Are You Living It?

This Wednesday I was privileged to give a brief introductory talk on nutrition and training for our local cycling club, the Mount Shasta Pedali. They have initiated a Friday ride for beginning and low key riders that gives the social benefits of a group ride, without the intensity of the regular rides. It has been well received and new riders are getting the chance to experience cycling as part of their lifestyle. As an extension of the new ride, the Mount Shasta Pedali and The Fifth Season presented an evening of basic cycling knowledge. The new, and many experienced riders as well, were able to review the basics of bike fit, regular bike maintenance and tire repair. The event was well received and everyone in attendance felt they were able to take some new knowledge home.  Give a helping hand and treat someone you know to a taste of the Live Your Passion lifestyle.

Matthias finds something new to jump from:

It’s late May. Full-swing. You’ve dialed your half-dozen standby loops to the point that you’re starting to recognize your own tread in the brown sugar trail dust. You’ve convinced yourself that you’ve finally shaken the cold, life-sucking fingers of winter… (that’s right, it snowed here last week). You’re back to hammering just like you were last September. It took about fifteen rides, but you’re back. Right?

Ahhh, the fanciful narrative of a forgetful mind.

Excerpt from a commencement speech Steve Jobs gave at Stanford a few years ago (he had recently survived surgery for pancreatic cancer, typically a very grim diagnosis):

As we are inundated with dour reports on increasing cost of living, increased fuel prices, increased cost of food (ouch that’s gonna hurt), it can be easy to change our focus and let ourselves get caught in the whirlpool of doubt. Don’t forget to keep your health as a number one priority. As costs go up, we have to make some changes in our budgets for both time and expenses. Your good health will let you weather the increased stress and keep your mind at ease with the changes to come. Now more than ever you should be living your passion. Staying sharp and following your heart along the path that appears before you. In living your passion you can keep the vibrancy of life intact and flourishing.

Ryan, in his post celebratory stupor, came up with the next name of our Ski to Sea team for 2009. A combination of our initial 2007 team (Boulder Holders) and this year’s High Country Hoodlums - it’s pretty fitting.

The good times started last Wednesday when Cam flew into town and accompanied Ryan and I down to SeaTac to watch Ryan race. They had to first try and fix Ry’s bike though - he was having some shifting issues.

 Summer snuck in last week and gave us 100+ degree weather on our Sunday ride ( I was corrected on my report last week, it was 106 degrees on Sunday afternoon in scott valley, not 95!). Today, Rain, chattering teeth and a stop for hot coffee! Our ride took us on a 96 mile tour of the Shasta Valley. We found ourselves feeling lucky though, the forcast was for 30% rain showers and it only rained for 20% of our ride! The rain caught us as we turned down Hwy 97 and all the way to lake Shastina. Then out came the sun, well sort of as we could see a shadow now and then, we were all dried out when we stopped for water in Montague. From there to Hornbrook, and the rest of the way to Yreka, had no wind or rain. What a mixed bag of weather today, fairly warm 50 degrees, then shivering cold and wet, then sunny and dry. Happy Spring time riding everyone! Keep that rain coat handy.

For the first time in 37 years, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic has been canceled… due to significant snow!  A foot fell in Silverton (that’s right, it’s almost June) and the conditions were deemed too dangerous.  I can see by looking at the ridges outside my window that the snowline starts at about 7,000′ so you can imagine what the skinny tires would face over some of the 10,000′-11,000′ passes.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”