Back in the saddle again

Yep, just like riding a bike. Isn't that the saying when you haven't done something since you were a kid? Well what's the saying if it is actually a bike that your getting back on is it 'just like falling out of a boat'? As you can see my new partner on the road is a new/used Trek 2200. More about that later I want to tell you about the inaugural 20 mile ride this weekend.
From my house to Ave Maria University is a long stretch of strait road but then again everywhere you go in SW Florida is on a long stretch of strait road to get where you are going. I digress yet again...sorry. It's a 20 mile round trip from my house to the Beautiful Basilica and Piazza in downtown Ave Maria. Looking back upon the decision to ride this distance for the first time on a bike in 22 yrs may seem crazed but I wanted to find out if  I still had it in me, even a little. It was just like falling out of a boat! From the time my foot connected to the pedal until I reached the Piazza was 30 min, against a head wind. Not bad but what happened on the way there and back was very cool.
As I got ready to leave I choose not to wear the ipod as I had thought to do. Good decision, really, because I would have missed the ride and focused on the workout. The first thing I noticed was how responsive my new Trek was. She was light to handle, quick responding to power input and rode as smooth as a babies...well you know. Every stroke I laid down was quickly answered by a satisfying hum of the drive-train as we pushed forward.
Then I noticed some of the little things I hadn't experienced in years, the smell of the earth and trees as the heat of the day was coming upon it; the colors seemed more vibrant being out in the open; I relearned to use my hearing to 'see' on-coming cars and also heard the sounds of farming going on around me, which I must say made me feel very connected.
As I pedaled I could hear the distinct silky smooth sound of the rear derailed as it changed from one gear to another. My breathing was slightly heavy yet still rhythmic and relaxed because of the training those many years ago. Although my position in the saddle is still not dialed-in I was capable of  a round, smooth pedal stroke most of the time. I was STOKED! To celebrate and hydrate I took three 'victory laps' around the piazza and the Basilica of Ave Maria. Although none of the people walking around the shops knew about my personal victory it was enough that I did.
On the way back I knew that my sitz bones were not happy as the saddle yelled up to me 'how do you like me now' !?  I was really hard pressed, or at least my back side was, to stay in the saddle so I would stand on the pedals to stretch out the offended area every so often.  But the strangest thing was about 4 miles to go the fatigue left me and I dropped the hammer and flew to the house. I'll be a son of a gun! I still have life left in my legs after all these years!
 I expect to see you out there, and if I pass you, stop at Peets your buying.