Time for a New Years post

In the event that you lost track of time, or spent the last 13 years in a bunker, New Years is coming up. And with it comes all kinds of intentions and pledges, or "resolutions" if you will, to do, well, things in the coming 365. Some people want to go to the gym. Others want to get a new job. Yet others want to run a marathon. And finally, yet more people want to make broad stroked changes in their life. Whatever your goal is, I hope that you find the strength and commitment to follow it through.

Not me, though. I ain't takin' part in all that.

(A perfect example of my standard resolution for the past few years)

I dunno. Maybe it's just me, but I've always found it difficult with following through with New Years resolutions. Save money? Meh. There's so much cool stuff I can buy! Lost 5 lbs? But I like that 5 lbs attached to my body! I don't wanna lose it, because then what happens if I need it? It'll be impossible to find, that's what. Forget about my past mistakes? Sure! That way I can press on to greater mistakes!

In all seriousness though, or for them punk kids and their lingo, "for cereal," my goals for the coming year are pretty simple, and that's because I think it's much easier to set a dozen or so smaller goals for the coming year. Then, when you're riding high off of your success, you'll continue to push yourself to accomplish yet more feats. See? That straight up makes sense right there! So, without further ado, my goals for the 2-0-1-4 are as follows:

1) I live in San Diego. It is always time to be bike riding. So all of the times that I'm not bi-cycle riding, is when I should be riding.

2) Buy one of these. I apologize for not linking to these guys in my cyclists Christmas buying guide. But to be honest, I wanted to keep these all to myself. Then I thought about what how Jensie would feel, so I decided to share after all.

3) Race more. This one is pretty simple. Though this also means I need to figure out when I'm going to sleep, because there's races ALL THE TIMES. 

4) Go to the The Broken Yolk, then order and consume their "Broken Yolk Iron Man and Iron Woman Special." For the uninitiated, it is described as such: "A dozen-egg omelet filled with mushrooms, onions and American cheese smothered with our own house-made chili and more cheese. Served on a 15-inch pizza pan with a generous pile of home fries and two biscuits. No substitutions please. **For one person only and there is one-hour time limit. Winners will go down in history on our Hall of Fame Plaque. GO FOR IT!!!" That sounds pretty easy.

5) A double century. Because I'm masochistic. And I want to lay down the hurt on some friends.

6) Buy more bike stuff (not like that's a surprise!). Specifically, jeans that fit. I mean, I can't be the only cyclist that has this problem, can I?

7) Fix up my single speed. Race it against guys with gears. Beat them. Then drink their tears of sorrow.

8) Don't crash. Especially not on or around the June 15th. Maybe I'll talk about this in a future blog post, but that week in June has it out for me. So I'd just rather avoid it, if I can.

9) Maybe shave my legs before race season starts? Meh. Maybe not. I dunno. That sounds like a lot of work, and I only have three spare blades right now.

10) I dunno. I'll leave this one open. 

What do you guys think my final resolution should be? And what are your resolutions? Do you want to learn a foreign language? Eat a whole pizza by yourself? Maybe eat a whole pizza while learning a new language? Let me know in the comments, guys! Till the next one, ride safe, and keep the rubber side down!

On the importance of group rides

Today, I was out on a group ride with a club that I've ridden with for years, when another buddy and I started talking. During the course of our conversation, he mentioned that over the last couple of years while he's been riding with this group, that he's gotten progressively faster, despite not really varying his workouts. That's when I started thinking that group rides give us much more than we think. They help each and every one of us become better riders, in more ways than one.

So tonight, I want to talk about why group rides are just plain rad. I want to talk about why, regardless of who you're riding with, you're all united by a love of at least one thing: your bicycle. The fact that everyone is out there to ride gives us all a platform from which to launch talking to one another. And how a group ride is a sort of ambassador to the rest of the world. H.G. Wells once said, "when I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." I believe that there's a threefold reason for this.

First off is the fact that it shows that we all are capable of taking something as basic and rudimentary as a bicycle, and finding joy in using such a vehicle. Bikes not only make you the method of transportation, but they also make you the passenger. You're out there, not only actively participating in riding your bike, but you also get to experience riding your bike. The wind in your hair (through your helmet, of course). The sun on your skin. Hopefully a light breeze. It's all just a rad experience. And it's something that can take you places and will let you experience things that you may not otherwise be a part of.

(I wouldn't have been in a situation like this if I hadn't of started riding.)

Secondly, they make us all better riders. Riding in groups teaches us to hold our lines. It teaches us riding etiquette, like pointing out hazards to our fellow riders, and waiting when someone has a mechanical. We learn not to half wheel, not to randomly slam on our brakes, and to consider the fact that our actions may impact the people around. It also teaches us when to yield to one another, how to react when someone pulls up right next to us, and it makes us really think twice when we hop behind the wheel of a vehicle, and we see someone out riding, hopefully making us better drivers, as well.

(Yeah! Riding close proximity!)

Third(ly), there's the social aspect of it. As I touched on above, when doing a group ride, each and every one of you are there to ride a bike. It forms a link between you, to the person next to you, to the person on your wheel, to the person pulling the group, to the guy on the other side of the road, riding in the opposite direction. Cycling bonds you with other people who you might not otherwise talk to. I've made a lot of great friends because I've been riding my bike. And a good portion of those discussions started with talking about our bikes, or how often we ride, or why we ride. It's not like going to a party where you may not know anyone, or share their interests. There is, I've found, a sort of united brotherhood among cyclists. To the point where we'll always check on a cyclist that's at the side of the road, to make sure that they're OK, regardless the fact that you may have never ridden with them.

(This photo brought to you by a group ride. For charity!)

Now, you may recall that in the beginning of my blog, I said that my friends riding had improved, despite not really varying what he does. But do you know what the secret to his improvement was? He was riding in a group. All it really takes is one or two people in that group to push the pace, or say a few encouraging words, and suddenly the entire group is going faster. Maybe it's because you've got two guys at the front of the group, doing all the work, and pulling everyone else along faster than they've gone before. Or maybe it's because one guy loves climbing hills (hint: I'm not that guy), and so pushes the pace of his group, making them work together, and work harder, to pull him back. And finally, it takes encouragement and hard work. Pro cyclists, or even really good cyclists, are not built in a day. It takes blood, and sweat, and maybe more than a few tears. But some encouraging words can go a really, really long way. Encouraging someone can make their whole day. It can make their whole ride. And the next time they get out on the bike, they may try that extra little bit harder.

The fact of the matter is, I've made some amazing friends while riding my bike. We swap stories. We talk trash to one another. We push each other. And we look out for one another. There are friends I've made cycling that I wouldn't trade for all the IPA I could drink. So get out there, find a group ride, make some friends, and enjoy the fun!

(Some fantastic beer drinking, trash talking, bike riding dudes.)

What cyclists say vs what they mean

So, in case anyone missed it, stuff like this has been floating around for a while. There's also the ever popular Shit Cyclists Say and Shit Mountain Bikers Say videos, as well. But, unlike the videos, in which cyclists mean what they're saying, the things cyclists say aren't always what a cyclist means. So, with that first link as inspiration, I wanna see how many of these things we can crank out.

Say: Yeah, I ride this loop all the time.
Mean: I rode this loop once with friends, 8 years ago, and haven't thought about it since.

Say: My brakes are rubbing.
Mean: Wait. You mean my brakes are adjustable?

Say: This is a social, no drop ride.
Mean: Not only will we need an article of clothing for the search and rescue dogs, we'll also need contact info for your next of kin, so we can inform them of what happened.

Say: This ride only has a few hills that aren't too bad.
Mean: We're basically gonna climb Everest. Twice. With no chance for rest.

Say: Yeah, a spot to refill bottles just up ahead.
Mean: It's another 14 miles till the next water stop.

Say: It shouldn't be that windy for our ride.
Mean: It's gonna gust up to 30 mph. And it'll snow. And hail.

Say: We have a rad descent coming up.
Mean: We're only gonna go downhill for a quarter mile before we climb again. And the downhill is full of potholes!

Say: Yeah, I just got a brand new (insert part name here). It's awesome!
Mean: I paid a lot for this, and I can't tell the difference from what I had before.

Say: I could have beaten you at the sprint, but I sat up because this is a taper week for me.
Mean: You were so far ahead of me, I couldn't even see you over the curvature of the earth!

Say: I totally bonked on my ride.
Mean: I went out riding for 4 hours, and all I took was a stale slice of bread, and a half bottle of water that's been in the bottle for the last 6 months.

Say: (to other riders stopped on the side of the road) You guys OK?
Mean: Oh man. I hope you don't need anything, because all I have is a screwdriver, a bottle opener, and stale slice of bread.

Say: Man, I forgot to grab my shoes before I came to meet up with your guys. Guess I need to skip the ride!
Mean: My shoes are actually in my trunk, I just want to go back home and sleep.

Say: All the Euro pros drink this!
Mean: I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Say: Have you guys seen the course for the Tour de France next year?
Mean: It's gonna be somewhere in France, right?

Say: I totally met Jens Voigt once. He's a super cool guy!
Mean: I tweeted a funny joke to him once, and he retweeted me!

Say: I must have forgotten my tire pump at home. Do you have one I can use real fast?
Mean: I have no tubes, one sock, and I forgot my jersey.

Say: I'm totally carb loading!
Mean: Can I just drink the beer straight from the tap?

Say: This new (insert part here) totally shaves off like, 200 grams!
Mean: What's a "gram?"

Say: I totally do my own bike maintenance.
Mean: I know how to pump up tires, change grips, and clean a chain.

Say: I prefer my hardtail. It's way better on the climbs.
Mean: That's what I heard this one time from a gypsy.

Say: It won't be that cold. You just need arm warmers.
Mean: Bring 3 of your heaviest coats, a Sherpa, and a portable heater.

Say: My local bike shop totally takes care of me.
Mean: They give me 5% off.

Say: This is a team issue jersey.
Mean: I bought it at my local bike shop.

I think that that's all I can come up with. So, tell me guys, what are some things that cyclists have said to you, and what do you think that they mean? Hit me up in the comments below!

On the topic of helmets

So, I've been thinking about this one for a while. Like, months and months kind of a while. To the point that I actually thought about starting this blog back in August or so, and leading off with this post. Then, yesterday, as I was on my ride, when I saw something that reminded me of my post. But I'll get to that.

See, in June of 2012, I was involved in a pretty gnarly crash, which involved me landing on my helmet. During that crash, I ended up with a cracked helmet, and blood coming out of several new wounds. Thankfully, my bike was fine, and I ended up with only a mild concussion. If I wasn't a believer in the humble helmet before, I sure was now.

This was after I got cleaned up.

A bit of shoulder damage.

Back on track, though. During the summer, people, rather obviously, love being outside. Especially here in SoCal. And why wouldn't they? It's sunny, warm, and gorgeous. SoCal during the summer is picturesque, and practically begs you to set foot outside of your climate controlled shelter and get some wind in your hair. During this time, I always see a huge uptick in the number of people riding their bikes, especially families.

Is this you during the summer?

But, here's what gets me. Probably 60% of the parents out with their kids aren't wearing their helmets. Or one parent will be, while the other is rockin' either nothing, or what some friends and I call "the cloth helmet" (see also: hat). This probably bothers me to no end, but I'd like to try and get my thoughts out there, in the hopes that I'll either figure out why people think it's OK to ride without a helmet, or that somebody, preferably a parent, will explain it to me.

Here's my reasoning, though. I think that we can all agree that kids, whether they want to admit it or not, are impressionable, and will take note of decisions and actions that their parents make. While you, as a parent, may tell your child to wear a helmet when going out for a ride, your kid will notice if you choose to wear one or not and may, at a later date, think that they don't need to, simply because you, as their parent, didn't. How many times have you heard a kid swear, because it's something that they heard their parent say? I know, I'm stretching my parallels here, but I really want to drive my point home. My point is, kids are impressionable, and odds are good that they'll mimic the actions of their parents.

Now, you might argue that you're an adult, and that you don't need to wear a helmet because either A) it's not required by law where you are, or B) you almost never ride, so your chances of crashing are greatly reduced, or C) that you're always really, really, really safe. OK. That's all fine and dandy. But the fact of the matter is, accidents do happen. That's why they're called accidents. Everybody plans on being safe. But when you're about to hit the pavement, that plan you had to be safe goes right out the window.

Do you think that Tory planned on crashing?

While the numbers may vary, studies say that wearing a helmet can decrease your chances of a serious or fatal head/brain injury by anywhere from 63-88%. If somebody told you that wearing a helmet while you ride your bike would decrease your phone bill by 63-88%, you'd do it, wouldn't you? So why not wear a helmet, and decrease your chances of suffering a major injury?

"But Ray," you might proclaim. "My helmet is so ugly! That's why I don't wear it!" I'm gonna hit ya with two points here. First off, you can buy another one. Second off, if somebody can get a cat to wear a helmet, you can put one on, too!

The fact of the matter is, accidents happen. You can't predict them. But you can do what you can to minimize any potential injury.

Sorry if this post sounds super preachy. This has always been a big issue with me. And with the holidays right around the corner, I just want to remind everyone to stay safe out there. As a reward, here's a funny cat gif that I chose, just for you guys!

A little gift for the cyclist in your life

In case you didn't know, Christmas is right around the corner. And if you're anything like yours truly, you'll probably put it off until the last minute. However, if you're not like me, and want to get your shopping done early, but don't know what the cyclist in your life wants, then here's just a few ideas. You'll find a little something for every type of cyclist, with a variety of price ranges.

Now, there's just one thing I want to mention here, before we dive in. First off, if I can find the original retailer of an item, and they sell said item on their website, that's the link I'll provide, rather than a link to a big box retailer like Amazon. This is done in accordance with rule 58 (more on the rules below). With that said, let's do this.


1) A bike beer growler holder, courtesy of PedalHappyDesign. Retails for $80. It's essentially what it sounds like. A holder for a beer growler that fastens underneath the riders saddle. Handmade out of leather, they offer a sturdy way of carrying beer home after a trip to a local craft brewery!

2) If your cyclist commutes to work or school, then odds are they already have a messenger bag. But what they don't have is a Keen messenger bag. I actually own the white bag, and fell in love with it from day one. First off, the bags are handmade in the US. Second, the bags are incredibly spacious. I mean, really, really spacious. And third, they're water resistant, which helps if it gets even a little wet when they ride. You can pick one of these bad boys up for $80.

3) There's something chaotic and beautiful about seeing all the pieces of a bike out on display, and this print by Todd McLellan doesn't disappoint. Printed with archival pigment inks onto museum grade paper, it'll last quite a long time, and look sharp for years to come. The prints start at $25 for a 7"x9" print.

4) All cyclists, whether they'll admit it or not, have bikes on the brain all the time. Why not feed the obsession with either Fifty Bicycles That Changed The World ($12.65), or this book by Bike Snob NYC ($20). Seriously. Feed the obsession. Whichever you get, you also want to get them to follow the rules of cycling, right? Get them this book by the Velominati for $17.96, which covers all of the rules of cycling. Like rule #10, which states that "it never gets easier, you just get faster." Or rule #28, which backs me up with I say that "socks can be any damn color you like." With this book, they'll always know the rules!

5) Any of the lubes from the awesome guys over at Gnar Lube. The lubes come in two sizes. The first, 2oz, is either $12 or $14. Or you can just jump up to the 16oz sizes for either $40 or $44. The best part? They sell 4 different flavors. Yeah, you read that right. Each of the 4 lubes has a different scent! Trust me, it's awesome!

6) For $18, one can't do much better than a leather wallet with a bike stenciled on it. Note, that these guys offer free customization on the wallets, which make this an even better deal! This is another item that's handmade in the US.

7) These lights by Knog might not be the brightest out there, but even still, for the price, size, weight, and convenience of charging via USB, I still think they're a pretty good deal.

8) Cyclists spend an embarrassing about of time obsessing over upgrades and maintenance, even to the point that we completely forget about one set of parts that connect us to our bikes: pedals and cleats. Bear in mind, there are a number of different types of pedals and cleats, so you'll need to find out what kind they use and prefer. Unfortunately, this means that I can't help you out with this one too much. Prices can range from $50, on up to $200 and even more. So I'd suggest finding out what type of pedals and cleats they use, and then paying a visit to their preferred bike shop to see how much they run. Bear in mind that for the most part, you can choose to buy either pedals or cleats, if you want. Find someone that works at the store, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If the cyclist in your life races for a team, then it may also help to visit the shop that they're sponsored by (the shop name is usually on the team jersey). When you go in, mention that you're buying for someone who's a member of that team, and you may even nab a discount!

9) An indoor trainer. Cyclists have a love/hate relationship with indoor trainers. In most of the country when the winter comes along, training grinds to a halt. Having an indoor trainer, however, helps out immeasurably, since it allows them to fasten their bike to the trainer and keep the wheels spinning, all in the comfort of home! Prices on these vary, as well, but again, ask bike shop employees. They can point out a decent model for your price point. One tip? When you buy a trainer, also pick up a riser block just like this little guy. Trust me, it helps.

10) A new set of tires. Tires on the bike wear out, just like anything else. These may not be something that they use immediately, but it's something that they will use. Ask your cyclist what kind they use, and what they like. There are as many different types of tires as there are stars in the sky, and getting an idea of what kind they prefer will help out when the big day comes.

11) A Fizik seatpost ring. They retail for $8.99, and have a two part job. First off, they protect the seat tube from water and dirt, and secondly they also act as a handy little seatpost height marker. They're basic, but also pretty genius!

13) Some sports nutrition mix. Everyone has their personal favorite, but I'm most partial to Skratch Labs. The company is all about ingredients that you can pronounce, and they have a fantastic flavor, to boot, without all the gross sugar aftertaste! Really a simple idea that the cyclist in your life will appreciate, simply because they'll use it on just about every ride they do!

14) Finally, some sort of emergency ID. Hopefully they won't ever need it, but in the event that they do, they'll be glad they had it. There are a number of different options available. I, personally, use EID by Ecos, but another really popular option is RoadID. EID starts at $8.95, and features a QR code that can be scanned, pulling up all the relevant information you want it to. RoadID starts at $17.99 for their slim model, and $19.99 for their regular, and lets you choose information to display on the ID.

Well, that's all I've got for now, guys. Cyclists, tell me, what are you guys hoping to get for Christmas? Something on this list? Or did I miss something? If you're buying something for the cyclist in your life, I hope that this list helps out! And I'd love to know what you guys end up with!

So, today I was featured in my company newsletter

I don't have much else to say about it, other than I was pretty nervous when submitting my application to be featured in the company newsletter. But now that it's all said and done, and out there for the world to see, it's not too bad. I figure I may as well do a bit more selfless plugging. So this is me, shamelessly promoting my self promotion, and bragging a little. Plus, there's a rad shot of me and just about every single one of my medals in there, so that's cool. You guys can read it if you want. It's not a bad article. But I guess that means having to link to what they wrote, which sounds like a lot of work, but here it is anyway. Overall, it makes me feel like I've got this little guy cheering me on. 

Short blog today, guys. But I'll see ya around the block.

Why Do I Ride? Part Deux. A Memory Of A Christmas Ride

I was out riding my bike today (obviously), and got to thinking about my first post (a whole week ago!). In it, I said that I don't quite know what motivates me to go out and ride my bike. And I realized something. To some extent, that wasn't quite accurate. See, I've ridden many, many miles. And there's something that comes with all those hours in the saddle: memories. I remember a lot of rides, for everything they are, and everything they aren't. And among them, there's one particular moment on one ride that I remember the most clearly. Till now, it's one that I've kept to myself, simply because of how stunning it was. But I'd like to share it now. I'll try to describe it as well as I can, but sadly, this was one of those things that you just had to be there to enjoy.

Every year, a group that I ride with does a Christmas ride. They leave town the day after Christmas, and drive to the hotel that will serve as their starting/stopping point. Each year, this ride is a 4 day event, spanning a few hundred miles. 2 years ago was my first time on one of these rides. We pack a change of clothes, a few jerseys and bibs, and any little luxuries we can fit into a saddle bag, and we ride. It's a pre-planned course, where we ride from one town to another, and then spend the night in a hotel. Then the next day, we repeat the process, till we complete a big loop, and end up where we started. Then we all pile in the cars, and drive back. To say that it's epic is an understatement. But I digress.

As I said, 2 years ago was my first time. So naturally, I was excited. Until we woke up on the first morning, and I checked the weather report. 27 degrees outside. And I was about to ride my bike for 63 miles. Oh well, I remember thinking. Might as well get this party started. We all threw on all the gear we had, and delayed as long as we could. But that was only for half an hour. Naturally it warmed up on the way, fortunately, but it was still a cold start to the day. In fact, during this first day, one of the guys on the ride, Gimi (like "Jimmy," but with a "g") almost got taken out by a deer, as we descended a hill at nearly 40 MPH. But that's not the memory I wanted to tell you about.

It was on our 3rd day. After that day, we'd just have one more. The only problem was, this would be our longest day. Roughly 80 miles, with over 6000 feet of climbing along the way. Have any of you ever driven along Highway 1, between Carmel and Ragged Point? If not, you need to go. You're on an older, 2 lane highway that runs right along the coast. For my fellow San Diegans, it's like Sunset Cliffs Blvd, except it runs for 70 freaking miles.

Now, on this day, there was rain predicted for the entire duration of our ride. If the first day was cold, then this day was bound to be cold and wet. But we had to get it done. As we rolled out of the grocery store, having all drunk our coffee, we soon left Carmel and headed south. Fortunately, we got lucky, and the rain had stopped just before we left. As we rolled on, we soon found ourselves surrounded by towering forests several stories tall. It was crisp, and cool, and we had the wind at our backs.

As we continued along, the sun peeked over a small, grass covered mountain to our left, causing me to look through the thinning trees in that direction. As I looked, I saw the sun catching the dew on a nearby field, glinting like diamonds. The field was no more than a few dozen feet from us, and on the far side of it, a little over 100 feet, was the most stereotypical, most basic, and most beautiful log house with a white picket fence that I'd ever seen. And between that house and us, standing in the field, cautiously and curiously watching us roll by, was a herd of deer.

It's extremely hard to convey that entire moment. The whole thing lasted just a couple of seconds before it was all swallowed by the surrounding forest. But all I can say is, it was a perfect moment in time. And it's moments like that that motivate me to ride, when all else fails.

To complete the story, we stayed dry the whole day. About 20 miles into that stage, we stopped to eat at a little breakfast house. No sooner had we sat down, than it started raining again. And it rained the whole time we ate. But come time to pay our bills and leave, the rain stopped. For the rest of the day, we chased that storm cell, while we in turn were chased by another one. We neither caught it, nor were we caught. But that day is, in my mind, the most beautiful day I'd spent on a bike.

Why the Turkey Day Ride is the best ride

Before I get into it, I want to preface what I'm about to say with this. I love all my rides. Each and every one is special. The sunny days, where it's a tail wind every direction? Amazing. The average day, when I go out and spin for a couple hours? Unique. The rainy day, where's it's colder than cold, and rain has slipped into every nook and cranny in my body? Exquisite. And yes, there are some rides, on some days, that stand above and beyond the Turkey Day Ride in terms of beauty, or distance, or the feeling of community. But, in my mind, the Turkey Day Ride is the best ride, because of the combination of these things that come with it.

First off, it's Thanksgiving. People tend to be cheery, and happy, and friendly. Thanksgiving is a day where you gather with people you love, or at least tolerate, to eat, and drink, and make merry. Most people I encounter that day, when confronted by a smiling cyclist in lycra offering a wave, reciprocate the actions. Only, minus the lycra in their case, usually. I mean it. Most days, when I'm out on a ride, I tend to, at the very least, offer a wave to other cyclists and runners. Typically, I get a little wave back. But on Thanksgiving? That wave feels more genuine. More heartfelt. People just seem happier on Thanksgiving. They're more willing and eager to spread the love.

Most people are also off work that day, which means that, in the mornings when I ride, there are fewer cars on the road. This makes for a safer ride for yours truly, and others who want to get in an early morning workout. Now, yeah, some people have to work on Thanksgiving. And if you know somebody who does, man, shake their hand and go buy them a beer. Let's not even get into it about those poor souls who have to work on Black Friday, because they should be nominated for Sainthood. But all in all, getting in a workout on the morning of Thanksgiving tends to be pretty peaceful. It's nice seeing far fewer cars out there during my morning ride.

Third, and this is an important one, the food. Anyone who has worked out, well, ever, knows just how much one can eat after working out. Speaking as a cyclist, I think it's obvious that I love riding my bike. But there's one part that I don't enjoy quite so much, and that's scrounging up something to eat after a ride. Because it either means spending money to buy something to eat, or eating all the leftovers I've got stockpiled for work, or making more food. Spending money to buy food can be dangerous just because, well, I can eat a lot. And let's be honest. After you've worked out, and you're super hungry, I think the last thing any of us want to do is make something to eat.

But on Thanksgiving? Oh man. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! A ride on the one day a year where it's basically an all I can eat feeding frenzy? Thanksgiving, my friends, is the day I break out the sweat pants, because I'm gonna eat so much, I'll need the elastic band. People can be conversing at me, while I'm shoving food in my mouth as fast as I can, food crumbs and debris flying around me like I'm a wood chipper. Not to mention the fact that going for a ride, and then meeting up with people to eat food that I didn't cook? That's about as close to pro as many of us will come! Plus, once I'm done eating, I feel like this, which can be a most glorious feeling.

And finally, let's not forget about the other key part of Thanksgiving: gathering with others. As a cyclist, I participate in a lot of social events. Team meetings, group rides, Sunday rides with a coffee break, getting together for drinks, and collectively eating more than most average sized European villages. So going for a ride that's mostly clear of cars, seeing tons of cheerful people along the way, and then meeting up with friends and family to eat as much food as my stomach, and legs, can stand? Sign me up!

And that is why I think the Turkey Day Ride is the best ride. 

Why do I ride?

Why do I ride? This is a question I've asked myself far more times than I can count. Over the last 6 years, I've ridden a lot. Tens of thousands of miles. Hundreds upon hundreds of hours. And in my wake, I've left my fair share of tubes, tires, grips, chains, and bottles. And in the last half decade, do you know what I've found? I honestly don't know what motivates me to put on the spandex, fill my bottles, and go out and pedal. I'm not sure what the driving force is.

Or, at least, I don't know what motivates me to do it day in and day out. I do know, however, what it feels like when I'm dong it, and once I'm done. It's freedom. Pure and simple. It's joy, and relaxation, and the ability to get away from everything in the world, and just be at peace. And all it takes is a little bit of your time. That's a pretty great investment, if you ask me.

Needless to say, I can feel it when I don't ride. I feel worn down, stressed out, and just frustrated in general. And that's not including when I kick myself for not riding. But man, oh man. Those days that I do ride? Well, to quote the little kid from the YouTube video "Thumbs Up for Rock and Roll," "I feel, I feel, I feel happy of myself!" Today's ride was something that I needed, on an almost subconscious level. I needed to get away from the world for a while. To get outside, and physically and mentally work through everything. And I think it's something that too few of us get: a chance to work our stuff out. Really, really work it out.