I've felt the cycling itch for many weeks now.  Sure, I ride my bike year round, commuting to and from work, but my cycling passions go far beyond that.  

Town is mostly snow free now, robins are showing up, and the sparrow hoard that calls our yard home is busy building nests.  Over winter I keep my road bike on a cycling trainer, spinning in front of the TV or a magazine a couple of times per week.  Warmer temperatures and that cycling itch combined on March 31, however, to cause a change of pace.  I pulled the road bike off the trainer, gave the bike a quick tune in my shop, and took a spin south of town on a ride I call "around the block."  

The ride was delightful.  An overcast and windy day, I could feel the warmth of spring but also those pockets of cold air coming off of vast snow covered fields and slopes.  Feeling the wind fight my efforts as I turned the cranks reminded me that I was outside, free again, on my bike.  The roads have plenty of sand and gravel from winter driving but overall were in good condition.  I saw my first bluebird of the year and watched a northern harrier (aka marsh hawk) circle low over a snow free south facing slope.  My road bike, a simple steel frame Burley, felt fast and light.

We still have lots of skiing ahead of us, but cycling season is here in SW Montana.  In a few weeks we will ride in Yellowstone (roads plowed but still closed to cars), and the mountain bikes will find their way onto those snow free early season trails.  Dog walks become playful rides with the dogs, using the local university campus and in-town trails to practice mountain biking skills.  The shop is transforming from ski tuning to bicycle maintenance.  The magazines on the coffee table are losing the skiing flavor and now tell me what cycling gear to buy and how to get fit in X days.  And I find myself reading online cycling forums (e.g., forums.mtbr.com) and stopping by all the bike shops to see the new products and talk with the bike geeks.  Ah, I love spring!