how it came to be

This is the story of two wheels...two wheels and the loss of the one person I cared about more than anything else in the world...two wheels that kept rolling while my world came crashing down...two wheels that brought me back to life.

I used to date a cyclist. In August of 2010 a car hit her on her bicycle. I watched her go through a frustrating and painful rehab. She returned to the sport without hesitation. I never had the opportunity to tell her how much I admired her for that.

The experience was a turning point. It was the defining moment when I realized just how much cycling meant to her and what an asshole I had been for not understanding it.

Her strength and determination inspired me to purchase my own bike. I looked forward to sharing in something that she is so passionate about. I never had that chance. In the blink of an eye, she was gone from my life and I was left with a hole in my heart bigger than anyone could imagine...and a brand new Cannondale CAAD10.

I turned to the road as an escape. There were days when I couldn’t eat. There were nights when I couldn’t sleep. The only guarantee was the few hours each day when I didn’t have to think about anything except turning the pedals. When my helmet goes on, my mind shuts off. It’s freedom, there’s no other way to describe it.

As spring turned to summer I got more involved with local shop rides. I met several people who became close friends, many of whom suggested that I should consider racing. It sat in the back of my mind for months. It stayed there until I was able to determine that I wanted to do it for the right reasons.

I’ve worked my ass off since November. Tomorrow is my first race. I probably won’t win, but either way, it will feel like a small victory.

chew on this

hopefully, all of those hours will pay off...

hey buddy

Random Philly Finds Part VI

toxic

Last summer I went on a camping trip with an old friend. We had not seen each other in several years, but had stayed in touch via phone and email. It didn’t take me long to realize that it was going to be a long weekend. Every opportunity she had to speak was spent either talking about herself or putting down others. After the first day, I became increasingly quiet and by the end of our trip I was silent. We got along fine I suppose, however it was only because I knew that challenging her was futile.

I have not contacted her since we returned.

There is a thought that circles around my head from time to time as a result of this experience...you should most likely feel better for spending time with your friends...at the end of the day, if you are worse off for having spent time in their presence then you should probably reevaluate the friendship.

I was recently reminded of this, after several encounters with a friend who engages in gossip.

One of my posts this month mentioned that I’ve become more aware of the food that I put into my body as a means to attaining better health. It occurred to me that the encounters we have with the people who surround us are also “food.” That is something I will be mindful of moving forward.

putting the pieces back together

Add Cherry Picker Operator and Route Setter to my resume...

The Tumbleweave Diaries

First in a series devoted to one of my favorite urban phenomenons.

Random Philly Finds Part V

Why was I listening to that?

So you’re driving in your car, listening to the radio and not paying much attention to the song that’s playing. Then, you catch yourself singing and wonder not only why you know the words to that Hootie and the Blowfish tune, but also why you’ve allowed it to play for the past four minutes. You switch the station, wondering what the hell just happened.

We’re all guilty of it. Here’s a list of the most recent songs that have played in my car longer than necessary.

Lionel Richie: Dancing on the Ceiling

Darius Rucker: Alright

The Offspring: Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)

David Powder: Bad Day

Train: Drops of Jupiter

Chumbawumba: Tub Thumper

h-a-i-k-u

We are like train tracks
Our lives running parallel
No intersection

The Plan

For several years, I’ve dealt with “stomach issues” in various forms. It has caused me physical discomfort and emotional embarrassment. It has limited the type of activities I participate in, the length I can participate and where I can participate. None of these things left me feeling particularly good about myself. I spent a long time resigned to the fact that this is the way it would always be. Then, I found a doctor who got it right and it changed my life dramatically.

One component of managing this, and something that I have spoken about many times, is scaling back or down sizing. Living simply has made a significant impact on reducing stress in my life.

The second component is diet. In the fall of 2010, a friend of mine started the Paleo Diet. It seemed interesting and I began incorporating some of its principles (cutting back on processed foods) into my life. About a month later, I had a meeting with a nutritionist who suggested the Specific Carbohydrate Diet as a means to manage my symptoms.

Both “diets” call for the elimination of refined sugar, all grains and starch. Initially, this was a challenge. It forced me to spend more time in the kitchen, which resulted in a better awareness of the foods I was eating. Over the course of the last year, what I have (or more importantly what I have not) put into my body has played a big part in my overall well being.

It’s been just over a year since I committed to this lifestyle. My stomach issues are gone.

Random Philly Finds Part IV

Random Philly Finds Part III

America Runs on

Just when you thought that it couldn't get worse than the Tuna Salad Sandwich...

pick six

My Ultimate Six Pack...

Random Philly Finds Part II

perfect time of day

These memories seem to surface out of nowhere. I have learned to embrace them with a smile, even though they bring a certain degree of sadness to my heart.

The beach is chilly in May, especially when the sun goes down...but it is quiet and we found the perfect place to sit and look at the stars. I learned that the winter sky is different than the summer sky. I learned that we could talk for hours and not even know what time it is. I learned that even the coldest of nights didn’t matter because I was warmed by your presence.