T-minus and one day until I depart.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Turkey in 2011
I leave for a three week bicycle tour of Turkey on Thursday. I'm traveling with my girlfriend Sherri Pie, which means I'm leaving Adrian to play bachelor for a few weeks. We're trying to decide who will have more fun. Thoughts?
Monday, June 22, 2009
the big aha
I keep waiting for some big epiphany from my 1407-mile bike ride. A lesson from soul searching, a glimpse into the reality of our society, a new guiding principle that will lead me throgh life--something.
But the only thing I learned is that I love riding bikes. Three weeks of ten hours a day pedalling and I can't wait to ride again.
I saw a job advertisement for Google to ride a camera-carrying bicycle around college campuses to help the company track video footage for its website. I could do that, I thought. I'd love to do that, I thought. Think of all the places I could go and how strong my legs would be. Worrying about getting an office with a window would be a story only my dad would tell.
Many people asked me why I rode so far- was it to raise money, bring attention to a serious cause, prove myself after some terrible life crisis. Nope. I just rode my bike because it sounded like fun.
And now that I am home I look at photos from my trip I am amazed I did it. I am also delighted how much fun I had challenging Adrian to games and stopping for mid-day dips in the river. And for me, the big lesson is the bicycles are meant for adults just as much as kids.
Maybe more.
But the only thing I learned is that I love riding bikes. Three weeks of ten hours a day pedalling and I can't wait to ride again.
I saw a job advertisement for Google to ride a camera-carrying bicycle around college campuses to help the company track video footage for its website. I could do that, I thought. I'd love to do that, I thought. Think of all the places I could go and how strong my legs would be. Worrying about getting an office with a window would be a story only my dad would tell.
Many people asked me why I rode so far- was it to raise money, bring attention to a serious cause, prove myself after some terrible life crisis. Nope. I just rode my bike because it sounded like fun.
And now that I am home I look at photos from my trip I am amazed I did it. I am also delighted how much fun I had challenging Adrian to games and stopping for mid-day dips in the river. And for me, the big lesson is the bicycles are meant for adults just as much as kids.
Maybe more.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
How am I
I have been thinking again and have come to understand that we should stop believing what we hear and read. When we rode we followed the book Biking the Pacific Coast. It's a great book that tells you the route to take, the places to stay and the stores and need to haves along the way. Another thing it does is tell you the degree of difficulty during the ride. It did a great job of scaring the shit out of you when it came to some hills. About half way through the ride and when all my knee required was more Advil, a morning chocolate donut and a little Bengay (How long?) I found that the book was creating a false sense of fear.
I think it was said that the only thing to fear is fear itself. If I would have paid more attention in school instead of being afraid to succeed I am sure I could have told you who said that. But Dr. Phil isn't reading this and I don't think you have a degree so let's move on.
So let me get to the point already. If you don't check, call, go look or find out for yourself you can't be sure that what you hear is real.
The book said the hills were hard and they weren't, the book said days would be grueling and they weren't.
So with this ground breaking knowledge (not), How am I going to avoid the pitfalls of misinformation. The Fear if you will of taking the path less taken. (I think someone said that before too).
Are things as bad as it seams? Should I stop drop and roll over the future problems? Should I really worry if it's going to rain in San Diego? Are there really no jobs out there? Should I just take it on its word and not look because the book says that the hill is too big?
I don't know, maybe I really do need Dr. Phil to read this.
I think it was said that the only thing to fear is fear itself. If I would have paid more attention in school instead of being afraid to succeed I am sure I could have told you who said that. But Dr. Phil isn't reading this and I don't think you have a degree so let's move on.
So let me get to the point already. If you don't check, call, go look or find out for yourself you can't be sure that what you hear is real.
The book said the hills were hard and they weren't, the book said days would be grueling and they weren't.
So with this ground breaking knowledge (not), How am I going to avoid the pitfalls of misinformation. The Fear if you will of taking the path less taken. (I think someone said that before too).
Are things as bad as it seams? Should I stop drop and roll over the future problems? Should I really worry if it's going to rain in San Diego? Are there really no jobs out there? Should I just take it on its word and not look because the book says that the hill is too big?
I don't know, maybe I really do need Dr. Phil to read this.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
today's ride was harder than i ever imagined
But it's because I didn't know my rear brake was on the wheel.
Yesterday in SLO, adrian left in a rental car after we switched my bike from panniers to the BOB trailer. I knew this morning it was going to be heavier than my previous set up, but I had no idea it would keep me from going faster than 10 on flat roads with a tail wind.
After the major climb up harris grade into Lompoc, I stopped at a bike shop to get help with my derailer making music with my spokes.it was then I learned that I was actually fighting my own brakes and not the weight of the trailer. Oops--and a good reminder to always check the basic components of your bike before each ride.
I ended my ride north of santa barbara at an ocean-front camp spot in refugio. A refreshing ocean swim has me all set for tomorrow's 80 miler.
Yesterday in SLO, adrian left in a rental car after we switched my bike from panniers to the BOB trailer. I knew this morning it was going to be heavier than my previous set up, but I had no idea it would keep me from going faster than 10 on flat roads with a tail wind.
After the major climb up harris grade into Lompoc, I stopped at a bike shop to get help with my derailer making music with my spokes.it was then I learned that I was actually fighting my own brakes and not the weight of the trailer. Oops--and a good reminder to always check the basic components of your bike before each ride.
I ended my ride north of santa barbara at an ocean-front camp spot in refugio. A refreshing ocean swim has me all set for tomorrow's 80 miler.
Big diSURpointment
This trip taught me I am an Oregon snob.
I knew I loved Oregon--I grew up there and often return to visit family, play rugby and now bike. I didn't realize until this trip that I think it's so lovely that I compare all other locations to it.
And ultimately, that is what led to my disappointment with Big Sur. It's like the summer blockbuster movie that everyone tells you about and the trailers look awesome, but by the time you see the movie you leave the theatre thinking, "that's it?"
So many friends told me Big Sur was going to be spectacular. I couldn't wait to see its majestic beauty, tall cliffs, clear blue waters, yet when I finally surmounted the Big Sur climb, I thought, "this is it?"
It happened because any part of my trip following the ride along the coast in Oregon is already one step behind. And also I realized my friends who told me about Big Sur haven't been to Oregon's coast yet. How could they possibly know what a spectacular coastline is supposed to look?
I knew I loved Oregon--I grew up there and often return to visit family, play rugby and now bike. I didn't realize until this trip that I think it's so lovely that I compare all other locations to it.
And ultimately, that is what led to my disappointment with Big Sur. It's like the summer blockbuster movie that everyone tells you about and the trailers look awesome, but by the time you see the movie you leave the theatre thinking, "that's it?"
So many friends told me Big Sur was going to be spectacular. I couldn't wait to see its majestic beauty, tall cliffs, clear blue waters, yet when I finally surmounted the Big Sur climb, I thought, "this is it?"
It happened because any part of my trip following the ride along the coast in Oregon is already one step behind. And also I realized my friends who told me about Big Sur haven't been to Oregon's coast yet. How could they possibly know what a spectacular coastline is supposed to look?
Just for fun
I am home now and things just don't seem right. After 16 days on the saddle I forgot that there is a world in peril back home. Planes crashing, economy in the tank, American Idol's coming out and lots of people with opinions about lots of people. It's funny but when we are on our ride people say "I just don't think I can do something like this." Well folks, after coming home and turning on the TV, how can you not?
When I am in the saddle I have to worry about sun burns, a bad knee, hills and not getting hit. In actuality the knees became tolerable and the hills became a fantastic challenge and after I broke down and got sun block that was one less worry. When we are home, we have the papers, friends, TV and everyone else telling us how bad things are. And I am here to say that it's all bullshit. Every last letter is bullshit. Our lives have become so cluttered with this bullshit that we don't know how to get out of it! Our lives have so much crap that we don't need but we struggle to keep it and get more.
1. If you pay for a storage unit that is filled with crap you don't need, you're contributing to the pile of Bullshit.
2. If you bought a Wii to help you exercise in your home, you’re contributing.
3. If you have more saved TV shows than pictures of places you've gone or things you've done- Bullshit!
The bottom line is this, if you are in a hurry to get home, just for fun, take a detour to a cliff, lake, pasture, horse farm, ocean or anything that has to do with nature and have a sit for a while. Beautiful scenery is waiting to relax you and remind you that we live on a great planet. Hell maybe you will realize that you are working too hard for stuff you don't need and to an end that you don't want. Start taking some time away from the Bullshit so you can start living for yourself. It's more stressful to watch the TV than it is powering up a 10% grade carrying 70 pounds of stuff.
Trust me.
When I am in the saddle I have to worry about sun burns, a bad knee, hills and not getting hit. In actuality the knees became tolerable and the hills became a fantastic challenge and after I broke down and got sun block that was one less worry. When we are home, we have the papers, friends, TV and everyone else telling us how bad things are. And I am here to say that it's all bullshit. Every last letter is bullshit. Our lives have become so cluttered with this bullshit that we don't know how to get out of it! Our lives have so much crap that we don't need but we struggle to keep it and get more.
1. If you pay for a storage unit that is filled with crap you don't need, you're contributing to the pile of Bullshit.
2. If you bought a Wii to help you exercise in your home, you’re contributing.
3. If you have more saved TV shows than pictures of places you've gone or things you've done- Bullshit!
The bottom line is this, if you are in a hurry to get home, just for fun, take a detour to a cliff, lake, pasture, horse farm, ocean or anything that has to do with nature and have a sit for a while. Beautiful scenery is waiting to relax you and remind you that we live on a great planet. Hell maybe you will realize that you are working too hard for stuff you don't need and to an end that you don't want. Start taking some time away from the Bullshit so you can start living for yourself. It's more stressful to watch the TV than it is powering up a 10% grade carrying 70 pounds of stuff.
Trust me.
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