As we were heading home this morning, we came across two other riders out in the hills overlooking town. We had just descended a steep and technical trail and we were paused at the bottom for a moment as I packed my camera back into my jacket pocket after snapping a few last shots.

The other riders came through the woods from the opposite ridge and pulled their bikes up next to ours as we all smiled and greeted one another cheerfully.

"Beautiful day for a ride," the small-talk commenced.

Everyone agreed as the sound of a small engine suddenly pierced the woods. We all turned and watched a pair of helmeted riders on a 4-wheel ATV putter past us and up the steep trail which we had just descended, making it look rather easy.

"So you guys ride here often?" the other two riders asked us.

"Pretty much every Sunday," I replied. "Though generally earlier in the morning."

"Yeah," Mike added, "our schedule is pretty much dictated by his son now."

"We're out here every Sunday around noon," the other two replied. "Naptime," they added.

As it turned out, the other two riders each had three children of their own. They had been riding together for a while, it seems, and they've built their Sunday ritual around the convenience of the early afternoon naptime of their kids.

I suppose I found this all interesting if only for the fact that everyone else I've spoken to who has a regular Sunday ritual and a family has scheduled their events for early in the morning. The idea is that they get out early and they get home early before anyone notices they're gone.

But I like getting up slowly and having breakfast on the weekends. It's nice to have a bit of time in the morning with everyone before taking on events of the day. Whatever the schedule works out to, however, in the end, I'm confident the bike ride will continue. The particulars are just a matter of personal preference.