Feb
19
2009
As you take a glimpse into someone else’s life while reading their blog, do you ever wonder what else may be going on? Sometimes it doesn’t take much to know what’s going on, while others are topic driven and you never get much of a view except for the topic they write about. Maybe it is because to some people writing is a form of therapy and to others they are very private and only choose to share what is relevant to their interests.
I can draw a lot of analogies to riding a bicycle and life. For example if you don’t have balance on a bike just as in life, you may fall and possibly be injured. Another one could be if you travel too fast through life or ride a bicycle too fast, you will miss a lot scenery along the way.
Sometimes loss of balance or missing scenery along the way appears to be inevitable. Other times regardless of what you do or how well prepared you are life just happens. This happened to my best friend and his wife several weeks ago. On the same afternoon within an hour of each other they were both diagnosed with cancer. His wife was diagnosed with having a baseball size tumor in her lung and he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. They both live a healthy lifestyle, are in good physical condition and young, yet they have cancer. Next week they both begin their treatment regimen together. My mother had cancer 15 years ago and beat it. But today my mother informed me she has colon cancer.
The cadence of my riding tends to show the state of my life. Slow cruising along pace enjoying the smooth easy riding when life is going well. Sprinting, having fun and full of life, when I am feeling ornery. Hard, fast, and angry, while grinding away at hills when I feel so helpless.
Today I will go for a ride to celebrate, enjoy, and appreciate all of the things the people close to me bring to my life. I am sure I will ride all of the types of cadences mentioned above and probably a few I have not visited in a while.
So there you have glimpse into my world. Still on topic but a bit more revealing. Writing can be therapeutic as can bicycling, but I think bicycling is easier and more fun. 
Feb
18
2009
During the winter as my riding mileage drops, I focus my weight training more on my legs. I would like to do more weight work on my legs during the spring and summer months, but I just can’t find a balance between lifting and riding. To lift I need to take time off from riding for recovery and I just don’t want to give up riding every day during the warm weather.
This morning I went for a ride south over the I-205 bridge only to turn around and head north. The whole purpose of this was to see what changes in performance I have gained since I started putting more focus in training on my legs. I was amazed at the increase in uphill speed I had as I rode the two miles of incline over the bridge. After I rode up and over the bridge I headed up Ellsworth Ave. which is a half mile long hill and I was really impressed with the increase in endurance.
My time off the bike and cross training has significantly increased my performance to the point where I am wanting to continue this routine through the summer. The question is how can keep weight training my legs and still ride my bike everyday? I need to research this.
In the meantime I am going to continue my daily trips to the gym while riding my bike for basic commuting and trips to the store. Maybe somewhere along the way I find a balance.
Tags: endurance, weight training
Feb
14
2009
Yesterday I cut myself short on time and ended up driving to work. It made for an unpleasant way to start back to work, but it was my fault. I hear the excuse of not having time to commute to work from my friends all of the time and yesterday I used it. The problem was I did not take the time to make sure my bike was ready and by the time I was ready roll my bike was still needing a few things done to be prepared for my 40 mile commute. It irritated me and was continuing to still do so when I awoke this morning.
So I spent the morning making sure my commuter bike was in ready to ride condition. The chain is clean and lubed, tires are pumped to max air pressure, tire flat repair kit in in my pannier, batteries for the lights are charged, and my bike is ready to roll at a moments notice.
Now the question is am I ready? I would have to say yes. So I went out for a leisurely ride to the grocery store and stopped in for lunch with my parents. Felt good to not be driving.
Tags: bicycle commuting
Feb
12
2009
After spending a month off my bike and exchanging riding for running on the beach, swimming, surfing, and lifting weights, I rode my bike for the first time today. I was curious while I was gone how my fitness on the bike was changing from not riding. Was I losing my bicycling fitness level? Maybe it is just in my mind, but I feel like not riding has improved my overall fitness and I don’t notice any loss of performance. In fact, I felt stronger on my first hill. Then too it could be I am happy to be riding again.
The month long change in environment and lifestyle was over due. I was in multiple ruts. Bicycling, work, and life. Cross training physically and mentally disengaging from day to day life has done me well.
I am ready to reengage and play in day to day life.
Tags: bicycling
Feb
11
2009
Last month an opportunity arose in which I was able to take off from work and spend the last 31 days on the North Shore of Oahu. I was in a situation where I needed to use it or lose it on my vacation time, the air fares where low, and the sun and surf were calling my name. So I decided to not only go, but to leave my laptop behind and make it a computer free and low technology vacation.
There is something to be said about getting use to being computer free. Instead of getting my surf reports on-line, I went to the local hangouts for coffee in morning and a beer in the evenings. What I found interesting is the young guys at first looked at me as if I was just another howlie from the mainland, while the older guys accepted me more for me and could see I was not invading their turf, but was respectfully wanting to learn. I ended up meeting a unique group of people, most of who in a short time took me in and helped educate me.
I would spend my most of my time hanging out in the ocean waiting for the next wave with my new “brada’s”. We laughed and joked, talked about everything there was to talk about and still managed catch a few waves. It is not in the number you of waves you ride, but the quality of people, waves, and fun.
As I laid on my board I realized the similarities in the rhythmic nature of surfing and bicycling. The ocean has it’s own cadence and just like cycling once you find the sweet spot time seems to melt away and you arrived at your destination. My destination was that place full of mental sunshine after day of fun.
This morning I arrived in Portland thinking about the people I met and the good times they shared with me. Mahalo.
Jan
08
2009
There are many reasons why I don’t have skills like the guys in the video. But there is only one reason why I am glad I don’t… JAIL!
If I could ride like them I would not limit my exhibitions to the course for I know I would eventually do something across the hood or roof of someone’s car. And most likely they would be a very deserving recipient of my skills.
Tags: bicycle, skills
Jan
07
2009
Each year I take the weeks of Christmas and New Years off from work. This year I rode less during my time off than in past years. Mostly because the weather did not inspire me to get out to ride and I had few places which I needed to go.
So after two weeks of reduced physical activity, followed by commuting to work Monday and Tuesday, I awoke this morning feeling like I have not been on my bike for two months. Well maybe it does not feel that bad, but my legs do feel the affects of the reduced mileage during the past two weeks.
Last night there was a storm front coming in with strong winds as rode home from work. It felt like I was on a perpetual hill and when I was on a long steep hill, I thought I could count the spokes as I watched them pass by one by one by one by one…. But still I would not trade the view for anything.
Today I am commuting by bike, but I am also using the MAX train for part of the trip.
Tags: mileage
