Active Exploration

On Thursday I saw Race Across the Sky , the documentary about the Leadville Trail 100, at my local cinema. It is not the best documentary out there, but some of the scenes are awe-inspiring and the race is clearly an amazing experience for all involved. Lance Armstrong, the winner of the race this year, may have his faults but he is such an extraordinary athlete and probably a cool guy to hang with.

Some people love Stan's tubeless system , some people hate it. If you look at internet review sites, it's either got 5 stars or 1 star. I haven't made up my mind yet. I think it is a killer system because of how it performs, but you must recognize that setting it up is an exercise in frustration.  These are the things I have learned since using it.  Lower tire pressures are really nice for mountain biking, like everyone claims. The sealant works. When you get a puncture, it will seal up right away.  You can waste a whole day trying to set it up before you shallow your pride and go to a bike shop where they can do it in 10 minutes. Don't even bother trying to get your tires to seat with a floor pump. Use a compressor. Take your wheels to a gas station or bike shop if you have to. Tubes are way easier. Except that they get flats. Last spring, I decided to jump belatedly on the tubeless tire bandwagon and find out what the big deal was. I bought the Stan's No Tu...

Mountain biking is a spiritual experience. I find peace in the quiet of the woods, humility in the effort that is required, and beauty in the motion between the rider, the bike, and the ground. After every ride, no matter how demanding or bruising it was, I feel refreshed. I have sweated out any negativity and cleared my mind of chaotic thoughts. There is no time for mental chatter when a moment's inattention in a rock garden means breaking a bone. Riding purifies me. Today I had to attend an event for work. I brought my bike in order to ride afterwards at a nearby park. The event went longer than expected, and then traffic on the drive delayed me further. I was annoyed and tense all the way there; muttering to myself. Then I arrived, unpacked, and rode 15 miles. On the way home there was traffic too, but I didn't care. I was at peace.