Someone I respect very much told me I have an obligation to use my platform to address and do as much as I can to solve the wrongs of world. I agree with her. And I've thought a lot about this since we spoke. As corny and simplistic and perhaps even as blindered as this might seem, I believe more than anything in the power of the bike ride. Go for a ride today. Ride yourself to the bone, or go slow and look around you and really see and feel, or do something in between or completely apart from those ideas, alone or with friends or in a group of strangers and friends, but ride.
If you miss the ride you were supposed to do, do another ride. If you get out and don't feel great, turn around or keep going then turn around, or keep going until you feel better.
Ride until you forget. Ride until you remember things you forgot. Ride until you solve the problems of the world or the ones of your own soul or just some stupid thing at work. Or not. But ride today. You'll feel better. You'll be better. (you'll look better) And that's ultimately how we'll make this world better.
~ Bill Strickland - Bicycling Editor Director ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This week was a reminder that life sometimes gets a little smoggy and you need to ride "above" the pollution to breath clean air.
From a letter that was
discovered by news anchor Bret Baier when he was combing through emails
received during the coverage of the funeral this week. It was a letter that
George H. W. Bush had sent to his close friend, former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano in
which he shared what life advice he would pass on to future generations. The
letter read as follows:
“I cannot single out
the one greatest challenge in my life. I have had a lot of challenges and my
advice to young people might be as follows:
1. Don’t get down when
your life takes a bad turn. Out of adversity comes challenge and often success
2. Don’t blame others
for your setbacks
3. When things go well,
always give credit to others
4. Don’t talk all the
time. Listen to your friends and mentors and learn from them
5. Don’t brag about
yourself. Let others point out your virtues, your strong points
6. Give someone else a
hand. When a friend is hurting show that friend you care
7. Nobody likes an
overbearing big shot
8. As you succeed, be
kind to people. Thank those who help you along the way
9. Don’t be afraid to
shed a tear when your heart is broken because a friend is hurting
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends and reflect on the blessing of the last year. Many of us experience renewed hope and faith during the Thanksgiving holiday because we turn our eyes and hearts onto what is most important. We give thanks and prayers for those we love and make us better. When your heart is filled with gratitude, there is little room to worry or complain.
As we reflect on the many rides and adventures of this past season, may the following cyclist's prayer fill our souls.
As we bike through the city streets, the highways and the mountain trails
Protect us Lord from
Spills and crashes
Trucks and cars whose drivers do not recognize our right to use the roads
Dogs who like to bite our shapely legs, cracks, and sharp objects that flatten our tires,
Thieves, and bikenappers who lust after our bikes
The rains and thunders
And all kinds of nasty accidents
Give us energy and the strength
To wake up in the morning and go for a bike ride
To keep us from bonking
To ride up hills and mountains
To reach our destination
Grant us the courage
To descend rapidly down the hills
To ride through the rain
To join and finish races even if we know we'll never win
Why is Halloween so popular? The ghouls, ghosts, monster, and zombies: it's that time of year again where millions of people enjoy the thrills and treats that are commonly associated with Halloween. Children dress up and go trick-or-treating, while adults enjoy haunted houses and parties.(Read More)
Many of the PCRs also think it's time to go to their darker/crazier side and for one day display their inner demons and let the world know who they really are. One in particular, who will not be mentioned, was born the day after Halloween and when this day rolls around loses all fear/inhibitions. Keep your eyes open at all times during this season, because you NEVER KNOW what you're going to see.
Yesterday's annual Alpine Loop ride was as good as it gets. Utah has experienced a very dry summer, which has an affect on the fall colors. However, the vistas though they might have lacked some of the brilliant reds, were highlighted by an early snow, making the backdrop of snow-capped mountains breathtaking.
With MBA being out of town, BIG MAN was determined to bring home the KOM, As the peloton started to reach the summit, BIG MAN attempted a breakaway, but was quickly passed by the Black Knight. Chasing each other, the two of them stopped short, one to find his heart and the other to take a picture and Prez Hale cheered the rest of the ride for taking home the title.
There's something about riding this route that makes it an annual MUST DO. Is it the rugged American Fork canyon of the Wasatch Range offering stupendous views of Mount Timpanogos and other glacier-carved peaks? Or once reaching the 8,060 foot summit knowing that the next part of the ride is going downhill on a serpentine route through golden yellow quakies? Might it be the stop at Redford's Sundance general store for a hot chocolate, getting everyone in the store to sing Happy Birthday to the Black Knight or maybe a chance of meeting Robert? Whatever the reason, when it's all over they are all saying, "MAN, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!"
The Fall season is on us and the colors are in bloom. UTEs bring home a WIN and the Cougars are looking for a soft chair. The days are getting shorter, the mornings are darker and the temps a little cooler. However, with modern clothing, lights and Costco foot and hand warmers, don't STOP. Some have asked, "When will the PCRs start their rides at an earthly hour?", and Mr. DQ-MBA found the answer:
The Day Before My Day
-by Gloria Liu, senior editor at BICYCLING-
Apparently, feeling short on time is not unique to our modern era. In 1910, writer Arnold Bennett observed in a book, How to Live on 24 hours a Day, "Now the great and profound mistake which my typical man makes in regard to his day is a mistake of general attitude... He persists in looking upon those hours from ten to six as 'the day,' to which the ten hours preceding them and the six hours following them are nothing but a prologue and epilogue... (But) if my typical man wishes to live fully and completely he must, in his mind, arrange a day within a day."
There are a number of reasons that I often wake up pre-sunrise for trail rides--how quiet and pretty the woods are, getting my ride done, even warding off seasonal affective disorder in the winter. But my favorite thing about dawn patrol is that I roll into work feeling like I've already had a day before my day. Seeing and doing something a little unconventional before I start "adulting" at 9 a.m. makes me feel like I'm sneaking in extra adventure time, and that it all eventually adds up to some bonus living.
However, if the early hour is a challenge, continue to ride when you can. Because NOT riding is NOT good for the soul or your health.
YIPPY SKIPPY
Not getting KOM is sometimes worth it.
...and I thought I had a large bike frame...
Meet Glenn - 7' tall...
Don't ever get mad while riding in Southern Utah when it's raining and verbally call out,
"IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT", because it just might start hailing .... :-)
Some rides just become a tradition, one being Wanship to WY, via Chalk Creek. The cowboys got up early to get back to do their chores and as usual, ran into a couple delays. One buckaroo forgot to properly checking his pony's shoes. Yes, Mr. T., brought a pony with a flat. After wasting two CO2 cartridges and still no air in the tube, another cowpuncher decided he had seen enough and said, "could you use this there pump?" 30 minutes later, the wranglers were ready to ride.
Ride they did, in temps of 24.1 degrees with hands, face and feet looking for a little sun. However, being a early morning rider, you just have to cowboy-up and hope you don't lose a couple of fingers nor toes to frostbite. The sun finally rose its head and life was good. The ride was less traveled by cars and trucks and one cowhand started singing as the they rode past several deer feeding in the fields and standing in the streams.
When they finally reached the boarder of UT/WY they stood around and started sharing stories of how many times they had been bucked off their ponies. (These bronco-busters are lucky to still be with us) The ride back to the truck was eventful as they all helped the local cattlemen "keep them doggies rolling." One of the cowpokes couldn't read and lead the group to a deadhead, which caused another delay in getting back to the ranch.
All-in-all, this traditional ride was one that will go down in the history books as a fond memory of, LIVING LIFE LARGE!
YIPPY SKIPPY
We Love The Sun!
So how many times have you boys been bucked off your pony?
