For love of a deadline

Much has been written about procrastination. Ways to avoid it, how it can be useful, etc. Like most, I'm not a fan of procrastination. It often leads to less than stellar results.

On the other hand, I love a deadline. I'm a planner and seeing a looming deadline on my calendar motivates me to get organized and take action. That doesn't necessarily mean sitting down with a blank Word document in front of me and grunting out an article. It may mean lay groundwork. Reaching out to a contact via Facebook or email. Making a call. The other day that meant mounting up, measuring, and photographing a half dozen tires. 

But putting the deadline on the calendar is the first step. Do it. Write it down. Put it somewhere where you'll actually see it. Make it hard to ignore. That's what gets me fired up. The work is work. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. But I'm thankful for the work. It keeps me busy and pushing my limits. I've also worked hard to put myself in a situation where I love my work. I get to write about cycling, bike products, events and people. I admit that it makes a huge difference in my attitude, but there are still times when it becomes a drag. But with that deadline out there, it's better to get started than it is to sit around on my hands. 

Getting some sun

I love seeing new parts of the world. On Monday last, I flew to San Diego with several VeloNews crew members and my wife, the lovely Kristen Legan, for eight days of bike testing. We're staying in a vacation rental home in the hills above Murietta. The riding is exceptional, peppered with steep climbs, a preserve with dirt trails nearby and good weather in January. 

While riding, I've spotted eagles, hummingbirds, a coyote the size of a German shepherd, a bobcat and a roadrunner. It's really cool to come to a new setting. Nature spotting is part of why I love long bike rides and seeing new wildlife is a thrill for me. 

The bikes have been fantastic too. With very few exceptions I've found something to like about every one of the 60-plus road, gravel and mountain bikes the VeloNews crew has here to test. For hopefully obvious reasons, the gravel bikes piqued my interest and two of them really stood out. Both the Norco Search and Pivot Vault surprised me with their trail manners, handling and spec. We're lucky to be riding bikes in this day and age as they are so versatile and capable. 

First overnighter of 2016

Now I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I do like a challenge. So starting in December last year I decided to do at least one century ride per month and at least one overnighter per month for 2016. During warm months this isn't too tough and with the trips I have in the planning phases I'll get several centuries and overnighters on consecutive days. But during the cold months in Colorado it can take some gumption, planning and fortitude to get out, especially for the overnighter. 

Last night was my first time sleeping outside in 2016. It happened to almost coincide with the full moon (that's tonight by the calendar I checked). I got an early start and did most of my two-hour climb with daylight guiding me. After dark, thanks to the moonlight and the lights on my bars and helmet, I did a bit of exploring, looking for new spots to lay my head for future trips. No luck, even after post-holing for 20 minutes, pushing my loaded fat bike. Alas, I turned around and headed to a familiar location for the night. 

It was a bit colder than I expected (I woke to temps in the teens) and I ended the night sleeping in most of my clothes. I was really glad I brought a tent as I had room to add layers in relative comfort. The moonlight woke me on a couple of occasions but pulling my hat over my eyes helped me snooze in peace. Unusually I slept past the sunrise and got up at 7am. I used my soda can stove to make a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee. Hot liquids were amazing! I leisurely loaded up and was back on a favorite dirt climb heading up at 8am. I took my time, warming myself in the sun and thankful for the uphill effort. Soon I was shedding layers. 

Road conditions were a mix of hard pack snow, ice and dry dirt roads. 

Nice views of the even higher mountains.

Boldly going where anyone with a 4x4 has gone before!

My trusty Surly Ice Cream Truck. For winter overnighters, it's my go-to bike, with a Blackburn front rack and panniers. A Revelate Terrapin easily holds my Big Agnes Copper Spur tent. Fenix BT20 on the bars, LD22 on the helmet, Cateye rear blinky. Bar Mitts to keep the digits happy. A Revelate Feed Bag for food, Fenix battery pack and Red Fox Bluetooth speaker. Also note the down tube fender fashioned from a stolen political yard sign (finally politics has a purpose!).

It was a beautifully clear and calm morning. I climbed to a more travelled dirt road and dropped into a once prosperous mining town. The cafe was closed, a bummer as more food was calling my name. I downed a Clif bar that I had kept warm in my jersey pocket, finished my water and climbing the last few hundred feet before a long descent back home. 

It was a great night out, and not because I slept like a baby. I didn't. It was great because I rode a moonlit trail, turned off the day-to-day world and started the year right. Here's to at least 11 more!

I woke up today

Ain't that grand! I threw on clothes and headed to my work area. I sat down at my desk at 7:04am after putting on the kettle to make coffee and feeding my dog, Cori. I wrote for 45 good minutes, finding the zone, and the words came, thankfully, pouring out. With the early light of the day brightening with each passing minute, I typed away, periodically researching a point online, then returning to the Word doc at hand.  

Only a couple times did my attention wander after that. Directing myself back to the article underway, i finished up an hour of work happy with the progress made. Plenty of new material and several minor revisions. 

My misses woke and while she readied herself for the day, I took Cori for a stroll. A cold, windy morning greeted us. Icy trail near our house kept me alert. Yellow snow kept my canine friend enthralled. 

Next up was breakfast. Scrambled some eggs for my lady and myself. Accompanied that with toast and some avocado. A bit of Tapatio hot sauce and the feast was complete. Soon after my gal loaded up her bicycle for a ride to her parents' place in Denver and a night's stay. (Love the adventurous spirit of Mrs. Legan). Then it was my turn to saddle up. Filled a couple bottles, pumped up the tires and threw on the layers. 

Two and a half hours later and several climbs under my belt I limped home, calorie depraved. A shower, food and now to relax. Not a bad Saturday. 

Avoiding Hibernation

It's snowing big fat flakes of the frozen stuff outside. Days like today make you appreciate a heated space, a comfortable couch, a good book and a hot cup of joe. The decision of the day is whether to succumb to the creature comforts of modern life or suit up and get out on the fat bike for some outdoor play time. There's always the trainer too. Some intensity might be a good thing. I got in my monthly 100-mile ride a couple days ago. Legs are well recovered after two busy days of working and running around getting "things" done. 

I'm running out of indoor projects, excuses that is. I've built the wheels I needed to build. The house is clean. Cars are in good working order. Need to keep writing, as always. But all signs point to going outside. Really they always do. If you read them right. Maybe a hike today. 

Not sure if everyone else has these internal discussions. My motivation for exertion, both physical and mental, has been high. Lately the question is simply what to do, which bike to ride, where to go. All very good problems to have. I'm a lucky man. Gotta get out while the bears are all asleep. Have the woods to myself. 

Gratitude (the first of many posts on the subject)

When I traveled to Emporia, Kansas in May of 2011, I was had no idea the effect it would have on my life. It was my first try at a gravel race. Though I'd ridden the dirt roads and old mining doubletracks of Boulder County and beyond for some time, none of those outings had included a number or timing. It was also my first go at a double century. The Ride Across INdiana (RAIN) had been my previous longest ride at 163 paved miles and that had been several years prior. 

I was in Emporia at the invitation of Salsa Cycles. They provided me with an entry to the race, a frameset to ride and a place to stay. The Salsa crew included sponsored riders and employees. We all stayed at a local's house (thanks Randy!) where we made ourselves at home, crashing on couches and sharing floor space. 

Among the people I met I made friends who inspire me to this day. I discovered a new tribe and a welcoming one at that. Joe Meiser, now the Senior Product Manager at Salsa, later took me on my first multi-day bikepacking trip. He had finished Tour Divide in 2009 and after hearing some of his tales, I was enamored with the idea of tackling the route myself. 

Lelan Dains lived at the house where we were staying. He volunteered to support us at aid stations. He's now a part owner of the Dirty Kanza and someone I hold in the highest regard. I can honestly say that without him I wouldn't have finished that long day of racing. His encouragement and unending enthusiasm pushed me to plumb new depths. 

Tim Ek, a Salsa athlete, helped to allay several of my fears about the distance, the roads and the amount of calories needed. I was certainly packing my fears that first year, with far too many inner tubes and energy gels strapped to my bike. The day before the race we found ourselves relaxing, watching TV when 1984's "Red Dawn" came on. It was exactly what we needed, a cheesy movie to distract us. We joked that  "Avenge me!" would be our call to each other if either of us fell victim to punctures. 

And as much as all the people I've just mentioned mean to me, it was Jason Gaikowski who, over the subsequent years, has become my brother. He worked at Quality Bicycle Products at the time. We ended up sharing floor space in a quiet loft area of the house. Jason can be a reserved guy and I wasn't sure of him at first. But we stayed in touch after the race. We headed to Utah for our first multi-day bikepacking trip with Meiser. We rode the Katy Trail as part of a two-day, 315-mile extravaganza of suffering and started the 2013 Tour Divide together. A couple years later, he acted as officiant for my wedding. He remains one of my closest friends and confidante. 

All this to say that I'm grateful for the experiences in my life and the people that I've met. The Dirty Kanza is just one of those experiences and the four fellows I mentioned here are but a small sampling of the wonderful people that have played a part in my life. I'm glad that my job at the time allowed me to head to Kansas and I'm thankful that I had the guts, or perhaps the ignorance, to attempt the race. So I encourage you reading this to take a chance, test your limits, and be open to the people you meet along the way. 

Wheel Building as Meditation

Few things rival wheel building for me as a meditative state when it comes to bike work. The focus necessary for a good build, paying attention to roundness, trueness and spoke tension simultaneously is fantastic. And the result of such labor, both mental and physical, delivers a satisfaction that never ceases to please me. 

Today I took a break from writing and emails to lace a new rim onto the rear wheel of my Harvey Cycle Works rando/adventure bike. As my fender bike it sees duty during winter months and next spring I have a few rides where it will need to be tip top. 

More on that bike soon when I do a post about my personal bikes.  

But if you've never laced and tensioned a wheel, it's worth exploring. I don't get to do it as often these days as I once did. But when the opportunity arises, I revel in the time with my trying stand, tensiometer, and spoke keys. Thankfully there are a couple more builds in my near future! 

The sound of 365 days of opportunity knocking

I've finished 2015 with a bit of a bang. I left my PR role in early December to return to the editorial side of the fence. Motivation is high and I couldn't be more excited for the year ahead. I'm now writing for Adventure Cyclist as its tech editor and freelancing in the cycling journalism world. It's good to be back. 

I'll use this site as a venue to explore cycling, writing and life. Rambleur is something that I've built in my mind over the years but only now started building in the digital realm. I plan to cover my thoughts on motivation, passion, inspiration, philosophy and how slowing down life and spending more of it aboard a bicycle has helped maintain my happiness. 

Rambleur will hopefully also serve as a resource for cycling, gravel riding, bikepacking and act as a place for the frequent sharing of optimism and struggle.