Wow. When I take a break. . .I take a BREAK. The funny thing is - I had one of my most amazing years of mountain biking ever! ~~and yoga! At the moment my mind is on snow but perhaps I will re-live some of this past season's rides in my blog soon.

Curious plant. . .how did poison oak find its way to my forehead and between my toes?

Purple Dynastar Cruiser
Specialized Enduro Pro
Butter Yellow Soulcraft Road Bike
Fox Fork for Singlespeed
Rainier's old handmade Track Bike

Choice vs. Chance



It is necessary to make choices. We make choices everyday. Sometimes there are so many choices that it seems overwhelming. Is life really a 'choose your own adventure' novel? How in (or out) of control are we?



I'm going to reflect on a small choice that will be part of my regular life again soon. To drive or to ride? It seems like an easy decision -- ride. It is easy when it is the only option. I have ridden my bike more in the past six days around the city than I did in four weeks of guiding.



I met my goal. I have been without a vehicle for more than a year. I'm excited about owning a vehicle again but I don't want to lose my habit and commitment to use my bicycle as transportation.

skunks, singlespeeds, and sex

Why do I night ride? Why do I singlespeed?

Sunset to stars. Feeling alive. Help, I can't see. Does it really matter? Trust your body and the bike. What about the surprises? The roots in the trail. I'm going too fast. Slow down. You don't have insurance. This could hurt. How is this working? How am I not crashing? Alive. I can't see the trail. Pedal harder. You can't see the top of the hill so just keep peddling.

Commotion ahead. There is a skunk in the trail. I hope Socrates doesn' t get sprayed. I hope he doesn't get in a fight with a wild animal. He made it. But will I? I hear the skunk but I can no longer see it. Ride faster.

My light shines on my dog, Socrates, and I can see my happiness reflected back at me through him. His tongue is hanging below his collar and his smile is so wide that I can see each and every tooth in his mouth.

I'm lost. I've never been on this section of trail before. I don't know how much time is left on the borrowed light. My own crappy NiteRider light dimmed out within the first 45 minutes. I'm not afraid. I will walk out in the dark if I need to. I feel the forest differently without my heart pounding in my ears. My light shines on a spider web taller than me. I feel like an animal other than Socrates is watching me from the darkness.

Found. Embraced. Why am I not excited to be found? I am excited to be riding again. I was starting to get cold.

It is pretty impressive what we will do to feel alive.
Sex should be like riding a singlespeed at night. Simple. Hard. You may not know where you are going but you know what you want it to feel like.

Life is full of contractions.

Re-Awakening the Explorer

The awesome folks at Peaked Sports in Driggs, Idaho gave me a bike and pointed me in the direction of Big Holes. I rode un-marked singletrack and cowtrack that noodled thru aspen and fields of sage until my lungs began to ache. Altitude? Lingering chest cold? There is always tomorrow.

Driggs reminds me of Moab before it was exploited. Driggs is close to Jackson so it isn't a secret. In fact, development is happening in all directions around Driggs. The thing about it is that it is small, really small (the town, that is). The land around it, available for recreation, seems to be vast and relatively less traveled than other places I've been.

A woman I ran into in town said a 'fixer-upper' goes for over $300,000. So obviously I'm too late to buy into paradise before it is discovered.

Today this is enough. . .yesterday I wanted more.

When do you say "when?"

A few days ago I was feeling over-extended on the Slickrock Bike Trail. I was only on the stick of the lollipop and feeling very tired and challenged. I told myself I could turn around once I reached the place where the loop begins. I reached that place and collapsed onto the rock, sucking wind. I had just barely regained composure when I heard people coming up the trail. I nodded a 'hello' and attempted to hide the fact that I was gasping for air

While resting a whole series of thoughts went through my head. When I stood up I knew that I wasn't going to be turning around quite yet. It would be months before I would have another opportunity to ride this trail. Besides, I had only been riding for thirty minutes.

I mounted my bike and took off for several miles of steep climbs and descents. Once I was in motion on the candy portion of the lollipop I knew I wouldn't turn around. I had committed to push myself. I felt satisfied when I finished a couple of hours later. I knew that I would have been disappointed had I turned around and only completed the stick of the lollipop.

The next day I took a friend riding on a different trail. She told me that she was over extended. I sensed that if we continued it would put her in an uncomfortable place. I encouraged her to cut the ride a little shorter in an effort to encourage her to take care of herself. As I reflect upon the different choices I wonder. . . when is it right to push and when is it right to relax?

They are both valid actions. They each have potential rewards. When do you know which is right for you?