Living in an inhospitable place like northern Canada in the winter means that the trainer becomes your only option when you want to continue using your cycling legs. In lots of places, the weather is bad and you might have to ride the trainer for a few weeks, and then you can return to outdoor riding even if its a bit cold. Here, you might have to ride it for several months!
I've tried the videos, watched movies, pedaling next to a friend; all with the same result. It sucks. I've found that spin classes are the best way to ride a bike indoors because the instructors are usually upbeat and motivated to make everyone have a good sweat. But riding my bike is about so much more than just the exercise. It's about the scenery, the fresh air, the rush of descending hills, and the hard climbs. In a spin class, its about sweating your ass off and getting a good workout for 60 minutes. Then you have to get in a freeeeeezing cold car and slide home.
When it comes to commitment and riding a trainer I just don't have it. I recently read Phil Gaimon's book, Procycling on $10 a day, and marveled at the commitment the pros have to riding so much for 11 of the 12 months on the calender, including 4 or 5 hours on a trainer. That would kill me or I would go insane. I also know a guy who trained indoors for the Ironman in Hawaii. He had to train for the bike portion on a trainer all winter, and his training had to be done starting at 4:00 am in the morning. To prepare for a 112 mile bike ride at race pace that means he had to ride 3-4 hours in the cold dark basement of his house several days a week. He also had to find time to swim and run (on a treadmill or an indoor track) to train for the 2.4 mile swim and the 26.2 mile run. I admire it, but I also think it borders on crazy ... no offence.
Which brings me to my most recent revelation. I need to move somewhere else. I have been in the great white north for most of my 40 years. But I've also had the chance to live in several of the southern states during the internship portion of graduate school, and visit many other locations around the world. I've always said that the really nice places are packed full of people for a reason, and Canada is empty because it's f@#*~%g frigid. Don't get me wrong, I love my country and all of the wonderful things here; but, if we ever get a chance to annex some small territory that's much warmer, I'll move faster than Mark Cavendish can sprint.
I hate the trainer and love to be outdoors. I would ride my bike 12 months of the year if I could. Yes, I know there are lots of other things to enjoy like XC and downhill skiing, windsurfing, fly fishing, etc. However, I think I can find the perfect spot where I can do both almost all year round. If I do, I'm confident that my family will follow me, and be grateful that we don't have to wear parkas, snow boots, long underwear, gloves, hats and snow pants for half of the year. No more snow tires, frozen windshield wipers, or shoveling snow. And don't misunderstand me here, this isn't a grass is always greener scenario. It is truly inhospitable when you can literally freeze your fingers, toes, or nose walking to the corner store to get milk. It is unbearable when you have regular snow storms similar to the one experienced by Buffalo (we're just better prepared because it's normal). It is not fun to freeze your ass off between November and April.
I think I would love going to the cold mountains to ski, but then enjoy going back to the temperate city to do everything else. I'm going to need help with this. I need anybody out there to send me your suggestions of where to live. I promise it's between you and I in case you think everyone will follow me and ruin this great hidden gem. Here are the requirements: weather to bike in year round, mountains to ski at, opening for a job - unfortunately, affordable cost of living, low crime rate, and some clean lakes and rivers nearby. Easy, right? Send me your ideas, please!
Showing posts with label Phil Gaimon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phil Gaimon. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Saturday, 18 October 2014
Love for the bike people.
I think cycling and the world of bicycles contains a whole lot of interesting people; disproportionately so. I come from the world of health care, where most people don't seem to be that creative or take the time to look outside of their own specialized world. I know these are generalizations that should not be applied unfairly, but I am amazed each day when I read the cycling blogs written by professionals and amateurs alike. Red Kite Prayer (RKP) is one of my favorites ... Padraig is a real gem of a writer and a professional; not to mention some of the other writers that write for RKP. I am also keen to read things by Gary Fisher, hear about Tom Ritchey's exploits, or thoughts by Ben Serotta.
All of these people are famous in the world of cycling for a reason. They are pioneers and passionate about the two wheel world, much like me. I don't plan on being famous in the world of cycling, but I certainly enjoy writing and reading more about cycling and bicycles than most other subjects. These famous bike people are either successful athletes turned business people or craftsmen turned athletes or some combination of the two. The are a form of the modern renaissance person that has many talents.
In retrospect, I should have been a mechanical engineer. It would have been more useful for being in the bike world and designing frames or components. Although I am convinced that a job is just a job. I don't care if you are a carpenter, nurse, social worker, or doctor ... your days are very much the same one day to the next. And as such, maybe if I was a bike engineer, I may have lost interest in it? No ... probably not.
I am also impressed by the various creative individuals in the world of cycling that have funneled their passions to make a living based on their true love. I think some of the smaller apparel companies are pretty impressive. I like companies that focus their creativity to be different, but remain true to functionality and form (based on actually cycling experience?). Stand outs for me include:
Handlebar Mustache
www.hbstache.com
Twin Six
www.twinsix.com
Morvelo
www.morvelo.com
Rodeo Adventure Labs
www.rodeo-labs.com
Tenspeed Hero
www.tenspeedhero.com
Some of the current or past pro riders are also extremely interesting personalities. As an example, consider Phil Gaimon - writer of books, racer of bicycles, and comedian of all sorts. Evelyn Stevens - a wall street analyst who just decided to become a world class cyclist. Michael Barry - a rare Canadian world tour rider who not only survived as a pro cyclist for a long time, but is also a fantastic writer (I hope he throws me a mini-blog post some day). There are many others. I am referring more to the current riders than the past. The past is full of characters; both good and bad. I think we need to bring back the "great" nicknames in full force. "The Badger," "the Sheriff", or "the Cannibal," sound so much more descriptive and menacing than "El Pistolero" or "the Cowboy." If Lance was called "the Boss," then that may very well be perfect. By "boss" do we mean leader of the team / peleton or power thug? (http://bikeraceinfo.com/riderhistories/cyclist-nicknames.html).
Creativity is the stuff that makes us move forward to invent, improve and instruct. Most of us have some form of creative outlet that allows that part of our brain to express itself. Some of us have made a living on it, and some just produce "art" of many forms just for our own good. It's so cool to see the eclectic mix of personalities that build bikes, race bikes or just plain ride bikes.
I think the universal passion that people share about bikes is a little crazy and a lot cool. How many non-bike people think its completely nuts to spend thousands on a bike? Most. How many people have friends that don't ride a bike that give you the weirdest look when you say you rode 100+ kilometers yesterday? Most. However, we all understand each other. That's cool. I'm glad I belong to a group that understands my spending and rides their bikes for hundreds of kilometers.
I love bike people: they are creative, tough, and adventurous.
All of these people are famous in the world of cycling for a reason. They are pioneers and passionate about the two wheel world, much like me. I don't plan on being famous in the world of cycling, but I certainly enjoy writing and reading more about cycling and bicycles than most other subjects. These famous bike people are either successful athletes turned business people or craftsmen turned athletes or some combination of the two. The are a form of the modern renaissance person that has many talents.
In retrospect, I should have been a mechanical engineer. It would have been more useful for being in the bike world and designing frames or components. Although I am convinced that a job is just a job. I don't care if you are a carpenter, nurse, social worker, or doctor ... your days are very much the same one day to the next. And as such, maybe if I was a bike engineer, I may have lost interest in it? No ... probably not.
I am also impressed by the various creative individuals in the world of cycling that have funneled their passions to make a living based on their true love. I think some of the smaller apparel companies are pretty impressive. I like companies that focus their creativity to be different, but remain true to functionality and form (based on actually cycling experience?). Stand outs for me include:
Handlebar Mustache
www.hbstache.com
Twin Six
www.twinsix.com
Morvelo
www.morvelo.com
Rodeo Adventure Labs
www.rodeo-labs.com
Tenspeed Hero
www.tenspeedhero.com
Some of the current or past pro riders are also extremely interesting personalities. As an example, consider Phil Gaimon - writer of books, racer of bicycles, and comedian of all sorts. Evelyn Stevens - a wall street analyst who just decided to become a world class cyclist. Michael Barry - a rare Canadian world tour rider who not only survived as a pro cyclist for a long time, but is also a fantastic writer (I hope he throws me a mini-blog post some day). There are many others. I am referring more to the current riders than the past. The past is full of characters; both good and bad. I think we need to bring back the "great" nicknames in full force. "The Badger," "the Sheriff", or "the Cannibal," sound so much more descriptive and menacing than "El Pistolero" or "the Cowboy." If Lance was called "the Boss," then that may very well be perfect. By "boss" do we mean leader of the team / peleton or power thug? (http://bikeraceinfo.com/riderhistories/cyclist-nicknames.html).
Creativity is the stuff that makes us move forward to invent, improve and instruct. Most of us have some form of creative outlet that allows that part of our brain to express itself. Some of us have made a living on it, and some just produce "art" of many forms just for our own good. It's so cool to see the eclectic mix of personalities that build bikes, race bikes or just plain ride bikes.
I think the universal passion that people share about bikes is a little crazy and a lot cool. How many non-bike people think its completely nuts to spend thousands on a bike? Most. How many people have friends that don't ride a bike that give you the weirdest look when you say you rode 100+ kilometers yesterday? Most. However, we all understand each other. That's cool. I'm glad I belong to a group that understands my spending and rides their bikes for hundreds of kilometers.
I love bike people: they are creative, tough, and adventurous.
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