What is it about 2 wheels that brings out the boy in you? I know you might be sick of hearing about my 2 wheel adventures, but I don't really care since nobody really reads my blog. I think some of you pretend just to improve my ego - thanks for that! Anyway this post is prompted by a ride on my "new" 1984 Honda Spree scooter tonight.
I had a little bit of time to reflect while I was out riding for 45 minutes or so. Up until now I haven't had a motorized 2 wheel bike since I was a kid. I grew up riding dirt bikes with my father and a couple of my close friends Jason and Billy. After those days I really got into cycling. I remember my first real bike. It was a Scwinn Predator and let me tell you this thing was totally bad ass. All of the kids in the hood were in awe of the thing. We used to race around the block all of the time, and invariably the Predator would bring home the bacon. I used to treat the thing like gold. I think I ended up giving it to my neighbor across the street, but have thought about it a lot of times and wished I saved it for one of my girls (I'm only one step above a hoarder). After that I started riding more seriously on the road. I completed quite a few long rides as a kid. Even a couple of 100 mile rides with my father who was off the deep end with cycling by then. I loved the combination of physical exertion, being outside, and flying along on the open road. To this day I still ride my bike.
In fact in 5 weeks time I will be riding 200 miles in the
2nd Annual Karen Petty Memorial Double Century Bike Ride Against Pancreatic Cancer. This ride was contrived by me last year to honor my friend Karen Petty who passed away from pancreatic cancer. I have ridden many charity rides in the past, but this ride is very special to me. The distance daunting even for the best of riders, and I chose to ride from Karen's house in West Warwick, RI to her cabin in Thornton, NH solo. It was my way of feeling some of the suffering that Karen endured during her battle with cancer, as well as my own way showing how much Karen meant to me in my life. When I came up with the idea to honor Karen while attending her wake, I instantly thought of the bike. It took me a couple of days to work out that it would go from "RI house to NH cabin". Last year we raised $8,500 for the cause. This year I am chasing $30,000 and more honor for Karen. Follow the link above if you would like to donate.
Being out on two wheels requires focus. I believe focusing on one action is as close to peace as we can get. In this crazy world that we live in nowadays, it is very rare that we can focus on a single thought. As soon as you try the cell phone rings in an email, text, tweet, facebook post, etc. When I ride my bike or my scooter for that matter I leave the phone behind. Being on 2 wheels requires your attention. It is not a time to be looking at a phone or goofing off or you might end up wrapping yourself around a telephone pole! That is where the singularity of action comes in. Especially when you are on a long endurance ride like a 200 miler you only have one focus, and that is to make it to the end. You have to be completely in tune to your body, sensing weakness before it becomes an issue. When I rode up to New Hampshire last year I thought only about getting there, and the woman I was riding for. That's it. It is a strange sense of freedom to be able to be so singular in your thoughts. A few years back I did a 5 day 450 mile bike ride for AIDS. This might sound crazy but it was by far the most relaxing vacation I have ever had. I came back more mentally recharged from that trip then I have from some of the other island type vacations that I have been on. I believe the reason is the singularity of thought it required. It is really akin to meditation, and it is an amazing elixir for the daily grind. So I'm not all that sure where this post is going but here are 2 things for you. Please check out the website for the
2nd Annual Karen Petty Memorial Double Century Bike Ride Against Pancreatic Cancer, and consider supporting a great cause and helping to wipe out one of the most deadly cancers. Secondly go out and get on 2 wheels and tell me whether I am wrong or right about my theory on why the bike is great!
Pedal Hard!
Wacky Dad
