The world is quiet as I leave the house in the morning on my bike. It’s still dark, and the city is only starting to come to life. The unmistakable hiss of the brakes from a city bus is often the only sound I notice for blocks. As I move along daylight breaks and with...
My last post was full of anxiety. Full of self-imposed pressure that was slowing sucking the enjoyment out of one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever known: riding my bike. I was worried that I wasn’t “training” long enough, hard enough, or often enough to be ready...
A week ago I walked into my office and like I do every morning, I change the number on my whiteboard…the number that counts down to the London to Paris ride. That morning, I changed it to read 120. Something about that number stunned me and honestly, I haven’t had a...
I’ve been planning this for about a month. Driving different routes on the weekends. Getting the Cannondale ready. Waiting for the weather to break…just a little. And finally, this week I started commuting to work on my bike. This is not a ride out on my Seven…a...
What is it about this winter that is making it seem endless? I grew up in Chicago. I’ve been through winters much colder, much snowier. How has this become my winter of discontent? What is it? Perhaps it’s because I have felt tortured all winter with images posted...
I didn’t sleep well last night. I awoke this morning haunted by memories of weird dreams… memories which lingered throughout the day today. Right before I got on my bike tonight I tweeted “ok let’s sweat and exorcise a few demons.” Little did I know… I...
Today I filled out forms for the London to Paris ride. And although I have had this trip planned for a few months, the reality of insurance forms and medical questionnaires gave me a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Judging by the questions, it’s pretty obvious...
I took a spin class tonight, taught by Cat 1/Pro female racer Kristen Meshberg. It wasn’t in some fancy gym, but in a brick warehouse building in the West Loop in Chicago. I entered the huge elevator with my bike and my trainer and hit the button for the third floor....
Sunday, 6:30 am alarm. Take care of the dogs, try to eat something. Prepare the bottles, pack the essentials. Bike in the car, iPod set to playlist “Sunday” – Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, The Clash, Linkin Park, others – music that motivates me and timed perfectly for...
I grew up in a brick two-flat on the south side of Chicago. We were on the first floor and my aunt, uncle, and cousins on the second. Down the block were more cousins and friends who may as well have been cousins for the amount of time we spent in each other’s...
