Happy Thanksgiving

This past Friday, our state moved up to the “red” level of protection/caution for the pandemic. Like many states, Colorado is experiencing an increase in COVID cases and the governor’s hope is to get things under control. With Thanksgiving upon us, most people I’ve observed don’t seem to be giving much thought to the increase in caution and the request to stay home. It’s frustrating to me as someone who has stayed away from others as much as is possible since this all started, but I am also aware that I cannot control what others choose to do.

My own family has chosen to disregard the request to stay home and celebrate this holiday with only those in their immediate households. My mother has her grandson flying from one state to hers and her sister flying in from yet another state, and then the four of the individuals there (my step-dad is in the mix too) will drive two hours across state lines to celebrate Thanksgiving with two other households with a total of 10 individuals. Her response when I questioned this plan was to laugh and say, “Well, we’ll wear masks.” They won’t wear masks. I know my family and they believe this isn’t anything to be concerned about. My younger brother has similar plans involving friends and co-workers and his response to me was, “I’m just not concerned about the virus.”

I share this not because I think my family is special (nor to be a holiday downer). I know many others are going through a similar situation — one in which the family is divided among individuals who have concern for keeping themselves and others safe and healthy, and those who think this virus is a hoax or at least not something of any great concern. It’s a challenging time to deal with family for many, even without this huge thing hanging over all of us, but this virus seems to be dividing people even more. I don’t think I’m living my life in fear, as some would suggest, but rather using the information that has been presented by experts to make rational, safe decisions for myself and those I love.

Do I want to be doing regular things? Absolutely. Will I choose to be irresponsible and potentially expose someone I care about to getting really sick or dying? No. That isn’t how my family views this though. Instead, I am regularly ridiculed because they view my opinion as irrational and me trying to avoid seeing them. The guilt trips often work, but not right now. I am doing this primarily for their safety (particularly the older relatives), and for myself as well. My parents are in their mid-70s, both have had strokes in the last few years, and one has asthma too. In my mind, there’s no reason to potentially put them in harms way.

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time though, you already know that I have a hard time during the holidays. I don’t particularly enjoy being around my family or doing traditional “things” that most Americans do this time of year. In fact, about the only real tradition we have in our household is to not do anything traditionally Thanksgiving. Well, that and our now annual event of cycling to and up NCAR (assuming that we aren’t in the middle of a snow storm, like last year) to earn whatever food we’ve decided on for that particular year (this year will be breakfast buffet, in case anyone is wondering – I can already feel the stomachache coming on). Oh, and I do always make pie — but I suppose I’ll make pie any time of year, if requested.

From our first annual NCAR ride a few years ago

In reality, I am of the mindset that holidays or special occasions can be celebrated at any time and on any day. They can also be celebrated (or not celebrated) however a person chooses. There’s no reason to feel as though I am missing out on something on Thursday simply because that is the nationally designated day to be grateful if I am unable to (or choose not to) do what would normally be done.

So, if like us, you are celebrating in a non-traditional manner, or if you have chosen to forego the requests to stay at home this Thanksgiving and are traveling to be with loved ones, I hope you will spend the day finding a little bit of time to be grateful for the blessings that have come your way this year. Although it hasn’t been a shining example of a year I would choose to repeat, there have been little things or moments that have made me smile, brought joy, or otherwise made me pause with a bit of gratitude. More often than not, the everyday things that I often overlook are those things that made me happy this year, and perhaps that has made the year not as bad as it seems in the bigger picture sense.

Wherever you are and however you spend it, may you find those little things that make you happy. Wishing you and yours a healthy, safe, and happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn Bike Burnout

Every year, there comes a point in the later portion when I find myself struggling to ride my bike. Transportation wise, I continue to ride (at least when possible) but when it comes to riding for sport or fitness, I find that my body is asking for a break. Some days it’s mental burnout, other days it is a physical need for some time away from riding.

This year, I set a goal to ride more miles (excluding transportation miles) than I have any year in the past, so the fall-time burnout came a little earlier than I anticipated. Pushing myself, particularly during the summer to get in longer and/or more frequent rides, pedal more challenging terrain — it took a toll, especially late in the year. My knees, which aren’t great to begin with, were starting to feel the limits I have pushed. I have been tired overall, and there doesn’t seem to be any escaping that reality.

Ultimately, I reached my cycling mileage goal in early October. It surprised me a bit because I had expected that it would be more of a challenge to hit the number, but it quickly became a “how-many-can-I-pedal-now” game, which only intensified the burnout already taking place. The physical issues were taking over too and as my knees began to ache daily, I knew something had to give.

Whether fortunate or not, our snowy, cold weather started earlier than usual this year. While it’s not uncommon to get snow as early as September or October in these parts, generally it melts swiftly and doesn’t produce much more than an inch or two. This year, things have been a little more intense on the weather front. Even as I type, we’re expecting a foot of snow overnight, and it hasn’t been uncommon to see snow each week for the last several weeks.

As is also common for me in the autumn months, I’ve been doing some bike change ups. Two have been sold (with the possibility of a third heading out) and two new have arrived to the biking fold. With only a tad over 500 miles combined on the pair, I’m not quite ready to write about them, but I will say that thus far I am content with the changes that have been made and have done my best to squeeze in rides when time and weather permit.

The new-to-me bikes have probably aided in adding to the burnout I’m experiencing as well. Although it’s exciting to ride new/different bikes, when my body is asking for a break, it wants the break regardless of what I’m pedaling.

As we get closer to the end of November, and prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US, I am reminded that although I’m not in support of the origination of this particular holiday, I am thankful/grateful for many things – including having the opportunity to even experience cycling burnout.

Although I haven’t done a ton of writing during the latter portion of this year, I have been busy riding, making, working, and carrying on with life’s happenings. It’s been challenging to find time to sit and write about everything, and then it can sometimes feel as though too much time has passed to bother writing. I expect that 2020 is going to bring about some changes and I’m doing my best to prepare both physically and mentally for what may be on the way, and that includes letting my body have a cycling break when needed.

So, to anyone who’s also experiencing a bit of cycling burnout this year, I hope you’re giving yourself a break when needed, allowing your body time to heal as it asks, and remaining grateful that our bodies allow us to continue to ride, walk, run and participate in the many activities life offers. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, safe Thanksgiving — that’s free of any type of burnout!

Thankful for Bicycles

My foot hovered over the pedal of the bike, brain hesitating, unsure of whether or not I really wanted to set out in the cold. As I stood shivering on a cloudy, thirty-degree day, I questioned my sanity for a brief moment. Four brown eyes, attached to two furry pups, stared out at me from inside the house. The warm house.  It'd be so much nicer to snuggle up with them, I thought. There was a stack of dishes in the sink, a house begging to be cleaned, and a dozen other various "things" that needed to be accomplished, but none of that mattered. My leg pressed down on the pedal and I was off.

Fall is a banner time for me to ride. Nearly without fail, October and November tend to be the months I ride the most throughout any year. Even though the weather is entirely unpredictable during these two months, I find myself wanting to push and/or see what I can accomplish before the end of the year. In part, I ride more during these months because of that desire to give it my all before the year runs out, but it's also when I feel most connected to my environment and have settled into my bikes. It's that time before I know it will be difficult to find a day to ride that doesn't include iced-over roads or that isn't so cold I have to talk myself into even wanting to step outside.

On this day, as I set out, the air is beyond brisk. Somehow, when the sun isn't shining, low temperature days feel inequitably colder. My bones feel chilled, even with enough layers. Still, I have this unspeakable desire to be outside and to pedal out the chaos of thoughts running through my head. There's something of beauty in the rhythmic patterns of turning a bicycle crank that evens out all the other disorder in life.

Normally one to avoid climbing, I'm craving it today. I head in the only direction that will almost immediately have me head up a hill. Huffing and puffing, my body pushes to turn the crank, and slowly I make my way upward. My mind is telling me I can fly up the relatively brief incline, but as reality sets in, I have to make peace with my idealized self and the far more harsh reality.

I briefly chastise myself for not working harder through the summer and even years prior, and then ultimately relax and allow my body to work its way through the task. Berating myself will accomplish nothing. I continue to work, now in intervals, pushing as hard as possible for 20 seconds and then soft-pedaling for 40 seconds. This becomes its own rhythm through the ride that requires my sole focus. The thoughts that had occupied my mind just a few minutes prior have no space in this place. They are forgotten memories, or at least temporarily belayed, that do not require my immediate attention.

The wheels are flying, almost floating, breezing over whatever comes into view. Golden-red, deep green and brown leaves litter the path, creating shapes and patterns, images that my mind attempts to make sense of without success. The cold air freezes my face, but I can't help but let out a smile. My legs feel made of steel and simultaneously light as feathers. I could ride this way forever. There's a perfect cadence, whether softly pedaling or pushing, that seems to be bringing together a sublime pace. All that exists here in this time is euphoria.

It's one of the reasons I ride -- for these flashes in time that feel inexplicably perfect, when life melts away and the only thing that exists is a moment that makes me feel like a superstar cyclist that I definitely am not.

*Image can be found on this site

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving here in the US, I am grateful for a body that allows me to move (even if it has hiccups or doles out pain at times), for bicycles that allow me to transport myself with relative ease to get where I need to go and/or for sport (and often for head-clearing purposes too), and for those who continue to travel along life's journey with me.

May this autumn season bring you closer to those you love and provide a generous allowance of time for riding your bicycle(s). Happy Thanksgiving to all who read here on E.V.L.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's late in the day, but I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope you've spent it with people you love and care about, and that you had the opportunity to get outside, if only for a brief amount of time.

We spent the morning and early afternoon riding together and had a wonderful time. We arrived back home tired, but grateful for the ability to be together, that our bodies allow us to move, and that we were able to spend a good chunk of the day enjoying the beautiful scenery around us. Despite believing that Sam was trying to kill me with a climb I wasn't quite prepared physically to complete, I am thankful that we were able to test some limits and that we made it back home in one piece. In the end, we earned our pumpkin pie today.

Happy Thanksgiving! May we find things each day to be grateful for as we move deeper into the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On a recent Flickr hunt to find a specific photo taken several years ago, I came to a conclusion that I hadn't realized until the evidence was right in front of me. Apparently, I have a "spot" in which I like to stop to take photos while out riding. I'm sure it's not as uncommon as it may initially have seemed to me, but I found it interesting that with nearly every bicycle I've owned (that wasn't used only as an around-town bicycle), I have stopped to take a photo at some point in almost the exact same location.

This photo originally stood out because everything seemed so green for the time of year.

It could be proximity to home (the location is only about 8mi/13km away), making it an easy stop off spot on most routes, or perhaps it's simply that I am drawn to something in that particular area that causes me to veer off and stop. I tend to shy away from routine, so it rather surprised me that I have developed an unconscious but regular habit of stopping in this spot - for whatever reason seems to grab me in the moment.

When I came upon this picture of the Velo Orange, I realized it was the same spot I'd stop with the Crown Jewel above to take a photo.

I suppose it's true of many things in life though. It's easy to develop routines without even realizing it's taking place. The older I get, the more I realize it's a part of life and unless I remain vigilant and aware, I can easily fall into habits - whether they are positive, negative, or neutral. Sometimes though, I cannot help but wonder if routine is really so bad.

The water was disappearing from the lake in this picture, but it is, once again, the same spot I'd stopped for so many other photos.

With Thanksgiving upon us, I understand that it is the start of the holiday season for us in the United States. Some look forward to it with great anticipation, while others dread these final weeks of the year for a variety of reasons. I think most of us have traditions or routines that we expect during this season though, and I find myself very aware of my own expectations and habits.

This looks like a different location, but it's actually just a few feet around the corner from the same spots photographed above.

Today, for example, I baked pies in anticipation of Thanksgiving. This year, it was decided that pumpkin and apple were the flavors of choice. We, in our household, do not have a "usual" for this holiday, with the exceptions of making a few homemade pies and having a good workout at some point in the day. I have always enjoyed that our tradition is non-traditional, but it seems that we have still managed to find ways to sneak the expected into our routine.

Not the pretties of apple pies, but it smells good! :)

It has reached a point today that our non-traditional drill has become the tradition and routine of our home, so, even trying to bypass the expected habits we have inadvertently created our own, making a different-from-some-others holiday, yet still somehow routine. It may not be the same as others will celebrate, but I love our developed-over-the-years traditions, and I look forward to getting on a bicycle at some point during the day, even if it's just to wander the unusually empty roads.

Wherever your Thanksgiving finds you, and whatever traditions (or not) you may have, I hope you find enjoyment and peace and that you are able to celebrate, if only for a few minutes, on a bicycle. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the Endless Velo Love household!

Happy Thanksgiving and an Upcoming Giveaway

First, I want to wish all of you here in the U.S. a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope you spend it with those you love - be they friends, family, or both. The E.V.L Thanksgiving will be a simple one this year, but I am thankful to be spending it with those most important to me - both the two-legged and four-legged variety.

*Image found here

We have plans to go for a Thanksgiving day ride as well. Our weather is supposed to be pretty pleasant and I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time on two-wheels without thought of where I'm headed or how fast that ride may or may not be.

For most of my life, this time of year has brought about a season of falling into a retrospective that can leave me feeling drained, alone, and sometimes even a tad bitter. I don't like what this season can do to me because I want to be full of cheer and spend time with those I care about, but it seems that the more festivities I'm invited to share in, the more I withdraw and find excuses not to be around other people.

I am well aware that I am not the only person who falls prey to this season, but it's easy to believe I am the only one who just wants through the holidays. I do my best to put up bright lights and festive decorations, but it can become mentally difficult as the weather turns and it's easier to get caught up in my own head than doing the things I should be doing.

One of the few things that does bring me great joy (really at any point in the year, but specifically during this season) is to be able to give to others. Because I can already feel myself heading down the dark path, I want to get things off to a good start. We've had the opportunity to give a bit already this season to an organization that helps the homeless, and I know I'll be donating to our humane society, but I'd also like to have another go-around with a holiday blog giveaway.

This is where I ask for your input, dear readers. I have a couple of items to give away, but if you have specific bike-related items you'd like to see as part of a blog contest, please let me know in the comments section. In addition, if there's a specific type of contest you'd like to participate in, feel free to let me know that as well. At this point, I'm guessing it will be something similar to the past holiday giveaway, but I am definitely open to ideas.

For those newer to the blog, the last holiday contest was pretty simple (and as a side note, holy cow... has it really been three years since the last one?!). There was a question posted and anyone who chose to participate with an answer was entered into the random electronic drawing and the winner was announced following a certain time cut-off. The prizes generally aren't significant, but it's hopefully a way to bring a little smile into a few of your lives during the hustle and bustle of the season - and to those who don't win anything, hopefully you'll have fun participating in the contest regardless.

So, as you spend the day tomorrow giving thanks for all that we've been blessed with, I would like to thank you for being a reader and continuing to offer your thoughts in regard to my sometimes random or seemingly unintelligible ideas here. I'm looking forward to a fun December with a few bicycle-related giveaways and look forward to an interactive holiday season with you.

Happy Cycling Thanksgiving!

During a holiday that is so often passed over with little if any attention, I spotted a yard the other day full of Thanksgiving decorations, including a giant, air-filled turkey, and I couldn't help but smile. It might seem a little ridiculous, but it was a pleasant surprise to see a family putting in so much effort for a day of giving thanks, rather than jumping immediately into the holiday that follows. It's quite easy for me to skip over this entire time of year without much thought sometimes, so I was reminded to take a moment to be grateful for all that I have been blessed with in life, and particularly during this past year.

*Image here

In no particular order, a few of the many, many things I am so thankful for:

- An online cycling community that allows me to share my random thoughts, and offers feedback and ideas of its own (as a group, as well as on an individual level)

- Warm, wool clothing that helps regulate body temperature during a time of year that can go from fairly warm to well below freezing temperatures

- My bicycles (of course), that keep me wandering year-round

- The house bicycle mechanic (aka Sam), without whom I would no doubt be spending hundreds (dare I say, thousands) of dollars on maintenance, repairs and random part swap-outs

- A healthy, capable body that allows me to continue to pursue all of the activities I enjoy

I hope this holiday finds you enjoying the company of those you love! A very happy Thanksgiving to you and the special people in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving

Image found here

From the E.V.L. household to yours, wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving full of lots of bicycle love!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, it's so nice not to be around the extended family today! I know that sounds horrible, but it's actually been quite enjoyable and relaxing. We woke up, took the dogs to the dog park so they could get some energy out. Then, we rode into town to look for stores that could be open. Shockingly, there really wasn't much open. I always think so many things will be open, but it was kind of nice to see that things weren't crazy. We stopped and had lunch at an open IHOP. I felt bad for the people working because I was remembering my Denny's days and how I always got suckered into working the major holidays. Then we came home and realized that Chablis is really limping... guess we wore her out at the park.

As for the rest of "turkey" day, well, we're not having any sort of food extravaganza, but we will have pumpkin pie. I guess that counts.