Forwards and backwards aren\’t always the opposite. Take a look at today\’s date! As we write dates in the USA — day-month-year — today is 02022020. It reads the same both forwards and backwards, that is, a palindrome.

And, of course, today is also Groundhog Day. Our local rodent\’s hair is standing on end! It\’s bright and clear, and almost calm; wonderful for a bicycle ride.

If you want a bicycle that can be ridden both forward and in reverse, the fixed-gear bicycle comes to the fore. The\”fixie\” is often used for track riding, but I bet it would be great for the two-wheeled equivalent of the floor exercise in gymnastics. If there is any such thing; sometimes my imagination gets a bit over-lively.

I\’m not ambitious enough to seek out a fixie; I\’ll gladly stick to the bicycles that I have. This morning I went out on the road bike, and put in 21.10 miles. There was little wind, for a change; and for an even bigger change it was a tailwind on the way back home.

It was an out-and-back route, as usual. But not exactly forwards and backwards. My road bike persists in only being able to go forwards.

I came home and had my recovery drink, then went to work on this blog. How often do we get a palindrome date like this? It\’s something quite special!