Happy New Year

We made it! Through all the trials of 2020, we made it to the other side! Although I realize we’re not through much of what made it a challenging year, it’s nice to have a fresh start and hope for things to improve in the near future. Despite the roughness, there were bright spots during the year, lessons that I know I learned, and moments that were enjoyable, even if they seemed few and far between.

A beautiful sunrise captured early in 2020… the promise of a great year, I believed at the time.

At the end of 2019/early 2020, I thought for sure we were on the verge of losing our Labrador. She has surprised us though and remains solidly moving toward her 15th birthday. As stated at the time of the post about her, she is stubborn and I know she’ll stay with us as long as she likes and will likely go out on her terms. I have no complaints about this. I worry about her some days, but I enjoy that she is finding new ways to enjoy life in her senior years.

Resting in the mountains during one of our biggest rides this year. It was a challenge to climb some steep and slippery terrain (in spots), but it was great fun to do so together.

This year, I took many solo rides to locations I would’ve never ridden alone in the past. I think I’ve grown more confident in my ability to take on riding challenges this year, and I know this likely wouldn’t have happened without the time Sam and I spend together riding the tandem. Becoming a stronger captain has been one of my goals because I don’t like feeling as though I am stunting our potential being the weak link in our duo. At the end of the year, I am finally starting to believe that I can pull my own weight, and although it’s taken a few years, it’s a nice feeling to know I’m not completely dependent on my much stronger stoker.

Taken at the start of the only event we participated in this year in February… Sam was riding a 100k ride, while I was running a 10k run with a friend and our dogs. Unfortunately, it got cancelled soon after the start due to some pretty intense weather conditions.

Usually, we both find events to participate in throughout the year, whether on foot or bike. Of course, this year most events were cancelled (rightly so), so finding other ways to challenge ourselves became a different sort of self-contest. Initially, we thought there may be hope for some events later in the year, but soon into the virus mess, we knew there weren’t going to be group gatherings for quite awhile. We have both missed going to the gym, but we were able to gather enough free or very inexpensive equipment to make a home-gym in the garage, which has helped.

An extremely rainy ride in the cold. I left in the warmth of the sun and was quickly greeted by some very cold, pelting rain, but I was still having fun.

Somehow, I managed to ride more miles than I ever have in a single year, even slightly edging out Sam (which has never been possible for me in the past). Weirdly though, I didn’t complete a single ride longer than mid-60 miles in length in 2020. I ended up a few average-length rides shy of 9,000 miles… which, for many, is a drop in the bucket, but for me was quite an accomplishment, particularly given how slowly I tend to ride most days. I suppose it helped that work was limited this year and I needed something to distract myself. Riding seemed to fill a bit of the emptiness and I used cycling as much as I could to release emotions and tension.

This was just a gorgeous day! The sun was shining, everything was green, and I enjoyed every moment of the ride.

In that vein, this year has also taught me that no amount of strength training can take the place of physically climbing hills/mountains on a bike. The training certainly helps reinforce the rides, but there doesn’t seem to be a substitute for actually doing the work. This may seem obvious to most, but somehow that light bulb just didn’t switch on for me until this year. After accepting that I would be slow and just doing the work, I feel like climbing is slowly but surely getting a bit better. I’m still slow, but I can feel that each time I climb things get a little bit easier to deal with and I even occasionally look forward to it (something I never thought would happen). I know that I won’t ever be a super-star climber, for various reasons, but I appreciate that I don’t dread it the way I once did.

Enjoying a slow ride on my old friend, the Rivendell.

I reacquainted myself with an old two-wheeled friend, which helped me remember that not everything has to be a race, and just enjoying the ride, at whatever pace, is what it’s really about.

We dealt with incredible fires that ravaged the entire western US and left us breathing a little extra poorly. Never was I so grateful for the cold weather to set in to help with extinguishing the raging catastrophes. One got so close that there was a brief threat of evacuation that put us all a bit on edge and many close by lost a lot, unfortunately.

I made art, but didn’t sell much. It’s a challenging thing to figure out the virtual world of selling when so many like to physically see work in person before plunking down money. I can’t blame anyone for that, as I have very much the same feelings. It doesn’t help matters that so many are unemployed right now and art is the last thing people are looking for when finances are tight. I hope that there will by physical fairs and markets in 2021, but I realize we are a bit out from that hopefulness, too.

I made bread (like most), and pies, cakes, cookies and more. Though not as much as I generally would, I suppose. Despite the baking, I feel more fit than I have in quite awhile, but that could be because I mostly made and didn’t consume much.

For those who have interest in such things, here are the more solid numbers (or at least those I recorded, as I tend not to record transportation rides). I spent:

--> 605+ hours riding a bike, or 8,922 miles

--> 386+ hours running or walking dogs, or 1,302 miles

--> 205 hours (and some change) working out in some other form

I did not accomplish as much as I had hoped this year, and mostly I have only myself to blame.

I had hoped to use some of my spare time to get better at Spanish (many of the classes I subbed in before COVID had students who only spoke limited English, and as many years as I’ve taken of Spanish, I still don’t really seem to be able to get it to stick… at least to a point that I am somewhat comfortable). This one is particularly disappointing for me… no me gusta.

I had planned several longer rides that never happened. On the list was my first 200k, but it just didn’t take priority, and several other 100+ mile rides.

I had projects around the house to complete that also didn’t get done (such as repainting gutters/fences/decks and finally turning a trash find into a usable piece of furniture).

Although I have enjoyed some of this year, I can’t help but hold out hope that 2021 will be a better year for all of us. I hope that you’ve found bright spots during the year as well and that you and yours have remained healthy and well. Please feel free to share your highlights (or low lights) too. Wishing you the very best in the coming year.

Happy New Year!!!!!

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!

Goodbye 2019

Despite falling short of my writing and photo-taking goals, it’s been a very full, eventful year. I’m having a difficult time processing that 2019 is nearly over and that we’re moving on to the next decade very shortly. It’s felt like a good year in many ways and so I wanted to take a little time to relive some of the highlights.

As we started off 2019, the weather was quite good. Being able to ride through the majority of winter without struggles, too many layers, or loads of ice was really a beautiful gift. The cold may have lasted longer into spring than we’d have liked, but the trade-off was worth it.

In 2018, I was disappointed in my ability to maintain consistency throughout the year, so although I didn’t want to become bored with activities, I wanted to ensure that I stayed active in cycling, walking/jogging, and the gym. The early part of the year was much better in 2019 than in the year prior, so I believed that would keep me focused through the months to come.

In early April, we rode our first century of the year. It was the first 100-miler I’d done in about six years and it was our first ride of that distance together on the tandem. The lapping route created was something that we thought would be a bit boring, but actually turned into a fun adventure.

Smiling through the cold days… even though they lasted a little longer than we’d have liked.

In June, we took on our first organized century on the tandem. I was nervous about the ride because it had a long, steep climb involved. Although the long climb was definitely slow for us, it was a great challenge (and the descent on the backside was incredibly fun). Having an opportunity to ride in areas that we don’t usually travel was a fantastic way to see new possibilities as well.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our tandem rides.

In July, we visited a more western spot in our state while attending a friend’s wedding. This allowed us to explore a Rails-to-Trails route from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado. Although our time was limited and we didn’t get to ride the entire distance, what we were able to experience had us wishing for more of these types of paths to ride throughout the country.

Riding the Rails-to-Trails path from Glenwood Springs to Carbondale, Colorado

A sort of miniature goal I set for myself at the beginning of the year was to get in at least 1,050 minutes (17.5 hours) of moderate intensity movement each week. I arrived at this number because of the suggested time of 150 minutes per week and thought it would be interesting to see if I could instead average 150 minutes each day during each week over the course of the year. I am excited to say that I only missed my goal 4 weeks out of the year, I far surpassed this goal most weeks during the year, and the few weeks I fell short I missed the goal by only a short amount of time.

By early October, I’d reached my mileage goal for cycling and am ending the year about 1,600 miles beyond what I’d hoped to achieve, not including transportation miles, which would bump numbers up higher. Mileage on foot was more than I’d expected as well, and though I admit it’s a pittance compared to dedicated runners, I thought the nearly 1,200 miles was a good number for me, especially in combination with other activities.

Of course, there were still things I’d hoped to complete before year’s end that didn’t quite happen. I’d wanted to do a solo century, which I had planned to ride just prior to Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, this coincided with a large snow storm that dropped about a foot and a half of snow on us, which nixed that plan. We’d also wanted to attempt our first 200km ride, but time just got away from us and as the weather turned and days got shorter we knew it was unlikely to complete the goal in 2019.

I had also wanted to do some sort of race on my own this year, but that didn’t come to fruition. Sam, however, raced in Leadville at the Silver Rush 50 MTB and in Flagstaff for the Barn Burner 104.

There were some bicycle exchanges that took place as well. My road bike and mountain bike were sold off and replaced with a different road bike and a gravel bike. I’ve been happy with the change-outs for both bikes, but having only been able to ride them each for a couple of months, I’m reserving final judgement until I have more time. We also sold the Hubbuhubbuh tandem, deciding that because it was really too big for us, it didn’t make sense to keep it. The family who purchased the tandem is thoroughly enjoying it though from what we’ve heard, which made us happy.

Despite the stupid look on my face (and the dirty mirror), I was feeling pretty strong in this photo. As I said in my Insta post at the time, I’m grateful for my thick legs and arms that give me the power to do the things I enjoy… and, yes, for those who’ve inquired, I did chop a significant chunk of hair off late in summer (it’s been nice to have the relief — at least until it grows out again).

Overall, I’m ending the year feeling much stronger than I did at the start. There’s always room for improvement, but it’s the first year in several that I’ve felt truly capable and strong. I’ve still had to deal with injuries and ailments throughout the year, but it seems as though I’ve been able to find a balance between caring for injuries and being able to maintain/meet goals.

Although I’ve experienced some burnout toward the end of the year, on the whole, I’m happy with the way the year has played out. I haven’t made any official plans for next year quite yet, but I’m sure there will be ideas forming before I know it.

I hope you’ve experienced a fantastic year and have been able to achieve many if not all of your goals. Please feel free to share how your year has gone and what you hope to achieve in 2020. Wishing you the very best in the coming year.

Happy New Year!!!!

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.

May all your days be bright!

It is truly amazing how swiftly a month can pass! I suppose during the holiday season, time seems to pick up a quicker pace anyway - though that was definitely not the case as a child. I can recall my parents talking about time moving faster or slower when I was young, and it made no sense at all. Everything seemed to take an eternity. If we were taking a trip to a location I was excited about or was anxiously awaiting a holiday, that, in fact, seemed to move time in reverse.

*Image found here

Of course, as is almost always the case, as we get older, we begin to realize that much of what our parents stated can often truly become our reality as well. I'm not certain I care for this process of figuring things out, but it is what it is and I suppose there isn't much to be done about it. Just as I cannot seem to stop the wrinkles from coming to my hands and face, time will do what it does, moving at exactly the same standard, even if I perceive or experience it at seemingly different rates.

Although I've never quite identified with trying to keep wrinkles at bay, I understand wanting to maintain a youthful appearance in some manner. To me, wrinkles have always signified wisdom (at least for some individuals), and what could be more wonderful than to have knowledge and experience under my belt? Growing older though also means we are coming ever-closer to the end of our physical existence and that can bring up a whole slew of thoughts and emotions too. Perhaps this is all a part of societal need to maintain a youthful appearance.

Oh, how I have digressed already and I haven't even begun! Apparently, age is not bringing me wisdom, it is simply having me ramble on sooner in conversation (and writing). My original point was that it has been a month since my last post and it seems as though it has been but a few days in my own mind.

This season brings with it interesting emotions. I am always a little anxious as holidays were not the best in my youth (though thankfully much of that has resolved now well into adulthood). I also feel a need to review the year, even if only in some small way, to remind myself what was (and wasn't) accomplished in the prior 365 days. But that, I suppose, in and of itself is arbitrary, as self-evaluation should truly be ongoing, I think. Although not really a resolution sort of person, I do enjoy reflection and possibilities.

As can happen, this space has taken a backseat to other priorities in life. I have accepted that I will have times when I feel the need (and have the time) to write more often than others and as long as I have some sort of desire to share bicycle-related items, I will continue to keep this space alive in some way. I am thankful for applications like Instagram and Twitter, where it is easier to make and read quick posts and share in-the-moment thoughts and experiences with others. I'm still not the best with regular check-ins to those places either, but I find it to be a much easier space to connect with others, so if you ever have the desire to check in without sending an e-mail, it's likely I've put a photo or some sort of communication up in one of those places.

I took a very part time job this year as a school crossing guard. It's provided more examples and perspective of both polite and completely unaware road users. Requiring relative stillness for a small stretch of time (meaning, I don't leave the corner during my shift), I've witnessed so many dangerous activities taking place in a residential area that has multiple schools within a couple of blocks of one another, so I can imagine it's far worse in higher density areas.

Despite my personal awareness that road users are often oblivious to pedestrians and cyclists, I find this little segment of time each day has reinforced and strengthened my belief that something needs to be done about distracted and dangerous drivers. These aren't intoxicated drivers; these are the people drinking coffee in their cars while driving to/from work each day, staring down at phones, speeding through areas at a velocity far exceeding the posted limit, most often highly unaware of their surroundings. I don't know how this gets resolved as more distractions seem to get added to automobiles regularly and few people put themselves in the position of pedestrian or cyclist on an everyday basis. Even injuries and deaths don't seem to rid our world of these tendencies toward distraction and inattention.

This year, a bike share system was added to our community. I tried it out myself and occasionally I see users around town, but it does not appear to be the most used service in our city. I am curious to see how this program evolves and whether or not it will remain a part of our area.

Participating in my first duathlon this year was a big milestone. When I signed up, I didn't believe it would be as difficult as it was, but I also didn't expect to be injured when starting the race. As with most challenging things in life, I learned my lessons and hope to find new ways to test myself in the coming year. Who knows? Maybe another duathlon is in my future.

Sharing some thoughts on my personal frustrations with they cycling industry was therapeutic, but didn't necessarily resolve much. Every year I hold out hope that one day it will no longer be a necessity for me to write about the shortcomings I see as a consumer. I know there are others who are frustrated as well, so I still hold out hope that things can and will change. Sometimes, it just takes enough voices willing to persist.

*Image found here, where you can purchase this card on Etsy.

Perhaps one of the most exciting activities/moments for me was when we received our tandem bicycle. I have become completely enamored of riding together to the point that it's all I seem to want to do (I still ride my own bikes, never fear, but often I find myself daydreaming about the tandem -- hello, infatuation!). The newness and excitement will no doubt wear at some point, but in the meantime, I am enjoying the together time and seeing what we are capable of accomplishing as a team.

On one hand, it's difficult to believe that an entire year has almost passed, but in the next breath I would say that much has also taken place in that same span of time. We have been presented with challenges both small and large, but these are the things that keep us interested in life and moving towards personal and societal betterment.

I am never quite able to predict what the coming year has in store, but I always look forward to it. I am grateful for those who read and comment here, whether or not we share the same opinions on a matter. Having some sort of connection with people just a few miles away, or across several hundreds or thousands of miles is truly amazing, and I do not for one moment take for granted our ability to have a small amount of space in each other's lives.

My wish for all who read here is that you have experienced a year full of all the best life has to offer, that you are able to spend the holiday season with those you love, and that the new year brings peace (though never at the expense of sacrificing morality or beliefs), success in whatever areas you choose to pursue, and of course, the most fantastic rides on a bicycle.

Happy Holidays and tailwinds to all, and a wish for a 2018 full of adventure!

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 Holidays to All!

It's kind of fun when Hannukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa all coincide time-wise on the calendar. Starting December 24, 25, and 26th respectively, it truly feels appropriate to wish a happy holiday season to everyone today. Even if you celebrate Festivus or Winter Solstice...or no particular holiday at all, these holidays coming around the same time of year seem to bring out (mostly) good in humanity. It's a lovely thing to observe.

A week and a half ago, we were told locally to expect a big snow storm on the 24th carrying through the 25th. By the early part of this week though, the storm seemed to have vanished off the radar and there would be no snow at all (outside of the mountains anyway) anytime in the near future.

But, as we stood looking from our front window out onto barren trees and sticks that were formerly bushes this morning, snow flakes began to fall. At first we thought it was just passing by with a few flurries, but it began to get stronger and the powder started to stick. 

Sam's first thought: "We need to go on a fat bike ride!" And so, we did. It wasn't a particularly long ride, and not nearly as cold as I'd expected (though much windier than I'd have preferred), but it was so much fun.

Wishing you and yours a lovely season and hoping you get to go on many enjoyable bike rides, no matter what the weather. Happy Holidays to everyone who reads here. Stay safe, keep warm, and enjoy.

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

With only a short amount of 2015 remaining, I've been reflecting on this year just as many do during this time. While I'm not generally a new year goal setter, I do like to take inventory of what has been accomplished in the previous twelve months and to think about possibilities for the coming year. And, yes, that is pretty much what a goal consists of (evaluating the past and setting intentions for the future), but I always hesitate to officially call them goals. Instead, I'll simply call these some thoughts on 2015 for me personally, and I hope you'll take a moment to share your own reflections on this year and/or your hopes and goals for 2016.

As I look back, I have realized that riding a bike has not been much of a priority this year. Well, I should rephrase that a bit because that statement creates a reality that isn't quite accurate. I have wanted to ride more than I have, but there have been reasons that have kept me from doing so. Among the reasons were lengthy home renovations, injuries, and a whole mess with bikes that actually started back in 2013.

The good that has come from all of it is that these unwanted hiccups caused me to do far less road riding and a lot more transportation riding. My Garmin has been pretty much tucked away in a drawer for a good majority of the year, and in many ways it has been a freeing experience. The part of me that likes to know how many miles are on a particular bike is frustrated by this reality, but it's amazing how much mental stress is removed when there isn't a small device in front of me telling me to move faster or to go farther.  I have been able to go back to enjoying riding a bike and I hope that - if or when the Garmin returns - I find balance in all things and keep the mental freedom that was renewed this year.

I've realized just how much I missed riding for pleasure or transportation rather than looking to accomplish some type of time, distance, or climbing goal over this past year. Although I'd prefer to have both physical goals and the joy of simple rides to get to a destination, I have appreciated the break that has allowed me to recognize that my path strayed a bit farther than I wanted, and I hope that 2016 brings healing to both emotional and physical wounds from chaos that I, at least partially, created (unwittingly) for myself.

Injuries have been a big part of 2015 as well. The year started with overuse/fatigue from renovations and then continued as I dealt with long standing injuries that have been ignored for far too long. I have a long way to go in many respects, but I feel good knowing that I've at least taken steps to get on a better path and there is hope and actual healing taking place.

As I grow older (whether I like it or not), I understand that the seemingly small injuries have a way of becoming bigger problems when they are ignored. I also accept that there may likely be limitations to what I can ever physically accomplish (I'll thank faulty genetics for some of that and my own stupidity for others), but it doesn't mean that I cannot work towards accomplishing more and feeling better.

In a household where bicycles have a tendency to come and go, this has been a year of plentiful change for both of us. In fact, there isn't much (frame-wise anyway) that remains from 2014. I have tried to view it as a restructuring year. Like any struggling team in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL these seasons are needed to grow and become stronger. While I desperately want to have a settled "team" that just works, I understand that for me there is some necessity for trial and error to find that right group of players to help me be my best. What my best is may morph a bit over time as well and I want to have a team that's ready and able for my capabilities at any given moment.

I have great appreciation for the Rivendell Sam Hillborne that has been my steady, true companion over the last several years. As crazy and frantic as some of the bike changes have seemed (and been), it's good to know that there is one that I can depend on no matter what happens. The VO Campeur is also becoming a much-relied-upon friend, and although I can barely pick it up because of the hefty weight with bags, racks, and such, I have found this 2015 addition to have quickly become a reliable and often first-choice ride. Tweaks happen along the way, but overall I am happy and believe this one will stay on board as time moves along.

One of the things I have liked least about this year is that I have allowed all of the above to take a toll on my physical body. As some already know, kickboxing has been a big part of my life for the last four years, but I understand that this sport is an activity that may have to be sidelined if my body continues to rebel. I have appreciated the strength it has brought, but my body has begun to tell me that this may not be the best activity for me moving forward. In combination with having less ability to ride long distances in 2015, I have reworking and rebuilding to do with both my physicality and capacity in the coming year.

In short, for 2016, I hope to physically feel better, be able to ride bikes much more, find stability and function in my bike fold, and to find balance between working hard and enjoying simple rides without (much) purpose.

I've also enjoyed being able to share thoughts that pass - or sometimes get stuck - in my mind.

We've chatted about whether or not expensive bicycles are always quality machines.

There was a personal theory that marriage and bicycles might have some similarities.

I shared a bit about discovering a bicycle again in adulthood and the peace it brought.

Participating in Chasing Mailboxes' Erandonnee event, and starting but not quite finishing up the Coffeeneuring challenge made the list this year.

Riding my sixth Venus de Miles I made a vow that it was my last after too many bad runs at this ride.

I made my first blog demo video, which was odd, but kind of fun - and I was reminded that hearing one's own voice recorded is an odd experience.

I shared some of my favorite set ups for bags and baskets too.

I got to share (at least from an observational point) the Leadville Trail 100 MTB with Sam for the second year in a row... and since I'm on the topic of Sam, he also shared his first time experience with a time trial (and I got to experience the joy of riding a bike in a severe downpour and hail).

Plus, there were so many more moments that made me laugh, smile, cry, ponder and dream.

I really don't know what is in store in 2016. As spring approaches, I tend to start making lofty plans for things that may or may not be attainable, but the winter has already been cold (even though much of the country has experienced unseasonably warm temperatures) and icy, so ideas are popping up before winter has even had an opportunity to settle in.

There is a bit of surprise that comes over me each time I make it through another year with this blog. There are days, sometimes even weeks, during which I wonder why I continue to type out thoughts. More than anything, I appreciate the virtual connections that have been made with others (and the connections to locals who I may not have known or known as well otherwise) and I know it keeps me coming back. I enjoy that there is a large enough readership to often get answers to my questions and/or responses/opposing opinions to my (at times, I'll admit, inane) thoughts, yet it's small enough to feel as though I get to know - at least in a small way - people from around the country and sometimes the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to have a space to share thoughts and experiences, and even more thankful to have people willing to offer their own opinions and know-how.

As we roll into 2016, I hope the new year brings you health, happiness and an abundance of enjoyable rides - in whatever manner you choose. Happy New Year to you and yours, and thank you for continuing to be a part of the E.V.L. circle... and don't forget to share your happenings in 2015 and your goals for the coming year.

Merry Christmas

In the past, I have written here about my general mode of operation during the holiday season. I don't have the best history with Christmas (or Thanksgiving for that matter), having tried many a year over to not fall into depression, and rarely succeeding. There's a history behind it all, but it's something that I seem to fight every time this season comes 'round again.

This year has been different, however. At first I thought it was the distraction of having projects to work on, until I realized that this has been true the last several years as well. What I finally concluded is that it's been my own build up to the holiday, or rather the lack thereof this year.

Virtual holiday cookies... they are far less calorie dense in this form. :)

Normally, I feel my emotions heighten leading up to the big day. I am not exactly certain why I experience this intensification, but I always have some sort of expectation for the day, while this year I have not. I don't expect gifts or things, but rather a day that it just is not - and I have no one to blame for that but myself.

We put up a tree and decorated, donated to organizations in need, and even made baked goods to distribute to friends. The biggest difference has been in my own head though: I have no expectation for the season or the day this year. It's almost as though I've viewed it as any other day, and I think it's been highly beneficial.

I'm actually disturbed by how easy it has been to keep stress away and remain sane this season. This is not to boast by any means, but more to express my own surprise with this realization that I don't have to let the season take control of my state of being. Peaceful is the word I'd use to describe my mental state, which is absolutely fantastic.

Whether you are enjoying a bit of stress, or relaxing without care, I hope you find happiness in the holiday and the season. If you revel in large amounts of family or prefer to celebrate on a much smaller scale, may you find your own joy however you choose to spend your day.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!

Winner #2 - Random Holiday Giveaway

Thank you to those of you who participated in the second holiday giveaway this year. The winner of the second round is:

Congratulations Bike Nut! Drop me an email (endlessvelolove {at} gmail.com) with your mailing info and I'll get the bike light off to you ASAP.

Happy Holidays to all. I hope you're enjoying the season!

A Heart to Heart

First, I just want to say thanks to those of you who have participated thus far in the giveaways. Giveaway #2 is still up and running, so if you'd like a chance to win, please get your responses in soon (You'll have until Monday morning - Dec. 15 - to get your name in the hat pull).

On that note, I have decided to end the giveaways with that second round. There doesn't quite seem to be the interest that there has in the past (and that's completely okay) but I still want to do something with the items I had ready to go. I'm debating what to do, but I'll either donate them to a local bicycle group that can give the items to those less fortunate, or I may store them for a bit and decide what to do after we're through the holidays. Either way, the items will find a way into the hands of someone who will use them and/or enjoy them.

*Image found here

If this blog is still up and functioning, I may simply do one-at-a-time giveaways over the next year. It's difficult to say at this point.

Which brings me to my next point for this post: The blog itself. The last several months I have been debating whether or not to continue the blog. It's not the first time I've questioned why I continue to write here, and if the blog continues to exist, I'm sure it won't be the last, but I have seriously pondered walking away. I have been writing here about bicycles and related topics for the last nearly seven years and it's difficult to think about giving up on it.

I started writing as a way to document my own experiences and to use this platform more as a journal type of spot and it has remained a great location for me to get out my frustrations, ideas, and it has grown into a place to get input from others who may or may not agree with my thoughts.

Right now, I think it's possible that I am clinging to a lost form of communication (It's a bit sad when even blogging seems antiquated). I know that many prefer to get information via Twitter, and while I have an account, I frankly don't use it as much as I should. Twitter is an easy way to get small tidbits of information out without having to sit and think more thoroughly, edit, attach photos, edit the photos as needed, and so on. However, as someone who doesn't sit at a desk a good chunk of the day, it's a bit more challenging to use it regularly.

Even with that, there are so many different ways that people are communicating. Twitter is a big one, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Google+, and on the list could go. It's challenging to keep up with all of the different possible forms of communication in this day.

I wish that I had the time to be active on all of these sites, but the reality is, it can be challenging to choose even one and remain a valid participant. It is really why I have clung more to blogging over the years. It simply made sense to me to have one location to share ideas and then link to the thought via other outlets on the web. I don't know how valid much of this has been, but it's been a lot of fun for me to get feedback from others and to talk with people via e-mail about various happenings with bicycles in their own lives. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

From the beginning, I never sought out a means to be a superstar blogger. I never worried about how many people were reading or whether or not I hit a list of the web's greatest. I know I'm not the best writer and I have never pretended to be. There are those who have found a way to remain relevant, funny and insightful, and I enjoy reading their blogs (and will continue to do so) as well, regardless of what takes place here.

Perhaps in my passiveness with blogging it has prevented me from remaining of interest to others. It's difficult to say as I know there is an ebb and flow to many things in life.

Much of my motivation with the blog has been simply to share my experiences and to get thoughts from others who may have their own opinions. It can be challenging to continue when I'm not sure I should further spout the thoughts in my head or the things that take place every day on a bike. We all have our own experiences and perhaps this space is simply no longer needed or even a source of information -- or perhaps there are just better places to get the information.

While I could go on about reasons for thinking perhaps it's time to give up the blog, there is no point in further boring anyone who does read here. I suppose I have simply reached a juncture at which I must make a decision whether to continue on in this same manner, to move on to other possibilities, or to give up on any/all of it, and I thought it was only fair to share this with those of you who have remained and/or continue to offer your responses.

If I do choose to continue blogging, I know that posts will be sporadic for quite some time. Our family is preparing for yet another move (It's a local move, but it's time to move out of our rental... and, hopefully, we can stay settled a bit longer this time, as moving is getting quite old). With this impending move comes a substantial amount of renovation which is going to keep us busy for some time. I'm expecting long days of labor for many months, so I am already aware that posts will likely be more sparse than even the norm for this space if the blog continues on.

As always, your thoughts are welcome on any/all of this. Perhaps there is a better way to communicate and I should seek it out, or maybe you think blogs are still relevant? While your ideas may or may not influence my decision, I am always open to opinions so feel free to comment here or even drop me an e-mail if that is more comfortable for you.

Thank you to all who have continued to support my sometimes crazy and more often than not erratic posts, and particularly I am grateful to those who have offered your own thoughts along the way. We will see where this journey takes us, but no matter what I am grateful to have had the opportunity to chat with some really amazing individuals along the way. I will keep you posted! {Ha! No pun intended} :O)

Winner #1 - Random Holiday Giveaway

The winner of the first random holiday giveaway is...

Congratulations, Corny! Please drop me an email at endlessvelolove {at} gmail.com with your full mailing information and I will get your gift off to you as soon as possible. Thanks to those who participated and don't forget to enter giveaway #2!

I look forward to more giveaways this holiday season.

Happy Holiday's Random Giveaway #2 - Anonymous Gifting

Before we get started with giveaway #2, a quick reminder that you have until Wednesday, December 3 @ 1:00pm MST to enter giveaway #1, so go and check that one out too!

The holiday season seems to bring out the best in many people. One of the things I enjoy the most this time of year is hearing or reading stories of inspiration or recollections of a moment when a person went out of his/her way to help out someone in need or to make someones day a little more special. The list of tales is quite long and often I am amazed at humanity and our ability to do the right thing when it is most needed, or simply to bring a smile to someones face without expecting anything in return. Stories of mysterious or anonymous gift-givers appear frequently in December and it truly warms my heart.

Personally, there are a lot of stories that have touched me, but there is one in particular that makes me smile (and tear up a bit) each time I watch it.

I encourage you to watch the video, if you haven't seen it, because it really is one of those instances in which no one was expecting to have exactly what they asked for sitting at their destination.

I cannot think of much that is more rewarding than giving without expecting something in return. Some of my favorite memories involve giving a gift to someone I knew was in need and never revealing who the "mystery Santa" was that provided the gift. It's a great feeling, certainly! I always wish that we could all keep the spirit of giving and generosity alive throughout the year.

For this giveaway, I'd love to hear about a time (or more than one, if you choose) that you gave something to a person in need. Did the person know that you were the gift-giver? What was his/her reaction? If you've never had a memorable gift-giving moment with someone, I encourage you to go out and do so and post your response here. It could be something simple like paying for coffee for the person behind you in line, donating to a local organization, or even offering kindness to someone such as opening a door for a person with his/her hands full. There are really so many opportunities every day that I will leave that up to you to decide.

The gift for this round of giveaways is a MonkeyLectric M204 light set.

If you missed my post (or just want more information) about the MonkeyLectric lights, you can find it here. I have really enjoyed using this light so much already this season, and I'm sure I will continue to. Hopefully, one of you will enjoy your own wheel light set very soon.

All entries for this giveaway must be time/date marked no later than Monday, December 15, 2014 at 10:00am MST. Your reply will serve as the date/time stamp, so please check to make sure your response goes through (There have been some issues with Blogger sending comments into a black hole, never to be seen again). I highly recommend copying your response before clicking the reply button. If you don't see that your "comment will be visible after approval," then it probably didn't go through. I'd prefer to delete duplicates than have someone miss out, so please don't be afraid to send something twice if you're unsure. I will do my best to be quick with approving comments/replies to help facilitate the process as best I can.

The winner will be announced no later than Wednesday, December 17, 2014, so check back here to see if you're the winner.

Happy Holiday's Random Giveaway #1 - Holiday Traditions

Yippee! The first giveaway is ready to go, and I hope you're ready to participate in some of the fun. If you didn't get a chance to read the rules quite yet, please do go here and check them out before posting your response. If you're ready to proceed, please keep reading.

Growing up, I was a ridiculously enthusiastic lover of animals (some things don't change). My love of animals was so great that I often came home with stray cats, frogs I'd found nearby that I thought needed shelter, wounded birds, and so on. It became a bit much, I think, for my parents but they tolerated my need to "protect" the animals from harm. I'm certain it was a little frustrating because some of the animals ended up being pets of neighbors.

Although I don't go to quite the extremes I did as a child, I still find it difficult not to help animals that are lost, injured or homeless. This time of year particularly, I am always grateful for the fur-family and all of the joy they bring into our lives. We have a small shoot each year with the pups just before the holiday season begins and we send the photos out to friends and family.

A small selection of family photos from the holiday season through the years.

At first, the holiday tradition started as a means to give to our local animal shelter, but it's become a fun (and sometimes challenging because the four-legged kids don't always cooperate) way to have a timeline of sorts of the entire family. We enjoy some of the photos more than others, but it's fun to see the changes through the years.

For this particular giveaway, I am wondering what one of your favorite holiday traditions is to do or participate in this time of year? Is there that one thing you look forward to doing each year, or maybe it's the one thing you dread, but still end up appreciating in retrospect?

Bonus Entry: 
A few years ago, Sam and I rode our bikes to the grocery store to pick up a couple of items and came across a wounded animal. If you can tell me the type of animal Sam and I rescued that day in your response, you'll get an extra entry into this giveaway. If you know what I named the animal, you'll receive two extra entries.

The gift for this giveaway will be Caz Nicklin's The Girls' Bicycle Handbook in paperback form.

Men, please don't feel you need to shy away from entering this giveaway. I'm sure there are plenty of females in your lives who would appreciate this book, or perhaps you know someone who is teetering on the edge of giving in to riding a bike? Maybe you yourself would like to give this book the once over? This book is full of bright photos and pulls together a reasonable list of how to's for anyone looking for information or who may be a bit shy asking for help.

All entries for this giveaway must be time/date marked no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 1:00pm MST. Your reply will serve as the date/time stamp, so please check to make sure your response goes through (There have been some issues with Blogger sending comments into a black hole, never to be seen again). I highly recommend copying your response before clicking the reply button. If you don't see that your "comment will be visible after approval," then it probably didn't go through. I'd prefer to delete duplicates than have someone miss out, so please don't be afraid to send something twice if you're unsure. I will do my best to be quick with approving comments/replies to help facilitate the process as best I can.

The winner will be announced no later than Thursday, December 4, 2014, so check back here to see if you're the winner.

I look forward to reading about your favorite holiday traditions!

Happy Holiday's Random Giveaway Contest - 2014 Edition

We have arrived in December! This year has flown by quicker than any I've experienced to date. I'm honestly not sure where all of the time went, but here we are, right in the thick of the holiday season. With that, I am very excited to get started with the random giveaway contest this year, so I thought that now would be a good time to lay out the ground rules for any and all who would like to participate.

*Image found here

First and foremost, this is not meant to be anything stressful or difficult. I want to be able to have the opportunity to share a little something this time of year, and hopefully everyone will have a good time just participating.

Additionally, I know there are many different people who read here that also celebrate a variety of holidays this time of year. Please know that I do my best to keep things as general as I can, but I will apologize in advance if an occasionally-Christmas-specific item pops up. If it does, please feel free to insert your own preferred holiday instead, as I in no way mean to offend or upset anyone.

In the past, I have randomly posted a question or asked for an opinion on a random day and provided a time cut-off for entries. It may be something simple or it could be slightly more complicated. As an example, perhaps I would ask for your favorite holiday song or it may have nothing to do with the holiday season and I'd ask for your favorite bike tale. Really, I've left the possibilities quite open (because sometimes it's nice to have a simple task, and other times it's fun to dig in a little more), so who knows what thought may cross my mind.

As you may notice (if you played the last round a few years ago), the overriding rules have remained pretty much the same. In case you missed the last iteration or need a refresher, here they are again for your review.

These are the things you should know for each giveaway (though exact rules may vary from giveaway to giveaway, these will remain the same, unless otherwise noted in the specific contest):

1) Entrants must have a mailing address within the U.S. to win, but anyone is welcome to share and participate in the individual contests just for fun. Also, if you are outside of the U.S. and are willing to pay the shipping costs of the item, I am happy to send it off to you (or I will pay the costs of shipping in the U.S. and you would pay the difference). If this should apply to you during the game, we'll have an email chat and you can let me know what you've decided. Otherwise, another name will be randomly selected to win the giveaway item.

2) Anyone may enter. As with prior contests though, entry is limited to humans, and my family members are ineligible, though friends... and enemies... are welcome to play along. As stated in the past, I truly hope I don't have enemies, and if I do, please don't identify yourself. I prefer to live in my fantasy world in which we all get along. You may re-gift the item (I'll honestly never know the difference), or if you want me to send the item to a friend instead of you, that's acceptable as well (see rule #1 above if this is applicable).

3) Having the ability to post anonymously on the blog is great - but, for a contest or giveaway, not so much. Because of this, if you are someone who generally posts anonymously, please do include your name (or a nickname, if you prefer to not tell others your real name) with your answer/entry so that I can add you to the entries. If you don't provide a name in some fashion, I won't be able to put your name in the "hat pull" so to speak.

4) Participants may only enter each contest once, but may enter any and all contests.

5) Any taxes, fees, and so on for reporting purposes and other reasons are the responsibility of the winner (Check with your professionals, which is certainly not me. You don't even want to know about the tax bill we received recently because of my mistake three years ago. Needless to say, I am not a tax professional, and probably shouldn't even be doing our own taxes - but I digress).

6) Shipping of each prize will be paid by Endless Velo Love (except as indicated in rule #1, if applicable to you).

7) Please read each contest requirements carefully, as they will likely vary.

8) All winners will be chosen by a random name generator selection process online... which also means that it is possible to win more than once. However, I am placing a limit of two wins for any single person throughout the contest (we have to keep this somewhat fair and spread the love around...you know, to all three of my readers). I don't think anyone was a winner more than once with the last round, but it is possible. 

9) If a prize isn't claimed in a reasonable amount of time, or in the time frame given after the winner is announced, and/or if I am unable to reach the winner, I will move on to the #2 participant or possibly do a new giveaway (completely at my discretion). 

10) Though I'm not a very good rule follower myself, participants must abide by all rules for each contest, or the entry will not be included in the selection process.

For anyone who may be wondering about the random selection process, I don't want any means of interfering with the selection, so I use an online random generation process by putting all names into a list like this:

A sample list of entries for any given giveaway
*Generated at random.org

Then, I hit the "randomize" button toward the bottom of the page and it provides me a ranking for each entry like this:

This is a sample of what might turn out given the list above. In this case, Bernie would be the winner of the giveaway.

It makes things really easy for me so that I don't have to pick favorites from a bunch. Whomever is listed as #1 gets that specific gift. If s/he doesn't respond by the time cutoff, then I move down the list to the #2 person (or do a new giveaway) and so on. If the prize isn't claimed, it goes back into the prize pool and someone else can win it at a later time.

Time is of the essence, both with entering the giveaways and with responding if you are a winner, so please do check in often. Generally speaking, only a few folks have entered each contest in the past, so there are decent odds that you will win something.  I do my best to provide a reasonable amount of time for entries and responses for those who've won; however, having said that, I may allow shorter or longer periods of time for entry, depending on the giveaway, what I have going on in life, and so on... so, as stated early on, please do read each giveaway carefully to know how long you have to enter and check back soon after the end point to see if you've won.

There haven't been an exact number of giveaways set quite yet, so it could end up being just a few or it may turn into more. There may be more than one giveaway in a day, or they may end up being several days apart. Regardless of when they show up here, I hope that you'll participate in the giveaways.

So, what's going to be given away exactly? That's still a bit up in the air, but in the past giveaway items such as a year subscription to a bicycling magazine of your choice, bicycle decor, small personal items, and other such sundries were up for grabs. Generally speaking, all of the giveaways will more than likely have something to do with riding a bike.

I'm excited to get going, so the first giveaway could go up at any time. If you have questions, please feel free to ask away. Otherwise, I'll look forward to hearing from you all soon in the form of your entry. Happy Holidays!!

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 St. Patrick's Day

Wishing you a fun and safe day. Whether Irish or not, hopefully you'll get to enjoy a great day riding your bike {and don't forget to don some green :O)}.

*Image found here

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

Whether you celebrate today or avoid it like the plague, can there ever be too much love in this world? So, just a quick note to wish you a very happy Valentine's Day! May you find love and warmth (and of course a bicycle ride) wherever you are and wherever you may roam on this lovely winter day.

*Image found here

Happy Valentine's Day!

Endless Velo Love and a Happy New Year to All!

Christmas has come and gone, and I have apparently taken the last few weeks to completely step away from this space... and frankly, not just here, but almost any form of social media or blog that I'd normally be waiting to read has fallen off the map. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as everyone needs time to regroup, but that isn't really what I've been doing. I find this time of year to be quite reflective (as it is for many), and I find myself evaluating what has taken place and where I want to go moving forward. Often times this assessment period takes place on a subconscious level (I've never been big on the standard New Year's resolutions). Perhaps on some level I've been regrouping, but deep down I know I've found myself wallowing in a bit of depression (which can be a common experience this time of year).

I've expressed here in the past that when I was a teen, I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to travel and document my experiences on the road - wherever the road took me. I was quite quickly told by family that I didn't have the life experience it would take to be a successful writer, and so I found myself looking at more standard careers. I no longer pursued English or writing classes with the same zealous desire I had prior (which explains my often iffy grammar and punctuation, I know). If I couldn't write, it meant that I'd have to figure out what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I found myself drawn to the arts, but didn't think that I had any of the seemingly magical and mysterious talent for it, and after hearing from particular family members that yet again this was not something that would make a suitable career, I turned my focus elsewhere.

*Image found here

Ultimately, I ended up going through several different jobs (and careers) because I was never truly fulfilled by what I was doing. I worked hard no matter what job I had (even as a teenager), but I always believed that what I do for a living reflects who I am. My jobs have always been all-encompassing and no matter what I was doing I found myself drawn to aspects of the positions that allowed me to be with people, be creative, and/or to write. It's actually surprising within the vast array of jobs I've held how often I was able to work within these areas. People were often draining to my reserves, but I still enjoyed being able to help them in whatever form that took in a particular occupation.

Trying to figure out who I am (and therefore what I should be doing career-wise) has always led me down the path of personality examination. It has come in the form of books, tests, long talks with those who know me well (and sometimes not so well). I can get so wrapped up in discovery that I lose track of everything else taking place around me. In other words, I become entirely self-absorbed - and, I would like to point out, precisely the exact opposite of being helpful to other people.

*Image found here

Deep down, I suppose I really do have an odd personality. On the surface (which is how most people I'm acquainted with know me), I have no doubt that I can sometimes seem cold or uncaring. I may seem aloof or perhaps even hardened. I tend not to share a lot of information about myself, and even though to others I seem to be providing a lot of details as I (sometimes overly enthusiastically) appear to be sharing quite a bit, I am actually adept (without really trying) at saving the important information for the few I hold dear or who I trust. I often have sarcastic thoughts (which more often than not leave the confines of my brain and become released forever into the universe, as I seem to frequently find myself devoid of a proper vocal filter - later regretting and over-thinking what came out of my mouth). I try to play things off as though I'm tough and can take whatever comes at me, but in reality I am affected (often both physically and emotionally) by not only my own erratic emotions, but by those feelings and experiences of folks around me as well. To this day, it is extremely difficult for me to watch someone else cry and not begin crying myself - even when I have little to no attachment to the person or the situation. I guess it could be said that I feel my way through life, rather than always thinking (though I do a lot of thinking and analyzing as well). I believe the appearance of the "hard" exterior comes from knowing that I wear my heart on my sleeve and that I am often deeply affected by the emotions or situations others experience. If I have the appearance of not caring though, people will go about their business and not attempt to interact with me. Sometimes, there just has to be a barrier of protection, especially for someone who seems to go through such an array of emotions on a regular basis.

This is why it never ceases to amaze me when a complete stranger walks up to me and starts to speak (Apparently, my hardened shell isn't as impenetrable as I believe). It happens more often than I would expect, and it always catches me off guard. It also seems to happen just about the time I need to be reminded that I am not the faux-exterior I most often show to the world. These random strangers appear as - for lack of a better term - little guardian angels, offering up words that they couldn't possibly know affect me as deeply as they do.  These unknowns always have the same type of message though. They are quick and exact (as if they know they won't have long to interact with me), and the words are always in regard to a light or an aura that radiates from me. Then, they return to their business as quickly as they appeared, and I am left to wonder why a random individual would approach me to say such a thing.


Just when I think I am devolving into the shell I have created for the world, I am reminded that I cannot hide who I am. Whatever religious (or not) beliefs you may hold, I believe there is an energy that binds us together - that we are, in all reality, that energy - and we cannot escape the tie that links us all as beings on this planet. I think there are some individuals who are more attune to this energy and that for some it takes on a visual form; and thus, I have run-ins with strangers who relay to me a much needed message when I seem to be sinking into my very own personal abyss. I am not a black hole. I am not evil or a bitch (okay, sometimes I am - but, really, don't we all have these moments?) In reality, this is not the time of year to be living in depression because the truth is I am living the life I am supposed to live (even when I make mistakes or bad choices along the way).

*Image found here

In my typical meandering manner, I am attempting to share that I am not ready to give up on this blog (even if I seem to disappear for a time - or even a more extended time). This is my truth space. This is where I get to be me and say whatever comes to mind. Sure, I may get backlash for it (depending on the topic), but it's my space to share thoughts in written form. Not everything appeals to everyone, and sometimes the content is a bit on the light side, but sometimes frivolity is just what is needed. Sometimes the subject is heavy and hard to talk about, but those are important to me as well. Frankly, if I'm going with my theory about us all being the energy of this world, if I'm feeling as though light-heartedness or even a serious talk is needed, perhaps someone else is feeling that as well. I enjoy the conversations I have with people who share similar (or sometimes not-at-all-alike) philosophies, thoughts, values, etc.  I like to chat about others' experiences, and even like to hear from those who think I am way off base because I often find myself struggling, internally battling out two (or more) sides to a problem, question, etc. It's not always easy to pick a side for me (for many reasons). I have strong opinions about certain topics, but I am always willing to listen to someone else's thoughts (even if they sometimes make no sense to me at all).  

*Image found here

I want to have a more regular schedule that doesn't seem so haphazard all the time (hell, I want that in my everyday life, but it ain't happenin'), so I can't promise that is going to take place. The reality is that there is so much going on in life that the blog sometimes has to take a back seat. There simply aren't enough hours in the day (and I am very easily distracted, which doesn't help matters). Rather than making a resolution to write more here, I am just going to say that I will always do my best to be who I am. Sometimes that's cranky, bitchy, slacking off, annoying G.E., and sometimes that is laughing-hysterically-about-nothing, ready-for-fun, sharing a strange anecdote G.E. I am who I am, and while I'm willing to work on things that I know need to evolve, I don't want to lose the core of who I am in the process.

*Image found here

To all of you who read here regularly (or even not so regularly), I appreciate you very much. I feel very fortunate to have a means to communicate with people near and far, and many of you have helped me with my own questions or conundrums along the way. It's not always an easy task to write on a regular basis, but I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with others (and to have those thoughts reciprocated as well). So, a big thanks to all, as well as a very big wish to you and yours for a happy, prosperous, fabulous, biking new year. May it be a wonderful year full of positive change. Happy New Year!