Personal Atonement

A few days ago, I rolled my last mile of the year. My goal was 14,000 miles. My usual end of the year blog posts consists of a detailed breakdown of my seasonal mileage and what steeds saw what miles. However, this year the final post is a little different.

I felt a little like Forest Gump as I reached my goal. I simply stopped and looked around, and thought to myself, “I’m kind of tired, I think I’ll stop riding and go home now”. And at that, my year of riding was complete. I am indeed tired, not so much physically, but mentally.

There is a short two mile loop that myself and a few other mileage junkies go to round up our miles at the end of a ride. We commonly refer to it as the Champs-Élysées. I found it only fitting to head out to this ritualistic spot to finish the year and do some soul-searching for next year. As I rolled lap after lap I reflected on the year behind me. So much had changed for me in a matter of a year, some of which was for the good and some of which was the complete unforeseen.

There is a quote from the epic Mountain Bike film Roam that I have always found to be metaphorically fitting to my approach to cycling. It says, “On a mountain bike, you can travel a great distance in a short amount of time, or a short distance in a great amount of time.” This past year I have traveled many great distances but I have also experienced the paralyzing sudden halt that can ensue when your world dramatically changes in a way you never even considered a possibility. All in all, I believe I maintained forward motion to the best of my ability.

When you throw away wattage numbers, mileage accumulation, time tallying, race results, bike weight, and all the other finite measurements that attract us to the sport you are left with simply the ride and the journey. When broken down, what I take away most from this sport is the value in the journey. I have learned many important lessons this year about myself, my world, how I interact with the world, and the race itself.

Typically, this time of year would be fueled by whatever race results or personal accomplishments I am aiming at for the upcoming season. However, I feel I have changed my perspective going into the 2010 season. What I am most eager for is to apply those lessons I have learned from the past and embrace the journey this year. I am quite confident that if the journey is the main focus, the results will simply fall in line.

So I guess its officially that time again…MONKHOOD. My private war starts today. I’ll see you all at the start line.

Envy

Sometimes when I read blogs of fellow riders who live in 4-season cycling environments I am envious. I’m envious that they never have to take 45 minutes just to weatherproof themselves before they go out and ride during the December-March months. I’m envious that they never have to worry about numb fingers and toes and the ever-looming ominous threat of frostbite. And I’m envious that they don’t need a bike dedicated simply to the salty icy conditions and probably don’t even own studded tires.


Today I rolled 82 miles of snow-covered winter wonderland landscape. The miles were slow and arduous and mentally therapeutic. I feel bad for those riders who have never got to experience a day like today.

Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

On this day, I wish I could go back to this moment in time, even if just for a minute or so. I wish I could capture the magic that Christmas morning once was with my family. Memories are all I have now. It’s amazing how a day that was once filled with so much, can now feel so empty.

On this day, I will cherish the memories of my brother and do my best to create new ones with those he has left behind.

That though the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from my sight. Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower.
We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.

And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves,
Forebode not any severing of our loves!
Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might;
I only have relinquished one delight
To live beneath your more habitual sway.
I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;
The innocent brightness of a new-born Day
Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.
Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears

-William Wordsworth

Have a Superfly Holiday!!!

The stockings have been hung from the chimney with care...while visions of bombing trails in 2010 danced in my head.

Some Rides...

Some rides separate the strong willed from the weak.

Some rides require a little more gumption than they’re probably worth.

Some rides are more beneficial to your mental fortitude rather than physical.

Some rides keep you asking the whole time; Why am I out here?…this is just silly, I am miserable, sitting at home on the couch seems like so much better of an option right now.

Tonight was one of those rides.

Finally, when some rides are over, you are left feeling like there was no other place you would have rather been.

Resurrection from Complacency

It’s been about a month since I’ve had anything to say that people would care to read about. Actually, I’ve had a tremendous stream of thoughts going through my head but haven’t quite been able to formulate the words to describe them.

My personality is such that I don’t do well when I don’t have some kind of ambitious and audacious goal I’m chasing after and looking down the road towards. However, thanks to some recent delivery of some fresh fish and a few new ideas, I believe I am officially coming out of the funk.

Despite my new found focus, I’ve still been searching for the right motivation and fuel for the fire. I stumbled across this video today which has really captured some of the feelings I’ve been having in a form that transcends words. My heart dropped the first time I watched it as it conveyed so many emotions I've been having so clearly.

Enjoy. This blog is finally up and running again.

Fly One Time @ Yahoo! Video

I'm going to try flying one more time.

2009 Iceman Cometh Report: The Season Dénouement

grass roots
Function: noun
Date: 1901
1 : the very foundation or source
2 : the basic level of society or of an organization especially as viewed in relation to higher or more centralized positions of power

The Iceman Cometh Challenge has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon! Celebrating its 20th anniversary this season, the race boasted an all time participation high, seeing 4000+ racers voluntarily brave the 28 mile, rolling hill course and the Frankie Andreu described condition of “lactic acid up to your eyeballs”.


The ceremonial lemon pledging of the steed pre-race


This year’s race brought about much enthusiasm, excitement, and preparation for the race. I myself, hosted the second annual Ice Ice Baby ride designed to equip racers with the gumption necessary to face the arduous task of subjecting your heart rate to its redline for 1.5-2 hours. To win at Iceman, much less to even podium at Iceman, no matter what category you are in, seals your name in the races rich history. I am pleased to report that we had 7 riders this year that participated in the Ice Ice Baby ride and also stood atop the podium. I was very happy and content to report that I was one of these racers, finishing 5th in the singlespeed category. In addition, we had four participants that placed in the top 20 in the Pro field. The big wheeled steeds also proved dominant as the two Gary Fisher/Subaru racers JHK and Sam Shultz respectively claimed 1st and 2nd!

JHK and Sam Scultz atop the Pro Podium Photo: © Amy Dykema


What makes Iceman special is the races dedication to its grassroots foundation. What started as a mass start race of just over 30 or so racers has grown into a 4000 plus rider race while still maintaining that Mid-Western laid back vibe. Steve Brown, race promoter, can still be seen milling around the field talking to each rider and thanking them for their participation and commitment to the sport. It seems only natural that Gary Fisher is the main sponsor of such an event. The race oozes what Fisher Bikes is all about, bikes by the people and for the people.
The Mayhem!


Furthermore, if the event in and of itself is not enough, the after party is well worth the price of admission despite your race result. It’s a celebration of shared passion, oat sodas, big wheels, beards, and genuine laughs that will have you telling stories for weeks and months to come on your local group rides. I’m already dreaming about next year’s race! If you haven’t made the obligatory pilgrimage to the Iceman Cometh, see to it that it falls onto your schedule next year…it is well worth the price of admission.

MyNorth.com Video: Video: The Iceman Cometh Race Gets Perfect Day for 20th Year