I Can See A Little LIght, I Know You Will

Conflict. It's all over the news. It's on the roads. No matter where you are, you can probably find some. In those same places you can also find resolution. What you see is from your eyes alone. It's amazing how our lives are filled with beauty that is so often never seen or recognized. What will you do today to see the beauty and the resolution around you?

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I spent my day today cavorting with friends. We talked a lot about bikes, our adventures and misadventures, gossip, world politics, music, the weather and seemingly thousands of other pithy subjects. We had spirited friendly debates, and we renewed old ties and friendships. We created some new friends as well. I'm sure it must sound like a nice, carefree day away from work. For me and my fellow compatriots it was just another day in the bike shop. If you've ever thought that we have it easy and fun working at a bike shop, you're right, we do.

Freaks of the Industry

Why in the world don't my bikes look like anyone else's? I think I have a problem. I have a collection of some of the freakiest bikes in this area code. I guess there just isn't much about "off-the-shelf" bikes that intrigues me. When I do buy a "stock" bike it usually stays that way from the box to the workstand. After that, there are NO rules, and all bets are off. The change is perpetual, and most bikes don't stay the same way for longer than a few weeks or a couple of months. I see some bikes come into the shop that are over ten years old, and they still look the same way that they did the day they were purchased. Many of them still have the size sticker plastered on the downtube like one of Minnie Pearl's tagged hats on Hee-Haw. How drab. What a shame. How am I supposed to know anything about the person who owns this bike? It's kind of like people who drive non-descript burgundy or champagne colored sedans with absolutely no distinguishing features. Although decals of large soccer balls, fuzzy dice, crown-shaped air fresheners, and "My kid is an honor student" bumper stickers are not exactly creative, at least they tell me something about the owner of the vehicle. They've at least gone out of their way to say, "Hey, this is me!" If you haven't already, take the time to make your bicycle (or bicycles) your own. Maybe a bell will do it. Maybe a sticker in just the right place. Maybe some pink streamers, spokey-dokeys, or one of those little plastic license plates with your name on it. Heck, kick it old school and put a baseball card in your spokes. The bicycle is a playful, fun thing. Not only can it propel you through space and time, but it can also be a billboard for the interesting, unique person that you are. How will you say it?

Thanks for Going Along on The Ride

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much I owe to the bicycle. The bicycle has provided me with so much over the years. It's a symbiotic relationship of sorts. I put people on bicycles and sell the bicycle lifestyle, and in return the bicycle provides me with a whole host of things that I could never put a value on. It has always given me a large number of great friends that have in common with me a love for this two-wheeled machine. Any person worth their salt knows that friends are the source of life's wealth. Who cares if your bank account is empty if you have a wealth of friendship? Bicycling has provided me an abundance of acquaintances and friends that each have a special meaning and value to me. I'm sure that without cycling I would still have friends, but cycling friends are special because we have a tie that binds. Our common love keeps bringing us back together. I have now also been blessed with a cycling family. Tania and Ian and I also share this common love, and it brings us together as a family. Every day at work I see the bicycle and its power to transform, empower, and bring joy to people. It changes people's lives in amazing ways. It has certainly changed mine.

Blast From The Past

I awoke early this morning to rumbles of thunder spelling impending doom for my morning ride with my friend Jason. I continued getting ready to go and mounting my fenders on the bike. My drive to Jason's house south of Danville was a downpour of rain nearly the entire way. Just a few minutes before reaching his house I began to spot some breaks in the clouds. He took a few minutes to show me his beautiful 1845 farmhouse that he is restoring. Once we got our bikes ready to go the rain was mostly past. We left his house with just a few sprinkles of rain coming down. That would end up being the only precipiation we would see all morning. We rode west and north from his house to two covered bridges on Big Walnut Creek; Rolling Stone Bridge and Pine Bluff Bridge (both built in 1915). The ride was terrific, and the weather was beautiful. We had lots of rolling hills, and some nice miles of gravel roads. The bridges were a great destination, and they provided an interesting and picturesque stopping point. We both rode our vintage Trek road bikes. Jason recently finished a restoration on a mid-80's Trek tourer. It's gorgeous and it's a great riding bike. I love the aesthetics and the way he's put it together. The riding reminded me very much of my rides that I used to take as a teenager around the rural roads of Huntington County. Old starting point, old destinations, old bikes, and old memories. A great, great day in the saddle.

I Was So Much Older Then, I'm Younger Than That Now

Right now this child is having one of the best nights of sleep that he's ever had. We spent the evening riding at Town Run. He had some crashes that were quite impressive, but he perservered all the way to the end. As evidenced by the photo he's still smiling despite the dents and dings. Taking a kid mountain biking is fantastic. I highly recommend that you take one of your own kids or someone else's. We had a great evening in the woods together. He also got to see some of his favorite people in the parking lot. Even though he's shy, he likes and remembers just about everyone that he meets at the trailhead. He waves and says "Hi" to all that roll or stroll by. While most of us pass by each other silently or give a subtle nod, he gives an enthusiastic greeting as if to say, "Hey, we're out here on a bike ride together!". I think we'd all be a little better off if we were as friendly and approachable as a four year old cyclist. He sees how bikes are the common bond between a lot of really, really great people. Ah, the wisdom of the young.

It's All Ball Bearings These Days

Myself and Team Negative-Nine (Ron, Scott G. and honorary team member Charles) went for a Cave Run adventure just after Memorial Day weekend. We left Indy on Sunday night and camped in Cave Run. On Monday we rode a ton of trails including the 112, Buckskin, Zilpo, and more. One of the highlights of the day was the refreshing swim at the Zilpo beach. On the way back on the Zilpo in-and-out we had a close encounter with a 4+ foot rattlesnake. Ron just missed running him over and he was able to give me enough warning so I could stop short. After a few pictures and a short detour hike, we were on our way again. Cave Run was in pretty good shape, but even in good shape it still delivers large proportions of punishment. Between horse damage, downfall, and some poor trail design it is never a picnic. I would have to say that I recommend Cave Run to only a select few of the hardiest souls that I know. Weak sissies need not apply. It was Ron's first time there, and he'll never be the same. Wait until he sees Idaho. Put it on your calendar, Rabbit. On Tuesday we did my favorite trail at Cave Run; the Sheltowee Trace or what is commonly referred to as the "Arch Trail" or the "Iron Furnace" trail. We rode out to the second arch and back. The horses had beaten the tar out of it over the weekend, but it was still a great day in the saddle. It was one of the best mountain bike trips I've taken in a long time. We laughed a ton, and had a great time. Kudos to Ron for the fantastic dinner fare on Monday night.