Traveler's Creed - Had to Share

Found this in the blogospere.

"The traveler is expectant and open and sees the beauty in things when others do not. A traveler is good natured to strangers, because he understands our fundamental interdepence with each other. The traveler operates in deep karmic debt and repays what he can when he can, joyfully. The traveler eats heartily, because he understands each meal is a gift. The traveler knows that it is the people, and not always the places, that he will remember long after he has stopped moving. The traveler believes in the fundamental kindness of strangers and walks through crowds with a smile. The traveler knows that enough is plenty and the quest for perfection leads to suffering. The traveler knows that no person is better than anyone else, because he has dined and conversed with kings and knaves and has found joy and sadness in both. The traveler relishes in the idea that all he needs to live can fit in a duffle slung over his shoulder. The traveler talks to every person excitedly because he is fascinated in everyone’s unique narrative. The traveler knows that both moments of exhaulted pleasure and suffering will pass in due course and he is richer for both. The traveler knows he will never be in the same place with the same mind ever again. The traveler sees each day as ripe with possibility and chance encounters. The traveler knows that it is because his journey must one day end, that it has meaning. The traveler’s curiosity trumps his fear. The traveler is thankful for every day he is on the road."

Head on over to http://pathlesspedaled.com/

Ladies and Gents, Step Right Up and Get Your Snake Oil

Ya'll probably remember, in a time long, long, long ago, of Snake Oil being sold as the elixir of life that would "cure" anything and everything, and I do mean everything that ails one. It would cure carbuncles, melancholy, hang nails, baldness, impotence, liver disease, joint pain. On and on and on. Well- I've been drinking my share lately.

If I could bottle up this feeling one gets from exercise, I'd make a bazillion bucks. It's not snake oil - it's very real. My training has been going super well and I can't remember when I have felt this strong. Maybe in my 20's. It's hard work, but the rewards are amazing.

Spring time is a good time to get moving. Hop on that bike and head out. Go ahead, get a bottle of Doc Slogger's Snake Oil Liniment. Cure's what's ail'n yah!   

How to Wear a Cycling Cap

The S.O. forbids me from wearing a cycle cap in public. Not sure why actually. They can be quite dapper. Anyway - thought you might like reading an article on wearing said article.

Cheers!

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/04/how-to-wear-a-cycling-cap/

Fearing the Wrath of God Training

One way to motivate yourself to complete your training program is to sign up for the most heinous, long, miserable event you can find. Just check out these classics like the Markleeville Death Ride, Mount Shasta Summit Ride or the Breathless Agony Century. This will sear the Fear of God in you and keep you pushing the pedals until its time. Back in 2007 when I decided to set course to do my first century ride - I was scared shitless. I had no idea what to expect. I trained like a banshee. This year is much the same, the ride I will do is my first multi-day ride. And it is working - again I am training motivated by fear. Perfect. And in truth, I feel stronger than I ever have. Of course if you're an atheist, this won't work. BTW, another sure fire way is to pay a bunch of money to sign up for a ride. Then, you gotta train since you spent a whole bunch of coin.

Hey- tis the games we must play on ourselves.

Todays LONG ride

Today's docket called for a long ride of endurance miles (every Saturday is the same). Lucky me, it was a beautiful day today. Temps in the low 60s. Cranked 53 miles around Lake Washington. Felt very good until the hills at mile 48. Legs were fine. Just the long ride made my shoulders a bit fatigued.

Click pic for bigger map.

What happens when the tires wear thin?

What happens when we can't do what we want to do anymore? What happens when we can't do what we love anymore? Old-er age has set in. Or perhaps an injury? It happens to us all. Eventually, you wake up one day and realize you're not the person (athlete, artist, business person, lawyer, professor, mother, father) that you used to be. What happens when we have to accept that we are changing? Where is the user's manual for aging?

My training, this season, is decidedly different from the one a few years back. Heck, I thought I could go out and hammer the pedals into submission - just like I did back in 2011 and 2010 and 2009 and 2008. A year later, is a year later. Takes longer to do (50 miles), takes longer to un-do (that long ride recovery pain).

If you put into the Google-izer "exercise slows aging", you'll get 9,940 results. Not too shabby. So in that regard, I'm doing what I am supposed to do to slow the cadence of time. Still... I gotta get it right... To have the proper attitude as I age. Our dog Luna is getting older, grayer. But somehow, her attitude never changes - she is always happy. She must know something I don't know.

Time to Chill

Yes, one can take a break from the slog of training. Tis good for the soul. I'm about 8 weeks out to the ride - a few days in Florida sun is AOK right now. AAAhhhhhh.