Day: March 18, 2024

So, there I was yesterday at 5pm, basking in the afterglow of what I’d arrogantly dubbed a “triumphant” bike ride, when reality decided to slap me with a wet fish. Imagine me, dismounting my bike, only to find the ground beneath me had transformed into a spinning teacup ride from hell. Nope, not the enjoyable kind. More like clutching the fake horse for dear life, trying not to redecorate the pavement with my lunch. Enter stage left: my vertigo episode, everyone. It’s like finding yourself on a boat amidst a tempest, except there’s no water, no storm, just my room doing its best impression of a carousel.

Snuggles, my so-called guardian angel in human form, tucked me into bed, probably muttering, “Well, isn’t this a pickle.” Meanwhile, I’m lying there, practicing the art of staying as still as a statue because, surprise, that’s my new hobby. The dream was to fly off to some picturesque getaway, mixing a sprinkle of work with a hefty dose of mountain biking—idyllic, right? But vertigo scoffed at those plans.

Since then, Snuggles jetted off to Denver, off to sprinkle some of that filming fairy dust in Arizona. And me? I’m officially on the sick list, because attempting to work (or really do anything) feels like trying to sew with a jackhammer. Here I am, stranded with my own spinning thoughts, mulling over my life decisions and if teleportation could bypass my inner ear’s mutiny.

Despite my body’s decision to take me on this unwanted thrill ride, I’m stubbornly holding onto plans for that trip. Because honestly, who lets a bit of vertigo crash their adventure party? Not yours truly. For the moment, I’m resigned to studying the fascinating patterns my ceiling makes as it orbits around my bed.

By some stroke of luck—or maybe just stubbornness—I wriggled out of bed by 11. The world was still doing its best laundry spin impression, but my stomach’s rumblings won over the queasiness. Successfully eating without a round two was a small victory. And then, as if by magic, by noon I felt…almost normal? Dare I say, ready to hit the road?

So, in true adventure-seeker fashion, I did the only sensible thing—I packed and made a beeline for Pipestone. That’s right, your hero arrived at the Pipestone Spring Break Training Camp 2024, kicking vertigo to the curb.

Now, post-ride, I’m basking in the glow of what was an absolutely stellar day. The ride? It was a beautiful cocktail of thrill and pure joy. It’s these moments that remind me why I refuse to let life’s curveballs keep me on the bench (pun absolutely intended).

Missing this camp wasn’t in the cards, and I’m buzzing to say not only did I show up, I soared. The trails were mint, the crew was stellar, and my body decided to play nice, giving vertigo the cold shoulder—for the time being.

As I sit here, exhausted yet overwhelmingly content, I’m hit with a wave of gratitude for this rollercoaster of a journey. From tackling vertigo’s wild ride to conquering Pipestone’s trails, it’s been a whirlwind of triumphs. Here’s to more escapades, less spinning, and the undying quest for joy on two wheels. Keep your eyes peeled for more chronicles from the trail.

You know, there are those folks who can hop on a chunky-tire bike and zip from A to B without breaking a sweat. They’re just cruising along, wind in their hair, grinning like they’ve got a secret. Then you’ve got the worrywarts, obsessing over every little thing. “Is my tire pumped to the perfect PSI?” “What’s that creaking—oh no, am I losing the pack?” Not that I’m throwing shade at either type of rider. Each to their own, right? But let’s take a moment to think about how this bike tale mirrors the rollercoaster we call life.

*Please note that the fat bike model in this post is a paid professional and in no way represents the second person I mentioned above.

For some reason I am not completing my usual chores which I have been able to pull off in the past during my life. Is it age? I don’t know. I used to pull off blogging, taking photos, and racing with relative ease. At least I think. Lately it is all I can do to get a blog out let alone brush my teeth and exercise. Am I fretting over the details now? I find stressfully situations much more organized and easy then real world living. Or shall I say times when your forced to be the rider that stays focused.

Yea, so you’re in the thick of a blizzard, battling the elements on your trusty fat bike. Suddenly, it hits you—the snow’s stacking up quicker than likes on a viral cat video, and you might just have to bail on your two-wheeled steed and hoof it. There you are, a soggy mix of sweat and melted snow, teeth chattering like you’re trying to Morse code your way out of this. But hey, life’s got a funny way of simplifying things, doesn’t it? Keep pushing forward, one foot in front of the other. It’s like assembling furniture without the manual—it somehow just works out, right?

Facing knee surgery on the horizon, today was all about soaking up the great outdoors—or at least escaping the confines of the house. It’s not my knee on the chopping block, but I’ve volunteered as tribute to be the makeshift “male nurse” for this knee saga. Sounds heroic, doesn’t it? Hence, today was a mixed bag of a training session—part physical hustle, part strategic planning. The agenda? Recycle like eco-warriors, hit the shops like it’s Black Friday, cycle like we’re prepping for the Tour de France, and then, the grand finale, crack open a cold one. Because, let’s be honest, all heroic quests end with a beer.

This is part 21 in a series of 22 blog posts that I am dedicating to my favorite photos of 2009. Today’s inductee and now a resident in my “Outdoor Adventure” photo album is “Hike“. I took this photo December 7th, 2009 at 1:10 PM with my dead (non focusing) Canon SD 1000.

My camera was dead and taking blurry photos but this shot of Ed as we hike up Bass Creek caught my eye. So instead of tossing the photo I made it black and white and here you go. It says “Hike” all over it.

The only thing better then this photo was being there. Julie, Laurie, Ed, and I were hiking up Bass Creek after our first dumping of snow. We realized this would be the last foray into areas like this on foot for the year. It was a great time.

One memory that sticks out was when I saw some hunters and remarked that they looked like Elmer Fud hunting wrabbits. Sure enough, it was rabbit hunters and to make things even more interesting, friends of Ed and Laurie.  Small world.

So today is the first Thursday Night Mountain Bike Ride and fittingly I transition from great hiking memories to the memories yet to be constructed with “the group”.

Hey there! So, Muleterro, part of the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club gang, is throwing a Bike Swap bash at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. It’s the place to be for snagging deals on all kinds of bikes, parts, gear, and even bike and jogging strollers.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Early birds who help out (and are GVBC members) get in at 7:30-8:00 a.m.
• GVBC members get exclusive access from 8:00-9:00 a.m.
• The general public can join the fun from 9:00-11:45 a.m.
• Then, everyone’s gotta clear out for a bit at 11:45 a.m., making room for the discount frenzy from 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Wanna know more? Check out their flyer and all the deets on their website. Click the pic or head over here for the flyer, and don’t miss out on the full scoop over at the Bike Swap Website.

Well, today feels like I’ve been run over by a truck – I’m all shades of exhausted, battling a headache that’s stubbornly planting its flag in my brain. This is probably the universe’s way of telling me I overdid it with my bike marathon over the weekend. But, boy, was it worth it! The cherry on top was breaking in my new racing bike. It’s a sleek Trek OCLV frame that I Frankenstein-ed together with bits and bobs from my old rides. It was touch-and-go for a bit there, and I’ve got a laundry list of upgrades to tackle, starting with the drivetrain. And let’s not forget the headache which might have a guest appearance courtesy of the solvent fumes I inhaled while playing mad scientist with my bike parts – that little adventure stole my entire weekend.

Now, to add another layer to my cake of chaos, I’m in the throes of moving. Today’s the big day for locking down my new digs, and I’m eyeing to shuffle my life over there by Good Friday. The moving fun includes the joy of address changes, utility swaps, and a mountain of other mind-numbing tasks. So, it looks like my weekend is shaping up to be anything but restful.

But for the moment, my game plan is as simple as it gets: rest, rest, and did I mention rest?