I laid out my gear on the bed. A pair of Trek gloves that were finally starting to smell like they were getting some use, a pair of Adidas trail-running shoes: two years old and falling apart, a pair of basketball shorts, my water reservoir, a 26” tube, a cheap Giro helmet, and my pride and joy: my Mizzou Cycling jersey. I suited up and went outside to unlock my bike from the only rack protected from the weather. As I swung my leg over the 2004ish Giant P.O.S. I couldn’t help but to feel proud of the little beast that had survived the beating of the mountain biking season.

I am the green banana.

I rode to the “tiger fountain” to meet a few of the riders on the cycling team. Benji was already waiting, I only knew him from the couple of team meetings I had attended. He’s a goofy guy, had pink handlebars. We talked for a bit and he said that he was planning on taking it easy tonight. Good, I thought, maybe I’ll be able to keep up.

It wasn’t long before Biggs and his girlfriend Meghan rode up. I ogled Biggs’ new Felt cross bike and spun it around the fountain before we took off, the cross bikes and I.

We were on the Katy trail. I have faint memories of being towed along on the back of my parent’s bikes and it feels familiar.

The pace was good. I wasn’t having any trouble keeping up with the cross bikes, but I was pushing myself enough that my knees were aching. A good ache, I knew I would get that post-ride sore that I long for.

Biggs and I chatted about the collegiate mountain bike regionals from the weekend past and about our training plans for the off-season. After about eight miles I started to drop from the pack as Biggs sprinted forward. The gravel was sucking my fat tires into the ground, forcing me to shift down in order to keep my tempo. Riding through deep, loose gravel is like running through two feet of water. The cross bikes cut through the obstacle like butter.

I rode up to a pavilion where the guys had stopped. There was a man in full kit and a carrier attached to his back wheel. Benji seemed to know him and they chatted for a while before he took off the way we had come in. The group was trying to decide how much further to go, but we eventually decided to turn around due to the waning sunlight. Instead of taking the lower route, Biggs had us take the upper since the gravel was more washed out and packed down. He could tell that the gravel wasn't my friend.

Eventually, we crossed paths with the carrier again and we slowed as Benji rode along side him and talked. Biggs and I rode toward the back and he pointed out that at any point, this guy could take off, leaving us behind, carrier and all.

About half way back, Biggs said, “You guys ready to wear Jesse out?” to Meghan and Benji. I attacked and got an early lead before I was destroyed. They passed me with a wind that sounded like a car passing by on a highway. I dropped my head and I pedaled has hard as I could, when I looked up, I couldn’t see them anymore.

I want a cross bike.