When the Route Changes You: A Ride Through Lubbock I Didn’t Expect
Most of my bike rides follow familiar paths. I know where the wind will hit, where the traffic is lightest, and even where the pavement is smoothest. I ride through the Texas Tech campus almost daily — but usually along its quieter edges. I avoid the crowded walkways and stick to my set plan. But today wasn’t one of those days. Off Rhythm from the Start The ride was supposed to be a simple 20-miler. I’d had a rough morning, and even though the weather wasn’t especially hot, everything felt off. My neck hurt, my mood was sour, and I just didn’t feel like myself. I almost turned back early. Instead, I kept pedaling. And somewhere on the north end of town, I made a subtle shift — one of those unconscious choices that ends up changing the day. Back Through Downtown — and a Surprise Coming home, I usually swing around the outskirts of downtown Lubbock. It’s a quiet area, not much traffic, not much to see. But today, I rolled straight down Broadway — that old brick road with a bike...
