Thanksgiving is for cyclists

Thanksgiving is my new favorite holiday. Sure, you may think that the last thing obese America needs
is a holiday celebrating her gluttony, but Thanksgiving is the one holiday
corporate America hasn’t figured out how to commercialize. There just isn’t a good way to capitalize on a day that most Americans have
off from work and people gather with family and friends and [try to] enjoy each
others’ company.  I’ll concede that cranberry farmers are an
exception.

If it was possible to capitalize on Thanksgiving, we wouldn’t
see Christmas decorations in stores the day after Halloween. I like to take it one holiday at a time. By virtue of it being a family-oriented day
instead of a market-driven day, Thanksgiving is especially sweet for cyclists. Since most stores are closed, and most people
are home with family, the roads are virtually empty. Even busiest roads in the busiest cities are
eerily quiet. Cyclists are free to
cruise the streets without the fear, foul air and noise of traffic.

After working up an appetite on a Thanksgiving morning ride,
I can’t think of a better recovery meal than a traditional Thanksgiving
dinner.  Turkey is high in protein and sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates and
antioxidants. And gravy tastes better than,
and has the same consistency as, any commercially available specialty recovery
drink.

So Pilgrim, enjoy the only holiday left to you and your
family, but be sure to take some time to get out there and ride.