It was no surprise that the best part of my day occurred while riding my bike. Friday morning, I finally got around to putting slicks on my 'cross bike so I can use it as a road bike during the non-'cross season.

The tire changing is fodder for a blog post of its own--let's just suffice it to say that after 45 minutes, a blister and a punctured tube, I threw tires and wheels in the truck and drove down to my LBS and forked over cold hard cash for someone else to do the dirty work for me.

Finally, chores done, dog walked, I suited up for a nice long ride on a sunny February day. By the time I rolled down the driveway, the clear blue had given way to a high but solid layer of cloud. Oh, well. At least it wasn't raining.

Fighting the wind all the way down Marine Drive toward Troutdale, I argued with myself about how far I would go. I planned to ride to Crown Point, 25 miles away, but I haven't done much riding the past few months and the wind was taking its toll. I would still get a good workout if I turned back early.

Pushing on, I left Troutdale and crossed the Sandy River, then turned onto the Scenic Gorge Highway, enjoying a reprieve from the wind. A few miles later, I came upon a large man in sweats pushing an old Trek road bike with a flat front tire. I stopped to offer help--I had tools, patch kit and spare tube. He declined the offer, saying he was almost home, but thanked me anyway. We talked for a few minutes.

Over the course of the past year, this guy has lost over 100 pounds. He rides his bike daily from Troutdale to Lloyd Center and back, an hour 45 each way, he told me. He started this on a bet with a friend and feels so good he could never go back. Oh yeah, he quit smoking, too. He was quite passionate about riding and wishing he knew other people who shared his enthusiasm.

It was the kind of encounter that puts a smile on your face. I was inspired to push on to Crown Point after all.