there are so many religions and cults out there, almost one for every woman and man. obviously there is also one for cyclists: it’s called strava. strava is what gives us purpose, it’s what tells us who we are, and it brings us together with those other believers, via the invisible power of gps receivers.

and sometimes it rewards a very few of us with the fleeting honour of ruling one of the segments where we pitch ourselves against all the others, and those who successfully climb to very the top of ladder by daring to stay off the brakes a little longer, hold that tyre edge against all reason and push those pedals when the legs scream for mercy.

and today nat became the queen of the mountain on icarus. some day another girl will be faster, but today she owns the title of fastest girl down that trail.

so cool.