Race Day

Race Day

Phishing with Ms Brown

Seek truth and report it. Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear - Society of Professional Journalists.

So introduces today's Saturday Segment. After a rollicking' hour this morning in the House of Mirth (our Indoor Cycling studio), where, after what I thought was a fair and balanced introduction to 'one of the silliest, sappiest and completely corny rock 'n roll songs of all-time' I was instructed to 'never play that song again'. Yikes! I will allow you to pause here in the attempt to deduce what song (from 1965) could possibly have elicited such an ultimatum.

Waiting.

Still waiting.

I took the opportunity to reinforce our definition of the state of grace we call the Groove Zone by reminding those gathered about the power of change. Of us needing the dedication and discipline to ignore distraction and accept extrinsic circumstances as tests of our commitment, resolve and growth. Seriously, I continue, now building momentum to add whatever credibility and character testimony to the pop ditty possible, what do we do when the wind blows too hard, or the rain soaks us too deep, or the sun burns too hot or (gasp) somebody whistles a tune out of key and way too shrilly? Right! We accept it with peace, respect its presence and steadfastly move along. We will not be distracted from doing what must be done. We do not assign it power by allowing it to 'get in our head or under our skin.' An ancient Arab saying suggests that 'Dogs bark but the caravan moves along.'

Here is the song.

Here is the dot connection between the intro, seeking truth and the story telling of diversity and the magnitude of the human experience. It is called Tracking. From Phish's incredible Hoist, released 25 years ago yesterday.

Many times when I get off on the tangents and stray from the well-traveled path of indoor cycle training, there is, as I confessed this morning after the slap in the face of my musical experimentation, risk. And with risk comes great rewards, experience or...disaster. I am more than willing to take that risk. I seek it out. I want to jam with it in the hope of finding something outside, above or well beyond my current levels of understanding. There is a zone light years away from the twilight. What happens when we fail? Is there value in the attempt?

Think of your favorite musician, or band. What traits, skills or musical risks did they take to get to where they are today - in your heart and head? Did they risk and move away from the standards, add other layers to stale three-chord progressions and road-test time signatures other than 4/4? Of course they did.

Did they sometimes fail? Absolutely. Did they quit and go home because of it? No, they went back to the studio, plugged in, counted it down and took it from the top. Gaining the enormous experience of their process along the way. This has so many tangents, parallels and utilities available to us as motivation.

Music is one concept I can report on with 100% certainty of truth. There are an infinite number of stories about the diversity and magnitude of the human experience, some of the most interesting still untold, available for our consideration. It is like going to the record store and flipping through the vinyl. Sometimes you find that diamond in the rough, sometimes something new, and other times a completely different approach, genera or interpretation. You want my definition of hell? Every song is the same.

We choose to match all this up with our indoor cycling. And see what happens. We take risks. We climb hills hard. We enjoy every challenge. We embrace failure.

A lot of pedal rotations separate Herman's Hermits from Phish. Some safe and secure of low intensity and flow. Others flat out rock. We deal with it. We stay focused and allow little extrinsic distraction. This is our practice.

Makes a bloke feel so proud.

Too Hard or Too Easy?

Too Hard or Too Easy?

Learn to Duck

Learn to Duck

With Fire Comes Smoke

With Fire Comes Smoke

Smile More

Smile More

The Well Hydrated Irishman

The Well Hydrated Irishman

A Day Off

A Day Off

Thanks Anyway

Thanks Anyway

Be There in Fifteen

Be There in Fifteen

Balance in Three Parts

Balance in Three Parts

You Versus You

You Versus You

We'll Go Deeper Tomorrow

We'll Go Deeper Tomorrow

Happiness Theory

Happiness Theory

Happy St. Pats

Happy St. Pats

Start to Finish

Start to Finish

A Thousand Transitions

A Thousand Transitions

Yes, sir

Yes, sir

Rock On

Rock On

EV Risotto

The plot, like good risotto, thickens. Once the decision has been made, no matter the drama, degree of difficulty or seeming implausibility of the assembly of ingredients, their cost or the incredible amount of time and energy required for success, one, whether cook, mechanic or adventurer, sets about the work. 

The part of this scenario that never ceases to amaze me, is what happens once the plan is hatched, launched, teed up or kicked off. The process begun, mysterious, unexpected and sometimes amazing bits and pieces of the bigger picture start to appears as if laying in wait. Like getting called out of the Union Hall by name, ‘no we don’t want any journeyman finish carpenter, we want Joe.’ 

Things, a horrible proxy for energy, inspiration, motivation, passion, vision and the willingness to move intrepidly into the deep unknown, all seem to drop from the sky onto a predestined landing pad. Providing the chef, wrench or entrepreneur with a continuing opportunity for improvisation. One must be prepared to juggle these random gratuities from the cosmos for not only the short term (dinner) but satisfy the larger picture as well (successful execution of master plan). 

I would not blame you one bit if you were, at this point, to wonder where we are headed on today’s magical mystery tour. So I will confess that I am not sure. Yet. I know what I would like to explore, so let’s get there first and course correct after lunch. We start with a rusted out Model T from Roberts, Montana. 

You will no doubt recall that I have launched a(other) project. This one of potential so great that I needed to call it, somehow, epic. Hence the 2019 Epic Ride, a snappy 1,600 mile cycling tour along the Pacific Coast from, roughly, Seattle to LA. In 21 days. Supported. 

With the trinity of onion, celery and carrots creating the base, and garlic, mushroom and black pepper as savory frills cooking, I start looking for a suitable support vehicle that I could offer to a sponsor as a rolling billboard (we call it a wrap) promoting a product, brand or service. Down and back, around 4,000 miles with maybe 20,000 total views. If we could design a campaign offering a number to call, website to visit or hashtag to tweet, all pointing to a giveaway contest, we might get some nibbles. Maybe even land a big fish and have the sponsor cover the complete cost of the campaign. Whoa! Hand me the big spoon June, the rice need a stirrin. 

I found a couple of perfect rigs, outfitted, built and ready for vinyl and was ready to spend a full day test driving and negotiating when, like finding Portabellos suddenly and freshly on-sale, I had this thought:

If we are cycling the coast, burning zero fossil fuels, why the heck should our SAG emit unnecessary create carbon pollution? Why not go EV? Are there hybrid or total electric vans available? What is out there?

Come to find out that there is a minor glut on the used EV marketplace mostly due to the one-time tax break and many folks choosing to lease the current fleet of eco-friendly rides. BMW and Honda are rolling out a new line of vans, utility vehicles and small trucks in, hold my vino rosso, 2020. Next year.

So guess who is going to get a call from this focused, passionate and motivated tour guide? I am on it. 

Right after dinner.  

Nothing Lasts

Nothing Lasts

The Bell

The Bell

In the Hunt

In the Hunt

Any Subject, All Day

Any Subject, All Day

7/16" PM

7/16" PM

Manager of Time

Manager of Time

Thou Art That

Thou Art That

More Leaders

More Leaders

Could THIS be THAT one?

Could THIS be THAT one?

This We Can Practice

This We Can Practice

ACQ

ACQ