Cycling season 2018 kicked off

2018 will go down in almanacs of meteorology as another year when the weather made a sudden shift from late winter (it snowed on Easter Monday, 2 April) to full-blown spring (two days later in the afternoon temperature topped +22C). Quite a shock for a body nearly sick of never-ending winter, yet a huge reason to be cheerful. So last balmy Sunday with temperature peaking +23C was a perfect day for a cycling shake-down.

My wish was not to strain my muscles and to cover a distance no longer than 50 kilometres. We chose to take the underground to the northern end of the line (the last carriage of the train was chock full of cyclists and their two-wheel equipment) and from there set off towards Kampinos forests. To the right, our first stop, the Opaleń clearing. It was just past midday, sun was shining strong. Families with children and dogs roamed around, some enjoyed picnics, some made celebrations. Kind of noisy place, yet faraway from fumes and the usual city groan.

The temperature was nearly summer-like, yet the sight of forest reminded it was still very early spring. Fallen leaves had not decomposed, trees had not gone leafy, some plants showed first buds. Today, after nearly two weeks of spring, with over +20C day-time highs (+26C on 9 April 2018 is a rarity as for the first decade of April) spring is in overdrive, though some precipitation would definitely come in useful.

It was half past two in the afternoon. Rest assured, I was not staring at the sun, just holding my smartphone to catch the sun shining through leafless trees. We were sitting on an alley-side bench, basking in the sun and filling our stomachs up with oranges and apples. A lovely place to hide away from the daily grind, awaiting the next morning in the corpo-world.

After meandering through the forest and having spotted we had ridden just less than 30 kilometres, we decided to take a detour via Łomianki and Las Młociński. Here, the suburb north-west of Warsaw. Streets were nearly empty, the traffic was sparse, as this was another trade-free Sunday. Suburbs are a lovely place to live in, yet most have one significant drawback, namely daily commutes to work or school might be a nuisance, if decent transport links do not exist. By saying “decent” I mean railways, since buses will get stuck in traffic jams along with cars, while being car-dependent is not a solution, especially if family memebrs need to rely on a driver. Needless to say, properties in well-connected suburbs are priced to reflect the quick commutes to the city centre.

We reached Metro Młociny and still had less than 40 kilometres behind us, so we resolved to ride along ul. Kasprowicza, through Stare Bielany. As we waited for traffic light to turn green, I snapped the hosuing block, built in 1950s when this part of Warsaw was developed. Old-style, heavy stalinist edifice gives off the climate of this estate built for industrial workers. In the vicinity of that place one can spot marvellous terraced houses, making up a more exclusive part of the district. Worth mentioning this part of Warsaw used to have poor transport links to the city centre until the last section of underground line was opened in 2008.

On Monday I actually felt the first ride, but not as I had expected in my thighs or in my backside, but in my arms and down my neck. Yet they were sore just for a few hours and then the aches eased up.

This weekend the weather was also perfect. Made the most of it by cleaning my car and my father’s car and helping my parents with garden works (yesterday) and cycling (today). Hope the next whiff of winter is no earlier than in November 2018.