What gets one excited? The world is so big and for people as fortunate as myself, with ample opportunities and resources, there are so many choices that serve the purpose of excitement. That's why I like to think outside the box, stretch these possibilities and really challenge myself... Adventure is what some people call it.
So to seek out adventure in America; I wanted to choose something that was not completely unattainable but something that is ambitious. You know that SMART principle they teach you in primary/elementary school, something like that. Though keeping in mind that what I do is generally not the smartest thing in that sense. Dad is always calling me a ‘dickhead’ for some of the ideas that I come up with, I know its his way of endearment and encouragement.
I have chosen to acquire a bicycle as my means to adventure. I have always cycled to uni, down this two lane road, that hosts multiple semi-trucks and bustling cars all trying get onto the more free flowing roads from this notoriously busy road. I love weaving through the 30/40 deep traffic, that has seen 4 consecutive train crossing lights. I guess Dad is right, I have had a couple of hairy situations.
But this is my freedom, without the confines of being in an enclosed space, out there in the ‘fresh’ air (you know what I mean) moving with a reasonable speed that was generated by your own legs.
From the moment I got to Columbia, I knew I had to get this bike. Car would be pointless, bus is so limited and being a footsoldier all the time has its time and distance constraints. After checking out a few through Craig’s list I held back, why though? For some were decently cheap (50-100 bucks) and would serve this purpose as I would not return with one, surely.
I reconsidered after hearing so much cycling talk:
exhibit a) met an avid cyclist on the plane from Melbourne who was on his way to Colorado and racing in a the Leadville 100 a race located in the Rocky Mountains. A race of 100 miles climbing over 2,000 feet (10,150 to 12,424), a race won by Armstrong the previous year (not the moon guy). (http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/page/show/315773-100-mile-mtb-race).
exhibit b) Then there was my Options, Futures and Derivatives teacher (well he is really a doctor) who immediately talked about cycling and was ‘mentor’ for the Mizzou Cycling team. (Loved that class, top learning and so many jokes too, so many!)
exhibit c) Then after a laze by the pool, I stumbled accross the Mizzou Rec Sports Fair, of which I also found out where first meeting was. After hearing of the subsidies of being associated with the team and beers with this crew, the idea hatched.
While I couldnt cycle road as was off season, I could pay a little money and use this to tour the states during my free time. The full commitment didn't come until a month and a bit later, after consultation with a few people. This was when I decided to bite the bullet and purchase ‘the Jake’, a cyclocross bike made by Kona. Wheels were now literally in motion...
Riding to pick up supplies (as its ‘prohibition’ at my living quarters here at Mizzou), able to zip out and run errands, go on a lazy Sunday cycle to the lake or bust out a solid ride on the gorgeous Katy Trail. I have found a lot of serenity in being able to get off campus by my own means, with a glorious 75 degree day (20 odd Celsius). One Sunday after a monster hangover from a monster weekend of high euphoria but high stress, I hopped on the bike and rode it out.
There was something so uplifting rolling down the trail, the flowing river to the left and the autumn colours perched on-top of rocky outcrops, sparkling in the breaking sun. The real magic was found in the cardinals, who were gathered on the paths. With ‘the Jake’ traveling at a decent spead, these birds would fly in clusters off into the nearby bushes, the red of this bird so striking to the eye.
It did come during the weekend the St Louis Cardinals achieved an incredible sporting feat in winning that world series and we were there in that same city to see the absolute jubilation pour throughout. Bird was and is the word.
Not only will travel via bike serve the obvious purpose of a liberating method of transportation, but it will provide reason to take an alternative to the path well traveled. This path being the roads alternate to the highway, the means to uncovering experiences and hopefully a deeper perspective of America and myself as an individual.
This is just a small insight into the forces (my propensity to be a dickhead) that possess me to undertake such a trip and my concerns surrounding this trip. If any of y’all have a story of touring, a tip or two or want to catch up down the path in Jan/Feb 2012, or want to be like my father, please go ahead and comment or message me. Thanks for taking the time to read, look forward to hearing from you. Peace out.
So to seek out adventure in America; I wanted to choose something that was not completely unattainable but something that is ambitious. You know that SMART principle they teach you in primary/elementary school, something like that. Though keeping in mind that what I do is generally not the smartest thing in that sense. Dad is always calling me a ‘dickhead’ for some of the ideas that I come up with, I know its his way of endearment and encouragement.
I have chosen to acquire a bicycle as my means to adventure. I have always cycled to uni, down this two lane road, that hosts multiple semi-trucks and bustling cars all trying get onto the more free flowing roads from this notoriously busy road. I love weaving through the 30/40 deep traffic, that has seen 4 consecutive train crossing lights. I guess Dad is right, I have had a couple of hairy situations.
But this is my freedom, without the confines of being in an enclosed space, out there in the ‘fresh’ air (you know what I mean) moving with a reasonable speed that was generated by your own legs.
From the moment I got to Columbia, I knew I had to get this bike. Car would be pointless, bus is so limited and being a footsoldier all the time has its time and distance constraints. After checking out a few through Craig’s list I held back, why though? For some were decently cheap (50-100 bucks) and would serve this purpose as I would not return with one, surely.
I reconsidered after hearing so much cycling talk:
exhibit a) met an avid cyclist on the plane from Melbourne who was on his way to Colorado and racing in a the Leadville 100 a race located in the Rocky Mountains. A race of 100 miles climbing over 2,000 feet (10,150 to 12,424), a race won by Armstrong the previous year (not the moon guy). (http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/page/show/315773-100-mile-mtb-race).
exhibit b) Then there was my Options, Futures and Derivatives teacher (well he is really a doctor) who immediately talked about cycling and was ‘mentor’ for the Mizzou Cycling team. (Loved that class, top learning and so many jokes too, so many!)
exhibit c) Then after a laze by the pool, I stumbled accross the Mizzou Rec Sports Fair, of which I also found out where first meeting was. After hearing of the subsidies of being associated with the team and beers with this crew, the idea hatched.
While I couldnt cycle road as was off season, I could pay a little money and use this to tour the states during my free time. The full commitment didn't come until a month and a bit later, after consultation with a few people. This was when I decided to bite the bullet and purchase ‘the Jake’, a cyclocross bike made by Kona. Wheels were now literally in motion...
Riding to pick up supplies (as its ‘prohibition’ at my living quarters here at Mizzou), able to zip out and run errands, go on a lazy Sunday cycle to the lake or bust out a solid ride on the gorgeous Katy Trail. I have found a lot of serenity in being able to get off campus by my own means, with a glorious 75 degree day (20 odd Celsius). One Sunday after a monster hangover from a monster weekend of high euphoria but high stress, I hopped on the bike and rode it out.
There was something so uplifting rolling down the trail, the flowing river to the left and the autumn colours perched on-top of rocky outcrops, sparkling in the breaking sun. The real magic was found in the cardinals, who were gathered on the paths. With ‘the Jake’ traveling at a decent spead, these birds would fly in clusters off into the nearby bushes, the red of this bird so striking to the eye.
It did come during the weekend the St Louis Cardinals achieved an incredible sporting feat in winning that world series and we were there in that same city to see the absolute jubilation pour throughout. Bird was and is the word.
Not only will travel via bike serve the obvious purpose of a liberating method of transportation, but it will provide reason to take an alternative to the path well traveled. This path being the roads alternate to the highway, the means to uncovering experiences and hopefully a deeper perspective of America and myself as an individual.
This is just a small insight into the forces (my propensity to be a dickhead) that possess me to undertake such a trip and my concerns surrounding this trip. If any of y’all have a story of touring, a tip or two or want to catch up down the path in Jan/Feb 2012, or want to be like my father, please go ahead and comment or message me. Thanks for taking the time to read, look forward to hearing from you. Peace out.
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