Hi All,
I was away from the computer all day Sunday building some handrails for my dad, and when I returned, I saw this new topic and read your comments in wonder.
I...don't know what to say.
Yes, I do.
I am amazed, embarrassed, deeply touched...and very, very grateful for the chance to interact with and learn from you all in this virtual forum.
It has been a real pleasure following the list for a very long time from afar as an anonymous "guest" before I officially joined in July 2011. On joining, I felt as if I already knew many of you, but following from afar was like a black-and-white photo compared to the vivid technicolor of interacting and exchanging ideas.
I could not have hoped for a nicer welcome from you all, and only wish the forum was not quite so virtual so we could all throw a leg across our bikes, ride out together for a good time, and meet up at the end for a cuppa and treats (like you've shown us so many times, Simeon) and a good chat face-to-face. Lacking that, this is the next-best-thing and it has been an honor and privilege to come to know you. I have learned from and been enriched by every one of you, and many nice friendships have developed off-list via correspondence that started here.
One of the most precious elements of this Forum is the atmosphere of supportive collegiality. So often, cycling IRL is a competitive sport in the wrong ways, and here we know it is about so much more. It is about helping and learning from one another in this delightful little pursuit that involves a marvelous machine with two wheels that can't even stand up on its own without us. If there's a metaphor in there, it is that we can all be a little more together than we can be alone, and by supporting each other we can all go farther. We all get there in our own ways and at our own speeds and there's many ways to get there. We may be separated by continents, but we're all in the same place in the simple joy we share in being on our bicycles.
And it really is true...there's no bad rides.
Thanks, everyone, for making this a wonderful ride for me, through your kind comments, criticisms, input, thoughts, ideas and acceptance.
All the best, truly, to you all,
Dan.
