Whoever said money can’t buy happiness hasn’t ridden a bike! Well, in truth, it’s not the bike making you happy, it’s the person you are when you get on your bike. Even if you drop ten thousand bucks on the sickest bike, it’s not going to make you happy sitting in your garage. For some of us, biking equals happiness because it ignites our authentic self; encourages the act of play, the freeing of our soul, happy endorphins, and healthy friendships. Continue Reading…
We all want to be better — fitter, healthier, more skilled, more successful, a more likeable person etc. The trouble is, we rarely stick to the habits it takes to get there.
Most people focus on outcome-based goals like “I want to lose weight” or “I want to run a marathon”. But these are superficial changes. The path to building lasting habits is actually changing your identity. Meaning, if you change the type of person that you believe that you are, then it’s easier to change your actions. Continue Reading…
Peddling up Mt. Fromme on our twin Santa Cruz Bronson’s, my friend Craig is taking me to Upper Oil Can bike trail. He tells me I’m ready to tackle some technical woodwork. I’m so excited to face the severe danger looming on the horizon!…or maybe what I feel is anxiety and I shouldn’t do this today—it’s so hard to tell the difference between emotions sometimes. Anxiety and excitement are completely different emotions, one positive, one negative—but are they different, really? Continue Reading…
I sat on the floor gazing out the window as a tear rolled down my cheek. Suddenly Kula perked up from her plushy pillow and wiggled across the hardwood to give me a slurpy lick; and then two, three, four, until I couldn’t help but smile.
I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have been graced by the presence of this extraordinary dog, but I’m grateful every day. Kula is two-and-a-half-years-old now, a red fox lab with an insatiable passion for mountain biking—kinda like me. Maybe it’s cliche, but my dog truly is my best friend. She’s my riding sidekick, snuggle buddy, sous chef, and she’s always there for me. I believe we can learn a lot from dogs, they teach us about gratitude, love, friendship, compassion, presence and joy. Continue Reading…
Loving is risky. For the depth of your love today can be the depth of your wound tomorrow.
To love is to be vulnerable. Love anything long enough and your heart will certainly be wrung out and broken. If you want to never experience pain, you must give your heart to no one. Bubble wrap it carefully with hobbies and friends; avoid all entanglements and guard it behind a wall of cold stone. Continue Reading…
I’m on a long climb in Dolomites of Italy, and the depth of my suffering cannot be told by the grimace on my face. It’s a steep, nasty mountain pass, and I’m alone with another 40km to go. My legs are cooking as the gradient jumps to 14%, but I stand up and hammer with my focus on the next corner…
If you’re not a cyclist you’re probably wondering why we willingly endure horrible suffering for the sake of a bike ride? It’s about the moment, it’s about performing at your limit, it’s about Passion.
If you’ve ever tried to keep up with someone beyond your skill level or who’s style is different from yours, than you understand how it can deplete your confidence or cause you to crash. This happens because you’re not being present in your mind—and you start to become careless and reckless.
It’s important to take responsibility for yourself, and this fact is the same in all aspects of your life. When you’re mindful of your needs and feelings, you become a much better versions of yourself— you can focus on the right things, and everything gets better. Continue Reading…