Traction

 

Expressionism / Jacoba van Heemskerck/ Harbor Scene

Most everyone I know is having a spot of bother.  It seems to me that the world is stripping away security from folks who have spent their whole life chasing security.  I feel bad for folks, because it looked as though folks might be rich and their lives planned out enough that they could coast.

Just kinda seems to me though that coasting is only an option on flat terrain where you have worked up a head of steam.  It is also possible if you are on a gentle downhill.  

The current forecast seems to me to be a serious downslope for the next little while.  Now, let’s use a bike as a mental model.  Coasting is possible on the flat when you have built up a pretty good head of steam.  But if the terrain is flat you gotta start pumping again.  

The best is a gradual downslope.  Work your way up to the crest of the hill and see a long slow downslope and you nearly always get a smile on your face.  You get to put some serious mileage down with a minimum of effort.  The breeze cools you, life is just fine.

But let's say for a moment that you come around a corner of what appeared to be a pleasant session of coasting and you see a sign announcing a steep and curvy section coming up.   20% grade and curvy.  Well backaroos, I don’t know about you, but that is a butt-pucker in a serious way.

Kinda makes you want to keep an eye peeled for signs, Doesn’t it?