Expand Thy Horizons

The power of riding somewhere new can be huge. Don't underestimate its power to shake things up. When things seem stodgy, boring, or run-of-the mill...find a new place to ride. As cyclists, we often get riding myopia. We get way too entrenched in routine and familiarity. Looking back, it seems that many of my best riding experiences were from new places or finding a way to see an old ride in a new light.

Along these lines, I've learned that it's also good to defy convention with your equipment. Set up your bike in a different way. Use a piece of equipment you swore you'd never try. Blow convention out of the water and do it with an M-80 firecracker attitude. Approach change with reckless abandon. Human beings love routine, but what is the human experience if not varied and new?