Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Happyness and Fatbikes Explained



Yes, it's a cliché that happyness means different things to different people.  A tailwind, a windfall, Wind River Mountains or wind in your sails.  But trying to explain or defend your particular brand of happiness to someone else is annoying.


This weekend I was on my fat bike and ran into another rider that I know.  Inevitably they always say something like "so...you're on that bike…"  Or they ask "how do you like your fat bike?"  Well, duh, it's like explaining cold beer on a hot day.  It just is.

Perhaps they are jealous....




Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Feeling Stuck




When I was out riding on Sunday I came barreling down a steep hill where I could see a mud puddle at the bottom.  I didn’t want to slow down so I took my chances with the mud, thinking that just maybe the muddy ravine had a hard bottom.  I skirted the edge, but naturally it was a full-on bog.  As soon as my front tire hit I was sucked down, hard.  Then my left foot went in deep.  


Yes, I can read dirt and mud and I knew better -- but I did it anyway.  I guess in the back of my mind, against reason, I thought if I could just ride fast enough I would sail through.  My own fault.  So I paused, said a few cuss words and then pulled and pulled on the damn wheel till it broke free. 


There’s a moment when you break free that puts you off balance.  But if you wait too long to pull yourself out you just get sucked down deeper.