You may know that my favorite form of worship is to ride my bike. Sunday morning usually finds me biking while more scrupulous souls are snacking on bread and wine.

So I'm a skeptic. Today was the sort of day that makes even skeptics want to praise the lord. Cold enough to require layers and a jacket, the morning was, nevertheless bright with promise. By the time I reached Steptoe canyon on my route to Wawawai and Pullman, the predicted cloud cover had come in. I had my rain gear with me but I wasn't going to be happy about using it two weeks in a row. And I was already taking off layers.

The clouds dissapated. By the time I reached Wawawai not a one appeared in the sky. I stripped down to one layer--shorts and short sleeves. My watch reported 60 degrees in the sun. I'd made good time. I started up the canyon at 9:45. I was carrying my big handlebar bag stuffed with gear which might explain why I felt a little sluggish climbing the canyon.

At the top I put the tights and the long sleeves back on. Now there was bit of a head wind and it was more like 54 than 60. This is a wonderful temp under clear skies. The sun warms you, and the effort warms you. Riding hard just feels good.

So if there is a God who created this fine cycling day, he must not have wanted me to go to B&L. I stopped to be sociable and have my chain checked. Sean said it was just barely in the red and I insisted that now would be a good time for new chain.

Problem. Tom put the chain on but said the shifting was stiff. I hadn't notice and had attributed the roughness to the size of the bag I was carrying. I figured it was bending the cables and preventing smooth shifting. I hadn't noticed the problem earlier in the week. Nope. I needed a new cable. I asked for Teflon and went to lunch.

When I came back Tom bragged about how I would notice the new shifting. He'd run some lube into something as well.

I noticed. The chain jumped in every gear. Back at the shop Tom said everything worked fine. In the parking lot--chain jump. Tom said he thought the cassette was worn out. About that time Brice stepped in, examined the drive train and suggested the big chain ring was sharked too. "Put the old chain back on and ride it until it jumps too," he said.

Tom put things back together and sold me a badly needed set of new brake pads. He complained about that cable not returning well, but neither of us wanted to take the time to put on a new cable today.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to go to the bike shop. My mastercard got hot from being whipped out of my wallet all the time.

Back on the road, bike shop behind me, new teflon cable making my shifting precise again, I feared I'd used too much time. A heavy cloud hung over Colton. No need to worry. Just a few miles of shady riding and then the descent into the warmth of the valley. This time it was pleasant. I remember coming down into 100 plus temps last summer with Cliff.

So why was I alone? I sent out the invitation didn't I? Where were my Palouse friends who might have ridden out to meet me on such a fine day? Turns out I sent the invitation only to myself. Guess I might still have a friend or two on the Palouse. At least I know they didn't choose not to come meet me.

Kendrick and Bike and Brew opitions for tomorrow. Don't miss these last finest cycling days of the season.