Nature Can Be So Cruel
I am an easygoing guy. A live-and-let-live type. I find the good in others and often donate to worthy charities.
But right now, I am full of righteous indignation. The deserving target of my withering anger? Mother Nature.
The reason is simple. She knew — oh, she knew all right — that today I’d be swamped with work. She knew that tomorrow would be no better. She knew that I’d be so freaking buried for a couple days that I wouldn’t see daylight ’til Wednesday.
And so what did she do? I’ll tell you what she did. She kicked off Spring here. Big time. It’s about 68 degrees right now, and by afternoon it’ll be in the 70’s.
There is no better temperature for riding, and no stronger draw to a cyclist than a beautiful Spring day after a long, cold, dark winter.
But there is no possible way for me today. And she’s rubbing my face in it.
I have just one question, Mother Nature: Why? Why are you torturing me this way? What have I done to you to warrant this merciless torturing?
OK, the above is technically three questions, but I consider the second question to be just an amplification of the first, and the third to be a rhetorical flourish more than an actual question. So it’s still just one question.
And I’d like an answer, Ms. Nature. Preferably in the form of a sudden cloudying up, followed by snow flurries and strong gusts of cold wind. That would go a long way toward making me feel better about being cooped up today.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Comment by Fat Tuna | 03.24.2008 | 8:12 am
I completely understand…it seems all too often, the sunny warm days are experienced only through the office window…my sincerest sympathy…
Comment by Jennifer | 03.24.2008 | 8:15 am
As I sit here at my computer and look out at the bright blue skies and warming temps, over the still snow covered land around me, I totally sympathize. Up here in ski resort country, it takes longer before we can get out – but boy am I jonesin’ for a ride! To heck with skiing! Looks like a weekend drive to Grand Junction is in order!
http://cyclingeurope.wordpress.com
Comment by Lisa B | 03.24.2008 | 8:15 am
Come back to Seattle. It was beautiful on Saturday, rained small furry animals on Sunday and feels like mid winter today. No railing against the gods here. Oh no. Never. Nope. Not at all.
Comment by Shiffon | 03.24.2008 | 8:26 am
Dude- I hear you.
I’m sitting inside holed up by a last ditch attempt at winter- 0 Degrees, or less. Icy roads. The Easter chocolate has already been consumed, and now I feel like a fat whale.
When will it end??!!
Comment by Boz | 03.24.2008 | 8:35 am
Yes, Hillary should quit.
Comment by cheapie | 03.24.2008 | 8:42 am
tell me about it. i picked up my superfly on thursday…and we got a foot of snow on friday. gahh!
Comment by Paul | 03.24.2008 | 8:48 am
I rode 93.7 miles yesterday and it was 33°F when I started and 50°F with a strong cold wind blowing from the north when I finished.
Two weeks ago it was in the 70’s.
I’m tired of the wild weather swings.
Comment by mbonkers | 03.24.2008 | 9:00 am
Mother Nature hears your cry.
And will promptly dump some snow when you are again able to ride…
Comment by JEnn | 03.24.2008 | 9:04 am
Mother Nature, Please I beg you not to prolong winter any longer in NH. It’s late March and officially spring but cold, oh so cold….
my australian bones were not cut out for new england winter. bah.
Comment by Denise | 03.24.2008 | 9:25 am
Do you think it would help if we sent her a petition?
Comment by cyclostu | 03.24.2008 | 9:28 am
I hate to be the one to say this, but we’ve had temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees for about the past month and a half here in sunny Florida and the riding weather has been fantastic. Although, I may rail against Ma Nature in July/August when it feels like 110 degrees with 97% humidity. Now THAT’S torture.
Comment by Yeagermeister | 03.24.2008 | 9:34 am
Methinks you could have gotten in a good 7 minute ride had you not wasted your time writing some freakin’ blog.
It’s 50 with a chance of rain here in Central VA. I’m still going riding!
Comment by The D | 03.24.2008 | 9:37 am
Not sure about the weather, but I do know this is the guy I need to start drafting:
http://tinyurl.com/2uqtea
Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 03.24.2008 | 9:42 am
cyclostu – I’m glad you said it and not me. :-)
Although we are are having a cool down. Supposed to be in the upper 30s in the morning with a high in the mid-60s. And yes, I do get out and ride in our occassional 30 something mornings (and will tomorrow morning) but definitely not my preference. Can’t imagine riding in snow, but I’d love to try it some day.
Comment by notsofasteddie | 03.24.2008 | 9:47 am
FC.It’s no consolation,but the weather’s exactly the same here in the UK…Damn cold & windy!Most of the guys I know haven’t been out at all this year.I’m a newbie and I’ve managed some road time since I bought the bike in Feb.Was doing ok too until I fell off,(yeah I didn’t unclip quick enough!) & knocked the front mech out of wack.Been back to the LBS twice but still can’t get it right.
Hi to everybody out there.Love the site
Comment by Big Mike | 03.24.2008 | 10:00 am
I will sell my left kidney and my right nut for some prolonged sunshine, some tepid weather and light winds from the South.
I rode on Good Friday and swear that the wind was coming out of 3 points of the compass and always in my face. Easter Sunday was less windy but still required you to dress like a Russian Kosak.
When will it end?
You watch, in the middle of August, everyone will be complaining about 90 F temps and high humidity and the river of Duck Butter that flows down your back into your shorts.
It’s truely a no-win situation.
Comment by KanyonKris | 03.24.2008 | 10:05 am
I, too, have been vexed by Mother Nature’s whims and collisions with my schedule this Spring so I feel your pain. But don’t be calling down bad weather! My MTB is in my car and I’m hitting (you may want to stop reading now) the BST after work today. Perhaps you can take solace that you are the sacrificial lamb these two days so others may ride. Ya, that wouldn’t comfort me either.
Comment by Lazy Bike Commuter | 03.24.2008 | 10:12 am
Well, did you at least ride to work?
Comment by Mocougfan | 03.24.2008 | 10:16 am
Hey Mr. MeMonster…she was making it sunny for me. HUZAH!!!!!!!
Comment by bikemike | 03.24.2008 | 10:21 am
soooooo,
the question to everyone is: if you had to pick an actress to play Mother Nature, who would it be?
Minnie Driver? too young? she does a pretty good job of the flip-flop personality on The Riches.
Comment by axel | 03.24.2008 | 10:28 am
I think it is a matter of screwed up priorities.
I quote:
(insight into my day job: one of my most important tasks is to see how my company’s customers like our website and how they wish it could be better. in other words, i watch over people’s shoulders for a living.)
seems to me, people will be ok not being watched for a day. I am sure any reasonable boss would understand this. And remember, it is easier to get forgiveness than permission, so quick, head on out for a little spin.
Comment by eclecticdeb | 03.24.2008 | 10:47 am
Well, here in the Bay Area, it seems we’ve survived another brutal California winter. (heh) Absolutely freaking beautiful weather this past weekend, and I was unable to ride. Oh the insanity.
For some reason, my 14 year old son wanted to continue our 12 year tradition of going to the Zoo on Easter. No matter how many hints I dropped about riding, he didn’t budge. I’m trying to figure out how I can ditch work today, but this damn “work thing” is getting in the way. So I feel for you.
Comment by Clydesdale | 03.24.2008 | 11:24 am
Fatty, if it helps consider the less fortunate.
Uuuugh!
Enough already. don’t get me wrong. I love XC Skiing but we’ve been doing it since November and have had 13′6″ of snow this year. Normal daytime temps this time of year are 5-8 degrees Celsius and getting warmer. Today I ski’d and it was -18 c.
As I drove to the ski trails the road we usually climb on a beautiful road loop had a good 15 ft snow bank blocking it.
I’m ready to snap the misery sticks at this point and my trainer now looks like a medievil stretching rack!!!
Can you ask Ms. Nature to send some warm sunshine our way please!!
Comment by inde | 03.24.2008 | 11:45 am
Be grateful. It is nicer outside than you can even imagine.
Comment by Mrs. Nature | 03.24.2008 | 11:57 am
I really do not appreciate your rants against me Mr. Fatty McFat Fat. You have now just guaranteed that not only will it be nice tomorrow and Wednesday, but that the scenery will be amazing and that all your friends will get a free day to ride without you. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
sincerely,
Mother Nature
And the IP will give me away :(
Comment by graisseux | 03.24.2008 | 12:18 pm
I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that winter will be back in full force on Wednesday. The forecast is for rain turning into snow on Thursday with much lower temperatures for the next several days. I never let these warm days in early spring trick me anymore; I know it’s just Mother Nature playing mind games.
Comment by BurkeInTheOzarks | 03.24.2008 | 12:25 pm
Yeah, after a near-perfect weekend, weather-wise, it is yet another beautiful Spring day again today – 54°F and sunny. However, so much of the time, the best weather falls during the work-week.
I have always pushed for a sliding weekend – take off on which ever days the best weather occurs. I’ve never had an employer accept my proposal, yet…
Comment by Mark | 03.24.2008 | 12:26 pm
I’ve got the opposite situation going on here in St. Louis.
I had the entire morning and afternoon free, yet it’s overcast and in the high 40’s.
Ugh.
Comment by Alaskan Dave Down Under | 03.24.2008 | 12:50 pm
Yeah, the weather sucks down here too. The other day it had the temerity to cool down to 90 F in the shade! Horrible, I tells ya…
This morning I woke up to the weirdest site: Tiny wet blobs of something was falling from the sky, AND the sky wasn’t blue for some reason. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll pass.
Comment by joel | 03.24.2008 | 12:52 pm
I feel some of your pain. My work day takes place in the dead center of a giant cinder block building that used to be a bank central facility so it has almost no windows. I have a picture from the Icefields Pky so I don’t forget that there is a world beyond pandemic influenza (I’m a planner for a local health department). Only problem is that when I get off work and get ready to bike home it’s through the urban decay that is Baltimore. Someday (soon) I hope to move west, back to where there are mountains to ride and at least the possibility of a few miles without MTA buses.
Comment by neilro51 | 03.24.2008 | 1:02 pm
I got 75 miles in last week, temp’s in upper 30’s low 40’s with a bit of wind. Just have to thumb your nose at her. I try to encourage spring every chance i get. Iowa is getting the never ending winter also.
Comment by Bravo Delta | 03.24.2008 | 1:10 pm
80deg in SoCal… Shame that some people have to live with snow.. I did it for four years in AK and vowed never again… That place was like planet Hoth in the Empire strikes Back..
Comment by Phil | 03.24.2008 | 1:47 pm
Snow in Pittsburgh today… choose your poison: warm and rain, or snow and cold.
Comment by blinddrew | 03.24.2008 | 2:00 pm
Right in the middle of a cold snap here. brought on by me of course, right on cue with getting my motorbike back on the road…
Still, at least i’m not sitting here thinking “i wish i was out cycling…”
Comment by je | 03.24.2008 | 2:01 pm
Screw work.
Go riding and work at 2 a.m. if you must.
Comment by Lars | 03.24.2008 | 2:11 pm
Everyone at work blames it on me. I rode the bike to work for the first time this year on Thursday, so we had 14″ of snow on Friday.
2nd snowiest winter ever, and it’s all ’cause I really, really don’t want to ride the trainer anymore.
Comment by daemonv | 03.24.2008 | 2:18 pm
Update on Lisa B’s statement: “and feels like mid winter today”. The collective smugness of your readership in Seattle inspired the unthinkable to happen: the weather got better. It is now bright out, 50F, 34% humidity (Seattle in March?).
Comment by garmon | 03.24.2008 | 2:30 pm
Yeah I checked out Provo Canyon for you during lunch today. It was AWESOME!!!
Comment by Maria | 03.24.2008 | 2:53 pm
If you are so lucky, that your office has a window, look out sometimes and enjoy if it is daylight! There are going to be a lot of nice weekends to bike, hopefuly even this miserably humid East coast, where I live now.
Comment by Walter | 03.24.2008 | 5:49 pm
Fatty,
I feel your pain, but… here in the slice of paradise they call New England, this past weekend we were struggling to get into (not out of) the 40s. Thoroughly sick of the trainer and the TV in the basement, I bundled up and headed outside yesterday anyway, since at least the snow and ice are almost all gone…
Hang in there!
Comment by lt col tim | 03.24.2008 | 7:02 pm
umm… 80 degrees and sunny again! Living in Hawaii is really all that it is cracked up be. Baaahhhh! Don’t hate me, I grew up in New England.
BTW…anyone familiar w/ riding and riding weather in El Paso? Your tax dollars are sending me there next. Hot is ok… went to school in AZ to get away from the cold.
Comment by M2 | 03.24.2008 | 7:23 pm
It was 84 and sunny today here in Tucson. A great time of year to live and ride in southern Arizona. However, 5am dawn patrols rides are just around the corner.
Comment by Born4Lycra | 03.24.2008 | 7:34 pm
We’d kill here for rain in South Australia. Just a few days non stop would be perfect. Rivers drying up, as are the lakes and reservoirs – everybodies gardens going brown under the water restrictions. We have not had a proper winter for a couple of years. SEND US YOUR RAIN!
Comment by Dobovedo | 03.24.2008 | 8:07 pm
I’ve got a nice simple two word solution for you.
NITE RIDE!!!!!!!!
If it was that warm during the day, sounds like awesome night riding weather?
I’m having a hard time summoning up any sympathies… it’s been 10-20 degrees below normal for three straight months here, except for the 30-40 degree upswings that last 24-48 hours, but where it rains so long and hard there’s flooding and ya can’t ride anyway.
Comment by UtRacerDad. | 03.24.2008 | 8:19 pm
I counted more bikes on the provo parkway trail today than I had seen in the last two weeks, seems that the biking season has begun.
Comment by Amy | 03.24.2008 | 8:41 pm
Must be nice – it’s in the 30s here with a cold wind.
Comment by Little1 | 03.24.2008 | 11:10 pm
I hear you!
It rained and was miserable for the whole weekend and most of the week. Mother Nature knew, she just knew..
1. We had started a new training program.
2. A friend had just upgraded his bike and got new kit.
3. There was a big music festival over the weekend.
3 Guarantees it’s gonna rain!
At least she got over it just in time for the last 2 days of the long weekend!
Comment by Mike Roadie | 03.25.2008 | 2:17 am
Yes, living in FL is great. Yes, I rode both Saturday and Sunday. But, I came to ATL on Monday in South FL short sleeves and it was 37 degrees last night!!!
Hey, I passed $3,000 for the LAF yesterday!!!!
Please help us out….and the 10 million Americans living with Cancer:
http://bayarea08.livestrong.org/mike
Comment by JDannettel | 03.25.2008 | 6:25 am
I feel bad for you Fatty. I live in Tucson and for about the last three weeks its been on a steady warming trend where its been 70 to 80 degrees on a very regular basis. I know that it will be different in a couple of months when the high temperature is steadily rising when the 70s and 80s seem like a distant memory but right now AZ rocks!!!
Comment by Swedoz | 03.25.2008 | 12:51 pm
After the mildest winter on record here in Sweden it dumped one foot of snow after spring has officially begun!
Comment by Merckx | 03.25.2008 | 1:03 pm
Four words – Yo Soy La Nina. Which means I am the Nina.
Trackback by Mother daughter lesian incest. | 07.20.2008 | 6:17 pm
Mother daughter incest mother.
Mother daughter incest. Mother daughter incest fiction.