Right. A polar bear run. The plan was for it to be cold for this run. It is forecast to be 87 degrees F. – one of the beauties of California’s ‘unpredictable’ weather.

I will show up at the diner early to check out the other riders, not to mention the mileages on the bikes that will be going on this ride. That will not be an easy task, given the predilection for electronic odometers, which means that there will probably not be a high-miler in the entire group. But that’s all right, since high-milers wouldn’t consider a run to Big Bear a distance event anyway.

Then why will I be there? Why, for the fun of it, of course.

I will certainly enjoy the costumes worn by one and all: new leather jackets and chaps, brand-name running shoes and boots and gloves and helmets and scarves and sunglasses.

Too cool for this fool.

I will be riding sweep, i.e., if one of the newbies falls down, I must help him (or her) get back up. It will be a daunting task, one not to be taken lightly. It also means that I must watch as the occasional rider, attempting to negotiate several switchbacks, very nearly runs off of the road.

Oh well. It is all in a day’s enjoyment: the sun will be out, the sky will be blue, and I have nowhere else to be at this point in my life.

Consequently, life is good.