfect riding temperature. It can drive me a little crazy at times, but after 30 years of riding bikes it’s become a daily habit, as routine as brushing my teeth or taking a shower. From past trends, the UK usually gets a couple of good summers in a row before a run of three pretty terrible ones. Fingers crossed that trend holds, last summer was the first good one in a while, so by my standards we’re due another belter this year.
The industry moves with the seasons, too. Winter is always tough sales-wise, but when spring rears its head, things start to look up. It’s another wave of the year that you, no pun intended, have to ride out. What I appreciate most about these shifts, and what I missed living in California, is the way the seasons make you value the brighter months and provide moments of reflection and resilience when you’re not riding dusty trails or getting orders popping into your inbox every other day.
The seasons give us balance, and a life without balance often leads to chaos. I’m learning to lean into the highs and lows, because without one, we cannot have the other. Spring is on our doorstep, and for me and Rune that means more miles, moving forward with projects that have been brewing all winter, and smiles all around.