Married With Bikes

Test Blog Post

2011-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

T-minus and one day until I depart.

Turkey in 2011

2011-09-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

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?

the big aha

2009-06-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

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.

How am I

2009-06-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

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.

today's ride was harder than i ever imagined

2009-06-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Big diSURpointment

2009-06-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

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?

Just for fun

2009-06-09T10:47:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-06-07T15:29:00.001-07:00

Today we woke up adjacent to the ocean in a lush campground and relaxed this morning as the waves pounded into the shore. The sensation was only second best to the sunset last night which we enjoyed with some fellow cyclists while cherishing locally made organic hemp ale.

We are in big sur. The cliffs are steep and the water is tropical island blue. We've been mentally preparing for the climbs through this route, which have turned out to be far from challenging. The most diffifult aspect has been trying to communicate when the packs of motorcycles fly by.

Today is an easy 40 mile ride. We are in no hurry and that feels great. We'll have plenty of time to walk barefoot in the sand and put our toes in the water. Connecting with nature--something not to be missed.

welcome to santa cruz

2009-06-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

And get the fuck out of my way.

Today was different. I woke at the base of a lighthouse to a tranquil sunrise and bunnies in the bushes. And ended my day in an urban camp spot with three vagrants.

But the part of the day that shocked me most was the realization that I am back to southern california. The number of short-tempered, angry and impatient drivers that we saw today easily out numbered redwoods in the forest.

Santa Cruzians--chill the fuck out and embrace all the beauty around you. I felt sadness for these city dwellers too caught up in the hassles of the day to enjoy the moment or their environment. What happens in the transition from north of san francisco to the south of francisco that turns people into the ultimate self-centered, in-a-hurry-all-the-time egotistical humans? Get out of your lexus, take your shoes off and put your toes in the grass. You might enjoy the time, the quiet and the relaxation.

But another part of santa cruz really caught me off guard today. We cycled through acres and acres of strawberry, artichoke and fungi fields. And next to these multi-million dollars homes with people too busy to be humane to other humans, are mostly hispanic field workers bent over for hours upon hours picking fruit for my breakfast.

So many thoughts rushed through my head. Confusion. Amazement. Dismay. How would the field worker feel driving a lexus and enjoying ocean front breakfast for a day? How would that guy who flipped me off from his 6-figure car feel picking strawberries for a day?

And now, here I am in Monterey Bay at an urban camp ground sharing a bench with three homeless people. Part of me worries because the hiker/biker sites aren't meant for homeless and I feel unsafe. Yet where else are they supposed to go? And after what I biked through today how can I sit here and assume I am better? Or cleaner? Or more educated? Or more honest? I wouldn't be any better than the guy in the lexus who can't give me an extra three seconds to get through the stop light.

letting go

2009-06-05T07:42:00.001-07:00

At what point growing up did we let go of "it"? Along this trip I have been rationalizing why I shouldn't do something vs why i should be doing something.
For instance, whilst pedaling by a beautiful overlook I think to myself, "I would like to sit and look at that for a while." And soon enough reasons why I shouldn't flood my mind. Time, miles, destination...
What am I doing? Isn't that time, that moment why I took this trip? But looking at it in the broader view doesn't everyone do that everyday? When we were young if we wanted to do something we did it. You wanted to roll down a grassy hill, jump in a big puddle or put elbows on the dinner table, you did it because you were young and you got a pass because you didn't know any better. But at some point we had to stop all that because of the consequences. Puddles equals dirty shoes and non-refundable pants and "who do we think we are putting the new shirt grandma got you on the dinner table?"
When did it become ok not to do what we want? I am not asking to rob banks but if I want to be late because I want to look at scenery I don't want to catch grief for it. As a matter of fact I would like to routinely go where I am not supposed to and not feel strange because it says no trespassing. It's just a field and it's just a sign. Is there some sort of adrian pass that I can get that will protect me like the former "he's just a kid"? I want to be like Peter Pan but without the clothes, fellow kids and a pirate who is trying to kill me. I've been watching the news, Somalians look tough.
So it's official I am going to start doing what I want even if it's not always ok, being late, elbows on the table, and what ever else I want. Actually blogging has been getting on my nerves so I think I'll

fun times

2009-06-04T18:05:00.001-07:00

We've been experiencing some pretty neato things in the past few days. Unfortunately, we've been out of cell service and couldn't share our thoughts. As I sit here in a grassy cove in front of the beach about 80 miles south of San Francisco, I thought it would be fun to revisit a few of those situations:

1) Rural areas have the best fruit stands. One of my favorite things to do is roll up on a streetside table, grab a box of cherries for 4 bucks, and then continue on my ride. Today we found one with remarkable strawberries.

2) Sheep make great sounds. I was grinding up an incline next to a field of sheep of all ages and they were all talking. Each baa was unique in pitch, length, and depth. The musical result was a joy to my ears--much better than my heavy breathing.

3) Riding on a freeway is as stupid and scary as it sounds. One should never have to cross on a loaded bike a 2-lane freeway exit--twice.

please tell me I can't because then I will

2009-06-04T18:04:00.001-07:00

At first, she thought we were day riders--this Denver girl who has bicycle toured the US and SE Asia. We said Mom followed us for a few days and was carrying gear. We suggested that she too let her camping buddy, who traveled by car, help with her bags. "Oh no," said Carrie. "It's an ego thing. I never get separated from my gear."

We told her the next day our caravan leaves us and we are on full gear again, she warned us a brutal day with thousands feet of climbing was next and we should ask for help for one more day.

How dare she? This girl- who won't let her gear go- tells us we aren't strong enough for the next day's ride!

Nothing made us happier than 3 days later when we met again at another campground. "Wow, how did you make it here?" she asked. "I thought you took a day off."

We did.

And the route that took her 3 days took us 2--with all our gear! Boo Yah! How's that for strong legs!

first ride in the rain

2009-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

We made it 75 miles yesterday with the hardest ride to date. We made it to camp around 7:30 because we figured we'd run into a campground but turns out it was 15 miles farther down the road. In a car, this is a quick drive but after the 3K feet of climbs, this extra 15 miles took and extra 2 hours. We were at a crawl.

But we made it just north of Fort Bragg and today's ride is mostly flat--meaning "rolling" hills that climb no more than 500 feet (think torrey pines hill).

The goal? Have fun and cruise another 65 to 70 miles.

my mom told me i stink

2009-06-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

And it's true.

"Didn't you just shower?" She asked. Well yes, she did catch me on a good day because I has just showered, washed my hair and changed into a clean pair of biking shorts.

I am currently biking six to eight hours a day and the only time I would care about my smell is if it would make me bike faster.

Adrian's mom recently washed our biking clothes for us--she didn't mention why she offered but I can only imagine. And while we both handed off every last item we could sacrifice for the day, we couldn't give up the vest. It's essential to maintain proper body temp by regulating the core. And since I only have one vest, it didn't get washed and has been worn night and day straight for ten days.

Yes, it is a little funky now. Mom- I promise I'm clean when I am not playing, it's just that right now that I am too busy being a kid on a bike.

2009-05-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

I am about to climb 3k. I am at the first stop of a few more. A lot of things are going through my mind but the most pronounced is the urge to stop. My legs are pushing slow and consistent as my upper body struggles to stay in control of my path. I am only going 6 mph and the pace is steady slow. On the one side is a wall of redwood trees that cool the air around the corners. On the other side is a valley with the eel river at the base.
We just hit the summit. My legs feel strong as I rode up the hill. I could feel my muscles flex- gluts, thigh, knee, calf, foot- again and again. I am starting to sweat and the edges of my glasses are welling up.
I am just looking forward at my bag as I don't want to see the climb in front of me. Just keep pushing.
We are now going downhill for ten miles. The sun and warm feeling is now freezing in the wind. My skin is prickly from the coastal breeze and the bag holding my cherries is flickering in the wind and I am going too fast to take my hands off of the brakes. I am paying no attention to the car behind me as I am sure they like my style down the hill.
The bottom of the hill opens up to the ocean and a sea otter scampers up the coast line.
I am not ok right now. We just bought some supplies and have no idea how far we have to go. I just climbed over 3k feet of hills and these beautiful views are marred by the mental trauma I am going through. My legs hurt, I can't regulate my heat because the the coastal wind is freezing the sweat to my skin, my once powerful legs are now seizing up like a ford in the winter time and I am hungry. I WANT OFF MY BIKE.

spirits can be broken

2009-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it was the acknowledgment yesterday that we were in pain or just a bad stretch of highway 101, but today challenged our spirits.

We started north of arcata and the fog rolling off the bay was so thick it created rain-like drops on our tent. Spoiled by Oregon's sunny weather, the cold made our joints ache and our feet slow on the cranks. Snot dripped from our noses and dew gathered on our wool sweaters. And then we entered 40 miles of city, traffic-ridden, poor-pavement section of highway 101 that was riddled with freeway exits and on ramps. It sucked dirty bike gears.

The only hope for today's ride was making it to Avenue of the Giants- a 30 mile stretch of easy road through major Redwoods.

The stress of the day wore hard on us. We focused on keeping our feet moving, one turn at a time to keep the bike moving knowing that shortly we'd be rewarded with the best scenic ride throguh the Redwoods.

And we made it. And then we jammed through the ride taking in enormous trees and the beautiful Eel river.

The best two parts were:

1) Nick, a nice Humbolt biker who chatted us up. He said, "I assume when you bike through Napa, you will drink the wine. So when you bike through Humbolt, you should smoke our weed. Would you like some Humbolt?"*

2) When we arrived at camp at Myer's Flat, we ran down to the Eel River to take a dip. Words can not describe how refreshing fresh river water is. We played in the deep current for 15 minutes of pure happiness. I love fresh water.

Today was hard; no bones about it. Tomorrow is our first day off and we need it greatly.

* While I loved Nick's offer, I had to join the 50 percent of bike tourists that decline his gesture.

lets talk about pain, baby

2009-05-28T21:49:00.001-07:00

You know when you walk a set of stairs to get to the office and no matter how few steps exist, you are still out of breath and your thighs burn? That's what it is like riding your bike from PDX to SAN-but the burning lasts all day and your ass hurts too.

We've said how this ride has impacted adrian's knees but we've yet to truly describe what a ride like this does to your body.

We both have swolen and achy knees. We eat Advil like candy and ice until we shiver. Riding in spandex helps, but rashes still take over the nether regions. Thank Lance for chamois cream. Our muscles scream and sleeping in a cold tent doesn't quiet them. I wake each morning unable to use my back and neither of us can touch our leg muscles let alone use them. Our hands and arms fall asleep during the ride. My neck is cramped and my lips are so dry they've cracked.

But tomorrow is a new day and all the pain subsides for the ride.

keeping a stable mind

2009-05-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

So I have been thinking about the knee a lot. This trip really started off wobbly. I got sick, pulled the calf then the knees deiced to shoot pain to my brain like the Grand Finally during the 4th of July. But I was determined to push myself through this ride. But all of this has taught me some things.
If I would have quit the ride, Jamie would have met the guy who had a bad back two bad knees, no teeth and a modified cane holder attached to his bike who was on a ride to Arizona. I mean I might have half a brain, but this guy still would have put me to shame.
The other thing I learned is that pain can only hurt so much. If you just keep pedaling where it hurts the most, it can't hurt any more. I don't know where I am going to use that knowledge again but I am sure glad I have it.
This brings up a good point. When do you truly know how much you can take until you put yourself into a situation that you don't think you can take. My knees hurt bad. Like I am literally screaming in pain and holding back the urge to well up. (Unfortunately I am a MAN and can't cry but I was damn close to strapping on a skirt, sports bra and saying things like, cute and OMG)
I figured out that if I peddled fast and keep my knee hurting the worst I could handle it a lot more than peddling slow, taking breaks and taking it easy. All it did was drag the inevitable pain on and on. So fuck it, just peddle fast and hard and keep the pain right there in all of its glory. At least I got to the camp earlier and I could control just how much it hurts. Which was pretty bad.
So, what did I take from this? Pain is inevitable and is best dealt with hard and fast. Because when it's all said and done it's in the past and your over it that much quicker.

the games we play

2009-05-28T09:49:00.001-07:00

Many people ask us what we talk about all day on our bikes when we cycle 95 miles...for days in a row. Much of what we do is take in the sights. Conversation can be irrelevant when facing such beauty. And then we spend time sharing thoughts on how the sights make us feel.

But for real, we spend hours side by side cycling along highways and have found some fun games to entertain.

One game is the rhyming game. One of us will say a sentence like, "Did you see those birds fly by?" And we both instinctively know that it's a battle of wits to see who can come up with more one-liners that rhyme.

Another game is "could you live there?" This constant conversation piece allows us to pick a home--a mansion built on the cliff overlooking the ocean or a dilapidated home on a lake--to see if the other could live in it. We discover some interesting things about one another and where we see ourselves several years down the road. The options aren't always so obvious and so we embark on a discussion about where we could live and why.

My favorite of recent is the large rig horn blowing game. Taking me back to my childhood, this game requires adrian and I to make a motion with one hand- like we are tugging on the air horn pulley- as big rigs pass by to see if we can get them to honk. We keep track of how many semis pull their horn for us and how many don't. To date, we are at 2-0 record.

As we leave smith river today and pass cresent city, we will climb something like 3000 feet or more. I know we will have plenty of time to add another "W" to that count.And I will probably also be able to tell you the likelihood of adrian and I moving to the Redwoods sometime in our future.

2009-05-27T12:23:00.001-07:00

Just met a Washington man on a 600 foot climb near Humbug State Park. He's been permanently disabled for many years and worked for himself. Decided to buy a bike and trailer and head to the ghost towns in Arizona. He's 57 and modified his mountain bike with a pvc pipe to hold his cane near his handlebars. Sometimes he goes 48 miles, he said, and sometimes he goes 30. He says he's still trying to find himself and that the cycling has improved his cardiovascular fitness, bad knees and aching back.

Good on him. What an inspiration.

getting while the getting is good

2009-05-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

This has turned out to be a fantastic ride. A little worried in the begining about the knees but a little ice mixed with advil and a heavy dose of don't quick has got me back on track. So here I am day three with no feelings but to ride and ride far while I feel good. The views have been great and my life company has been special. This ride has become real fun.

tour de microbrews

2009-05-27T09:14:00.001-07:00

Today is our last day in Oregon. We are on Sixes river just south of Langlois. Where's Langlois, you ask? It's nuzzled in between some tree covered mountains and flat farming fields or acres of sheep. It's a town where John can buy tomatoes, beer, milk and some steak--all on his tab at the only local store. It's also the last town where we picked up Oregon microbrews.

I've been mildly disappointed in our ability to snatch a nightly taste of the hoppy drink. I can get corona and St. Pauli Girl anywhere. Give me some locally created bubbly brew. But they have been hard to come by. The first night I got my hands on some MacTarnahan's ale, a favorite for this trip since I once handled their pr.

While we avoided the popular mirrorpond, we enjoyed bridgeport's blue heron. And Rogue's Dead Guy Ale was a treat. But my favorite has been the Cinder Red.
Today we head to crecent city--and CA beers.

long lost love courting me

2009-05-27T09:13:00.001-07:00

Oregon wants me back.

This bike ride from portland to san diego is like a reunion between a divorced couple after a couple years apart. When he wants her back, he'll pull out all the stops to impress her and let her know he's changed. He'll don Stetson, trim his beard, iron his flannel, heat the best Hungry Mans for a romantic dinner and more.

Since adrian and I hit the road four days ago, oregon has done the same. It's been 70, sunny, warm. We've seen large lakes shanked by mountainous sand dunes. We've met open, genuine Oregonians just wanting to say, "hi." The birds have been singing and the clear rivers twinkle with memories of my childhood.

I see you Oregon. I know what you are doing giving us this week of magic and pure Oregon beauty.

It's hard to ignore. But one must not forget the other 51 weeks of rain, fog and overcast weather. This week is just a tease and I love it.

2009-05-25T20:09:00.001-07:00

My dad texted and asked what's the point of blogging if Adrian and I don't share where we are. My intention was to post a picture post of each day sharing images of each ride's highlights. I thought this blackberry would be easier to use and I am disappointed I haven't found an easy way to work with flickr. I will leave you-dad- with this: we are in Reedsport. The ride from Waldport to here today was the most beautiful scenery we could expect.

just for a day

2009-05-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yestertday we camped near a couple from Portland. Super nice and out for a night with Cool and the Gang. I didn't think much of them until the morning when they were recounting their night at the casino and Adrian and I were assessing his knee and our pending ride. And then they said something that made me know I was meant to meet them, even if just for the day.

The girl said, "I know what you're going through. One day he and I were hiking the Grand Canyon and I got heat stroke and then he blew out his knee. When you both go down, it gets hard. But you're lucky only one of you is injured because the other can take care. And together you'll make it through."

Oh my goodness, I thought. She's right. And then I offered to switch bikes with Adrian, load up the trailer on that bike and let him have a lighter, easier load for a day.

Two days later, we've figured it out--he's sporting dual knee braces and chugging along at full speed.

Because together we will make it.

The People You Meet

2009-05-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of people you meet on the road to San Diego. There are the well wishers, people who are just so amazed that you have dedicated your time to ride and want to tell you to watch out and be careful. There are the people who give you plenty of room on the roadway as if to say, don't worry biker, I won't kill you today. And then there are the fuckfaces. People who hold to the fact that they pay taxes and they own the road. The people who think so little of their power steering, that they can't possibly scoot their car to the left just a little so I don't feel the breeze of their side mirrors. And don't think that I don't notice you fuck face driver. You're not special and I can see you a mile away. So let me take a moment to describe: big oversized truck, maybe the naked man or woman on your mudflaps, raised but with no four wheel drive, the stench of stale beers and cigarettes, and what I am sure to see is a frail person who hides behind their truck to cover up the fact that their mom didn't like them enough to stay on the tit. Hell I bet some of them had their daddy take their little sister hunting instead of them. Dude, give up some road and turn your radio station to Dr. Phil to work out some anger.

thoughts from the saddle

2009-05-23T20:38:00.001-07:00

Today was our first day on the road and we traveled approximately 65 miles. Unfortunately my best friend and riding buddy is injured and we could only go about 8 mph for a good portion of the ride. For those of you unfamiliar with cycling, that is like selecting map by walking route on google maps rather than the freeway route- it's slow. So I had a lot of time to think today and wanted to share my thoughts:
1) My face makes a pretty good bug shield.
2) Even if Adrian thinks he's far enough ahead of me to do a snot rocket, the wind will close the gap.
3) The truck scales on the road round to the nearest 50 pounds, so I am always 8 pounds lighter.
4) 8 mph is barely enough to stay upright on my bike loaded with 50 pounds of gear (rounded down to the nearest 50 of course.)
5) The $19.97 fleece shirt I bought to replace the jacket I left at the airport, only cost $19.97 because Oregon doesn't have a sales tax.
6) People live at the wandering spirit rv park so they can be closer to the casino.
7) Hamburger helper doesn't taste any better now than it did when I was in college.
8) Bungee cords double as ace bandages.
9) On salmon highway, the best commerce deal advertised on homemade billboards is buy one get one adult dvds.
10) Adventures are best side by side with my husband-he always brings the fun.

im breaking

2009-05-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

So let me give some background. I have been training my ass off for five months. Running, going to the gym, commuting and climbing every big hill we could find. But about three weeks ago I pulled a calf muscle. It was bad and kept me off of my feet for a week. But it started to feel better so I obviously started to ride again. Not smart as I reinjured it. Shortly after that, I came down with the cousin of the swine flu. That kept me on the couch for four days and I've been eating antihistamines like tic tacs. So, we get to riding today and my knee decides to boycot the trip and hurt like my first break up. What the hell? When we started training for this we looked for sponsors. Hindsite and all that I wish we would have approached advil as that is going to be my new friend. If your reading this please call your doctor friends in oregon and get me some cortizone shots lined up.

getting started

2009-05-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Things are starting a little shaky with my calf. Its a little week and the muscles around my knee are a little sore. But other than that its all good. I also want to thank veloshop in portland for getting our bikes together. They are riding great. Yep I am ready for beer.ps I don't care about spelling.

where will it all fit?

2009-05-22T15:15:00.001-07:00

We did a test ride weekend to make sure we packed all the right things yet didn't pack more than just the essentials. As the sea of spandex and mountains of tools began spreading across our floor last night as we were packing, I kept wondering if my legs could truly power that through Big Sur. Lucky enough-i think- alaska air had a scale at their check in counter. Turns out Adrian and I think it takes 110 pounds of gear and clothing to bike the Pacific Coast. Some of the priorities: cribbage board, pillow, bottle of vodka and of course a bottle opener.

Dear Mom

2009-05-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,

What did you put in my kool-aid? I am not normal.

When we camped as a family in the Oregon forests, did you ever think those habits would morph into a bicycling camping trip from Portland, OR, to San Diego, CA? When Bubba and I insisted on sleeping in the tent because the camper was too "plush," did you ever imagine I'd carry those habits...on the back of my bicycle? And when I first told you that I wanted to commute by bike, did you think, "Oh no, what is she really saying?"

My wildest dreams never took me here, but obviously my spirit to tackle a challenge and embrace the outdooors had led the charge. Before I leave on my 22-day ride across 1,393 miles, I wanted to thank you for instilling in me the habit to try new things and the guts to plan things that seem unachievable to others.

Mom--I am about to ride my bicycle along highway 1 from the Pacific NW to the borders of Tijuana. That's freaking rad. I can't wait to see you one week in to tell you how much my legs hurt, how sore my butt is, how happy I am that you gave me the drive to do things that are so outrageous and, most importantly, to have another sip of that fabulous kool-aid.

With much love.

Getting poked

2009-05-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well I have done a number on my calf and am worried that the ride might be even more painful than the hills I have been dreading. About a week ago, I pulled the mother of calf muscles and have been hobbling around like a wooden legged pirate.
So here I am waiting for acupuncture and a stiff massage to loosen my leg enough to travel 1600 miles down the coast.
I'm sure it will work today, but what can I expect after a few northwest cold nights, hard sleeps and I am sure too many nights of too much whiskey. What could go wrong.

See the full person

2009-05-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am a jerk face loser who doesn't practice what I preach. Normally I try to be an open minded individual who tries to let people be who they are without passing judgment. I try to see things as others might so I am not the one casting the first stone. But, alas, I need to try harder.
I few weeks ago as I was working and staring down to the street below when I saw a guy with only the right side of his handlebar and steering with one hand. In a frenzy, I immediately flew into a hysteric rant about unsafe cyclist. "What is this hipster thinking? This guy is giving cyclists a bad rap with his stupid toy handle bar," and blah blah blah. Like a bad restaurant experience I told multiple friends of the idiot cyclist. It made me feel better I guess to know that I stop at stop signs, wear my helmet and that all of my gear was up to legal specifications. What a good person I am, right?
Wrong! Today I saw that same person riding on the opposite side of the street. But this time I noticed him because he is missing his left arm and has no need for the left side of his handle bars! I am a prick for sure. Here I am with all of my limbs writing, ranting and squawking about the missing handle bar when this guy has the sack to not only get over his obstacle but to ride hard down the street.
So, what did I learn? Don't cast the first stone, don't judge the book by the cover, don't judge a person until you walk a mile in his shoes and most of all, make sure you see the full picture, or in this case, look at the whole person before you rush to judgment.
I don't know what that guy has been through but he went from douche bag to idol real quick this morning.
Now if I could only tell him to wear his helmet, he would be a super star.

Cycling: natural stress relief

2009-05-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished a ride up to Oceanside and back. I didn't time it, but it probably was about four hours of riding. Four hours of fresh air and ocean views. Four hours of little thinking, no managing, no budgets, no deadlines and no reporting. Four hours of letting my mind wander to things I love and things I just dream about.

My work week sucked the life out of me faster than the auto makers going through their bailout money. I spent every moment trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, but it must be burned out. It's not shining for me to see. But I knew, I had a ride planned Saturday morning and that would be my time. My time to push my pedals as hard as I can or to pull in behind someone and relax in his draft.

Cycling refreshes. It renews my spirit and makes me feel strong. I share the road with riders who compete professionally. Their warm up pace is my sprint. I also share the road with beginners who have not yet experienced the road bike rash, if you get what I'm saying. I fit somewhere in the middle. Soaking up inspiration from those who ride harder and faster and enjoying watching someone learn to love cycling for the first time.

Yes. Riding a bicycle is stress relief. If only I could smash all that into a little injection that I could self administer during long staff meetings.

I can do that

2009-05-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

Not!

So many things about this video leave me speechless.

If only my bicycle didn't have a seat.

Our bicycle route from Portland to San Diego

2009-05-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Here it is: the official route we are biking from Portland to San Diego. I'm sure we'll get off track many times as that's part of the fun. And we'll have many side trips that we'll take to get off the Highway 1 or 101, but I don't think we'll know those until we see them.

We start in Portland and will cycle a total of 1393.7 miles--without accounting for any wrong turns. I spoke with a bike mechanic the other day who did this exact ride, and he said it took him 18 days of pedaling with a few days off the saddle. The total trip took him 22 days and he averaged 65 miles a day on the days he cycled. That's what I was planning for until I put together these series of maps. With the route tracked at 1394 miles, I will have to average 77 miles a day to make it in 18 days of biking.

That's hard. Very hard.

Portland to Sheridan
Find more Bike Rides in Portland, Oregon

Sheridan, OR to Lincoln Beach, OR
Find more Bike Rides in Sheridan, Oregon

lincoln beach to port oxford
Find more Bike Rides in Lincoln Beach, Oregon

port oxford to crescent city
Find more Bike Rides in Port Oxford , Oregon

crescent city to Garberville
Find more Bike Rides in Crescent City, California

garberbille, CA to Point Reyes Station Ca
Find more Bike Rides in Redway, California

point reyes station, CA to Castroville, CA
Find more Bike Rides in Point Reyes Station, California

Castroville, CA to Pismo Beach, CA
Find more Bike Rides in Highway 1, California

Pismo Beach, CA to Ocean Beach, CA
Find more Bike Rides in Pismo Beach, California

Because we love fixed gear bikes

2009-04-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

I think they are idiots for biking without helmets and completely disobeying traffic laws, but it sure is fun to watch.

The lies we tell ourselves

2009-04-28T13:33:00.001-07:00

I can't decide if I am lying to myself or using the power of positive thinking.

Adrian and I rode 140 miles this weekend in our first test ride for our tour. We packed all our gear onto our bikes and camped all weekend long. Even though we were not on our actual tour, we acted as though we were. Did we pack enough oatmeal? Can we really use a rock to hammer tent spikes into the ground? How many days can we go without a shower? You get the point.

This weekend is the first time I caught myself asking, "Is this going to be fun?"

We have it easy in Southern California. It was cold last weekend. And by cold, I mean I thought about actually zipping up my sleeping bag at night. It was so cold I had to put on 3/4 pants when the sun set.

And between the 13 hours of biking Saturday and Sunday, I put my brain to work considering how difficult this weekend could have been if it had been r...um, if it had been ra.... Shoot! If that stuff had started to fall from the sky.

The "R Word."

The thing that makes grass green in Oregon.

Rain.

We woke up tired and achy in the morning. One of us would have made breakfast (if we had remembered to pack oatmeal and secure our matches in a dry place) while the other packed up the tent, dirty biking shorts, wet towels, stinky socks and bruised bananas. Then we biked. For six, seven hours in a row. And then while one of us shops for food for dinner the other sets up camp, hangs the moist socks, organizes dirty gear, changes flat tires.

We will do that for 18 straight days. It may drive me straight to insanity. But I keep telling myself that the Oregon coastline will motivate me. That spending days listening to nature rather than neighbors will invigorate me. That the accomplishment of climbing Big Sur with 50 pounds of gear on my two-wheel commuter will propel me all the way home.

I just hope that's not a lie.

It's Nap time

2009-04-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Wow o wow am I tired. Yesterday I was thinking that I had this ride in the bag. Until I woke up this morning and found cement in my ass and black rings under my eyes. I felt like I had 20 pounds of extra weight on my back and 4 table spoons of Tylenol PM in my stomach. My legs ache and I can't lay down quick enough. Hmm, am I old? Is this what it's like? I have seen signs of old. Sprains that last longer, longer poops, the need to nap in the middle of the day and the thought that maybe I don't need to go out on Friday. Yep, I'm getting old. Well time to go to sleep.

What a ride

2009-04-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

What a ride this weekend.

We packed up Friday night with all of our gear for a test run. As a reminder, my wife and I are biking from Portland, Or. to San Diego, Ca. And with all test runs there are some things to learn.

1. If you pack stuff to take, make sure you take it... The last thing you want to do is wake up Saturday morning, start boiling water for oatmeal and then say, "Did you pack the Oatmeal?" Mmm, ham sandwiches for breakfast. (No we didn't bring mustard.)

2. If you pack a propane lantern that needs matches, make sure you pack the matches. Just don't put them under the bottle of Vodka you pulled from the freezer. For some reason, matches don't light when the are wet. Nothing says camping like a flash light on a table. But at least we have Vodka and Gatorade. Yep, vending machine was broken.

3. Is that your back tire going flat? No worries I can pump it up to a firm 70 psi and I am sure we will pass a tire shop, ON SUNDAY. NOT!

4. I really have to get a new seat. It's like riding on a cement pony. I don't even have anything to say except that I now have welts on my ass. I can't do that for 18 days.

5. Make sure you take a fun wife. She helps you sleep in until 8:30 when you're supposed to be on the road by 9; it's way more enjoyable than that damn seat.

6. Lastly, we are as prepared as we are going to get. Hills are getting flatter, we have great air mattress and a fun biking partner. I am looking forward to this tour. Now if I can just make sure that I don't blow up like a hippo after the ride because the last thing that I want to see is that bike and that seat.

First weekend test ride with touring gear

2009-04-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

It's not as easy as it looks

2009-04-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

I'm a minimalist.

I rarely wear makeup. I ask my hairstylist to make my hair look as cute as it can with at little effort as possible. I take bags of old clothes to Goodwill once a month. I only own one pair of black high heels (that gasping noise was the girls in my office). I loathe clutter. I refuse to collect anything, except wrinkles now that I am getting older and tupperware that stacks up in the office kitchen.

Yet minimizing shit for this bicycle tour is tough.

I've been packing since 1 p.m. today. Rather, unpacking, since I keep asking myself, "Can you survive without that?"

Today we leave for a three-day adventure to test out our gear. To see what extra items we're bringing that we don't need--aka cooking tongs for one small sauce pan, Adrian--and the things that we forgot to bring--aka, I'll tell you when get back since I don't know yet.

I wish I could zip my bike gear like I zip large computer files.

Why isn't my bike shop like a car shop?

2009-04-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

I love Mission Hills Bike shop. I've been seeing Erin, the owner, on a semi-regular basis for five years now. I love that he gives me special deals, knows my name, remembers my bike and that I run into him at bike events.

I stopped in to see him about three weeks ago to prep my bike for our tour. We walked through the new gearing I needed to haul my supplies up Big Sur. He taught me why touring bikes exist--AKA they have the eyelets on the frame to install front and rear racks (and my really old specialized does not). And he made me realized that even though my bike seat is falling apart, my butt loves it and would be very unhappy if I replaced it with a new one.

We also talked about how I am doing my first run through this weekend with full camping gear and that I needed my bike looking sweet by Friday. Fast forward two weeks later when my parts finally arrived to his shop and weather in San Diego hit Santa Ana style. The hot weather brought in an influx of bike repairs to Mission Hills and an extended list of customers that did not include me.

How can that be? Why didn't Erin plan to fix my bike? He knew what he ordered for me. And he knew that I needed it by a specific time. But he didn't plan for me in the upcoming orders.

I'm disappointed. I expect more. And not only for this bike ride that I'm embarking on this weekend, but I commute by bike. That means I need my bike daily. I don't understand why my bike shop expects me to drop it off and wait a week for it to return when I feel like I can schedule a time and get it back the next day.

John Hine Mazda lets me do it. And they give me a rental car for the day.

I sure would love that kind of service from my bike shop.

Bike and Cars Can Get Along with Two Way Communication

2009-04-16T22:06:00.001-07:00

I do not think it's a car's job to get out of my way. And I don't think it's my job to get out a car's way (given the fact that I will do it in an instance if my safety is in danger). Cars and cyclists need to learn to share the road in a poetic dance of give and take to a strong beat of two-way communication.

I've been cycling on busy roads long enough that I have come to recognize certain driving patterns. A slow car in the right hand lane that's tapping its brakes is searching for its turn--and will make a last minute decision without signaling. A car that zooms past a cyclist and then swerves to the right side of the lane is rushing to get ahead to make a right-hand turn--most likely cutting off the cyclist. A driver of a car full of people--of any age--isn't paying attention to others on the road--and will make one of many dangerous moves near a cyclist.

I am more than happy to assess actual situations and make the necessary move to get the hell out of the way, but it would make my job so much easier if a driver just signaled. If you just flip that one little tool conveniently attached to your steering wheel to indicate which direction you are going to turn--I will adjust my route.

I find eye contact a very useful tool too. Drivers know that I see them. And I know that drivers see me. I feel much safer on the road when I know that the person driving that huge hunk of medal has acknowledged my existence.

And a huge portion of cyclists communicating with drivers is wearing lights and reflective gear. If cars can't see us, then they don't know to communicate with us. Just letting the drivers know we are on the road after dark is a huge portion of the battle.

No one likes to be surprised on the road. Just taking an extra second to share your intentions can help everyone get along much easier on our crowded streets.

My New Toy

2009-04-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our Portland to San Diego Tour I had to make some upgrades to my bike. The basic stuff: cranks, lights, a front bag, blah blah blah.

But today I received my Yak trailer and for some reason I feel like it's Christmas. Instead of running home, sitting on the couch and watching the Biggest Loser, which by the way is as addicting to me as food is to the contestants, I ran home and tore open my box and opened it like it held the holy grail. If light would have shot out and illuminated the room I wouldn't have been surprised in the least.

I started slow, carefully inspecting all of the parts as it was a new born baby. Then I turned to the bright yellow waterproof bag and visualized the trailer with all of my gear strapped in.

Next was the flag. Currently it says Bob. Wow, not at all exciting enough for a 1,500 mile tour through mountains, rainy days and bike lanes to small to hold a family of ducks. As I sit in ah of my new purchase, I day dream of people passing me saying, "Is that a pirate flag?" "Does that flag say, 'don't kill me'?" "Share the road" or "If you can read this, back the fuck up."

But all of this is fine and dandy and I think even reasonable. But when I started to read the instructions, I knew I was going overboard. "Honey, those brownies you cooked yesterday, are they "normal?" What the hell is going on with me. For me to read the instructions is comparable to me holding in my gas or doing dishes on a regular basis. If there are pictures, I am a cave man and I can understand anything. But not today, my friends, today this is serious stuff for serious people and I will fill out the warranty with pride.

Velodrome Swap Meet on Sunday

2009-04-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better day than Earth Day for the twice annual velodrome swap meet in Balboa Park. I have been to this gathering a few times, but have never really utilized it for its true value. I can't wait for Sunday because we still need some key pieces of gear for our trip and this is the place to pick it up at killer prices.

The thing I like most about this event is that San Diego is home to so many sponsored and competitive cyclists. They get a lot of gear to replace older pieces and hand off those older pieces at great prices to people like me. Old to them is a year. Old to me is "does it still work?"

See you there.

http://www.sdvelodrome.com/Home/swap-meet

How difficult it's not

2009-04-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

I started commuting to work about 3 years ago. When I first started I was very cautious of what I was doing. If I didn't feel right about the day, I would take the car. If it looked like rain (in San Diego? Ya, right) I would take the car and save it for another day. And as the months past, so did my excuses to not ride. If it was cold, I would tell myself that it really wasn't that cold. If I was running late, I would tell myself I wasn't really running that late. I just got used to the process of riding to work and now it's really not that difficult. Actually, the only thing I can't get used to is the look on peoples faces when I tell them I took the long way to work and I plan to take the same route home, "Oh, I wish I could do that."
Fast forward to my tour from Portland to San Diego. Here I am preparing to ride over 1,500 miles with my wife through the mountains of Oregon and Northern California. I am confident that there is going to be multiple days of rain, wind and a combination of hard ground and cold nights. But to prepare, I have upped my commuting time and have no training rides under 50 miles on the weekend back to back. We have been using Mapmyride to find harder hills and longer rides to parts of San Diego I didn't know existed. I mean really, who would have known that there is more to San Diego than beautiful beaches and wonderful weather? About a month ago we were in aw of these hills, "Oh, I don't know if I have the right gears for that," and "Do you really think we can make it 6 miles at 6% grade?" and on and on and on.
OK the point... that shit really isn't that difficult. I rode a hill that was kicking my ass about a month ago and I did it yesterday with a bike that the wheel was rubbing on the brake. Not only did I do it, but I made better time and felt better. Instead of worrying about hills and distance we are focusing on taking pictures on the way and what we are going to write about on our next blog. I have figured out that if I just keep pedaling, fast or slow (I prefer fast) that I will make it to the top. And once at the top, the downhill is sweet.
So show me a hill and I will climb it. I might not make the best time today, but I'm not going to shy away from it. Because in the end, when I turn back and look at it, I think of how difficult it wasn't.

It's not about the bike

2009-04-12T22:41:00.001-07:00

I think Lance had it right: It's not about the bike.

I originally bought my road bike used because I had never owned one and wanted to test one out inexpensively. The best $175 I have ever spent...five years ago. I am still riding the slightly bent, kinda rusted Specialized to and from work, up and down hills and now from Portland to San Diego.

"Wow, that's been around the block," is probably the most common comment made about my bike. Soon, I'll correct judgement passers, "Actually, it's been around the West Coast."

As we prepare for our tour, we made a list of gear we needed. New mountain biking shoes, a new seat, long sleeve shirts, extra shorts, bags here and bags there, GPS, iphones, maps, books, cool folding camping stoves. Stuff, things, junk. More, better, newer. But what for? What's the point of buying a new fancy polyfakeablesythetic jersey, when I have an old wool sweater just waiting for its second chance of life. And do I really need GPS? Are small town shop owners and happy-go-lucky tourists so put out that they can't help with directions if I get lost...traveling south.

I do need a new set of gears, however, so that I can pedal just a teensy bit easier. When I arrived at Mission Hills Bike Shop to talk with Erin about my order, I mentioned I'd like a new seat too, as my five-year-old doozy is tearing apart. "Why?" he asked. "This one is perfectly worn in to fit your butt. You buy a new one, you mess that up." Right...it doesn't have to look perfect, to feel perfect. Perfection afterall, takes time.

And so when people ask me, what does it take to commute by bike. I always say, "A willingness to have fun and a cheap bike with two working wheels." All the rest is just stuff.

Photos from our 105 mile ride

2009-04-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

It's all about the downhill

2009-04-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

We rode 105 miles last Saturday with about 5,000 feet of climbing. I don't usually ride that far, and I certainly don't usually climb that much. But in preparation of our bike ride from Portland to San Diego, I have to practice the pain of getting uphill.

In the 25 miles of slow grinding up to Alpine, I spent a lot of time focusing on my thoughts. I can't stop pedaling because I won't coast uphill. I can't think about my leg muscles because it reminds how hard they are working. It's hot. The scenery is beautiful but it looks the same--desert mountains, large rocks, dry plants and lots of dead catepillars on the road. So I turn inside and find motivation to make it to the top.

And in the hours of self contemplation, I found myself continually thinking about the downhill and how much fun it will be to speed 45 miles an hour down unused mountain roads. And even though the downhill will flash before my eyes in less than 30 minutes, I know that all the pain will be worth it because I live for those fast, thrilling moments of acheivement.

And as I returned to my office on Monday, stressed with maxed account loads and multitasking needy clients, I find myself thinking about the downhill portions of my job. Executing plans, creating events and pitching media can be tough. But then there are the successes, the acheived goals the moments to stop and take in the accomplishment. The moment to celebrate.

Funny thing about our bike ride last weekend. When we hit the downhill, a strong wind came roaring up the canyon. As much as I wanted to coast the entire way down, I still had to pedal. I still had to keep my legs moving, pumping to get a strong momemtum at 45 miles an hour.

And that's when I realized, at work it doesn't end with the downhill. Even though I take a moment to coast, I still have to dig in and pump my legs to keep getting results for my clients.

Another day of biking

2009-04-01T16:39:00.001-07:00

I have been commuting by bike for about 2 years now and I have noticed an important piece of life information. When I ride my bike, just like many people go through life, I find my self looking at the ground in front of me. I look for pot holes, traffic signals, bike lane lines and the like.

Many people go through life looking at the car in front of them, their office wall, their break room and if they are lucky, a 56 inch plasma TV which probably has the news on.

But I have found that if I just look up and to the left, there is some beautiful scenery to be had. There is always a sunset, beautiful beach (that includes dolphins), squirrels running for their life across a busy street, smiling faces at bus stops and some great pubs.

So I guess what I am saying is that if we as a society keep looking at what is directly in front of us, we will miss the beautiful things that are all around us.