Climate Change

Yesterday I rode my mountain bike from 7,900 ft to 9,400 ft in a single suffering, hot, dizzying, hypoxic bound. I was in shorts and a short sleeve jersey, sweating and feeling over dressed. I should have worn my tank-top. The dirt was dry. My legs were dusty. I kept wiping the sweat from my brow, but it still flowed into my eyes. I blinked hard and often to flush out the salt. It was the most beautiful day of the year! Temperature was mid 70's, no wind. In Paradise everyday is just like this one. At the top of my climb the aspen trees were golden.In the high country of Colorado a beautiful day like this is a bad omen. Harsh wather always proceeds to follow a spectacular day. It has been snowing all day, and the Weather Channel forcasts three more days of the same. Maybe the sun will return, but the summer won't. And a real autumn is unlikely following four days of snow. That's the climate of the high country. It changes abruptly and unpredictably. Kind of like life. It's unstable, full of surprizes, and just when you think things are perfect........

Summit Push

Recently (yesterday) I challenged my family to test their physical limits. We rode our bikes from Vail to Vail Pass. We gained 2000 vertical feet in 10 miles for an average gradient of 5%. That's a big ride even if you're not pulling the children behind you. Pulling the kids adds a whole new dimension to the challenge of riding up a mountain pass.
The array of emotions that we experienced while overcoming the physical rigors of this ride was simply spectacular. The conversations that take place in the head, the personal battles we fought in the silence of our minds, the occasional verbal outburst from the kids, who speak their minds rather than suffering in silence..... We made it to the summit after about 2 hours. Heather and I were in awe of the natural beauty, Jacob was sound asleep in the trailer, and Grace was quite impressed with the cleanliness of the public restrooms at the visitor center.

Hobby

I believe that everyone should have a hobby. My primary hobby is cycling. I ride bikes. I ride on the road, on the trail, off the beaten path, and indoors on stationary bikes. I developed this hobby beginning in 8th grade. Cycling is a demanding sport and requires one to maintain health. Thanks to my bike, I was motivated to say no to smoking and drugs during high school. I was a gloomy teen, but I always looked forward to pedaling through the sand and rock of northern New Mexico. I rode almost every day after school. Cycling was a natural antidepressant for me during those crazy years. It's quite possible that cycling saved my life.
My bike hobby helped me in uncountable ways. It increased my mechanical aptitude. I would regularly take my bike completely apart, clean each piece, then reassemble it in excellent working order. The hobby taught me patience, persistence, and focus. I would train to overcome my weaknesses in fitness and technique. The hobby increased my social skills and helped me make some terrific friends. I participated in lots of organized cycling events and races. In college, I continued to race for our intercollegiate cycling team. The hobby taught me to navigate, analyze data, solve problems, and challenge myself. It taught me to find an inner quite and to appreciate the beauty of the environment. It taught me self-sufficiency and survival. I could go on and on. I'm a better person as a result of my hobby. Everyone should have a hobby.