whole plan was to head up into the forested mountains… but...   Another weekend rolled around, and I’d originally planned to spend it all to myself, just me and the mountains.   These days, the hills are breathtaking—the trees have exploded into greens, yellows, and reds, painting the most glorious autumn you can imagine. My whole plan was to head up into the forested mountains… but it didn’t happen.       The cycling group leader called me and said he was taking a bunch of beginner ladies for a training ride down to the beach and asked if I’d come along to help. Truth be told, my heart was set on the mountains and those colorful trees, but I couldn’t leave the guy hanging. Besides, getting more women and girls excited about cycling is something that really matters to me.So, I said yes.     By 7 a.m. I was standing at the beach entrance, ready to pedal the 7-kilometer stretch to the sea. Only a handful of the girls had shown up, and our leader was stuck on the phone. Apparently, several of the women who’d signed up couldn’t be bothered to drag themselves out of bed on a weekend morning. Honestly, I felt bad for our leader, but more importantly I was ashamed as a woman. He’d given up his own weekend to coach these ladies, and they just bailed without a second thought.     It was freezing; we were all breathing into our gloves to warm our hands. Anyway… a few of us finally set off toward the shore. At the end of the route, the leader went through the basics of cycling with the group. I already knew everything he was saying, but I listened carefully anyway.     When someone takes the time to push you forward, brushing them off is unfair.     On the way back, I caught a distant glimpse of the mountains and those vibrant trees again.It’s not too late. Before the colors fade, before the leaves are gone with the wind, I’m going up there. Promise.