“This thing isn’t for everyone.” When I got my Master’s degree in counseling, I recall the turmoil caused by the required course in statistics. As a math guy it was an easy class for me, but many of my classmates struggled and fussed and bemoaned the need for such torture. They wondered why they couldn’t […]
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In 60 Days
In 60 days, the 500-mile journey begins. We’ll raise our helmets, climb on our bikes, and crank south out of Cheyenne on highway 85. A casual observer might think FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’15 begins with the first pedal crank. The observer will see bright green jerseys, smiles, and high-fives. He’ll wave and perhaps offer […]
Continue readingMore TagHow Do We Open The Circle?
Becky and I visit a lot of new places in our travels. As an introvert I’m sensitive to insider-outsider feelings. Regardless of words or size, I often get a sense about whether the circle is open or closed. I work at being aware and moving past that initial tingle, but it frequently proves to be pretty accurate. […]
Continue readingMore TagIs It Okay To Coast?
I think about odd stuff while I crank my bike. The other day I took off on a workout with a specific intensity goal in mind. This wasn’t a pleasure ride. But as I topped a small rise old habits kicked in and I coasted for perhaps 100-200 yards without even being aware. I resumed pedaling and […]
Continue readingMore TagYou Gotta Suit Up!
Do you remember Charlie Brown? Every year when baseball season began he gathered the Peanuts gang, grabbed his cap and glove, and headed for the diamond, convinced that this year would be different. The cap was essential because it was the team uniform. In Charlie Brown’s words, “If you’re part of a team, you gotta […]
Continue readingMore TagWax On, Wax Off
Do you have a favorite iconic movie character? I suppose we all remember different roles for different reasons. One of my favorites is Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid. In one memorable scene, Miyagi asks his student, Daniel, if he’s ready to begin his karate training. Daniel replies, “Yeah, I guess so.” Miyagi sighs. “Daniel-san, […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat Would Failure Look Like?
From the start it’s been clear what this is about. I’m a slow learner so it took a while for it to sink in. This crazy adventure wasn’t a bike ride and it wasn’t a fund raiser. # # # Toward the conclusion of the 2011 Mississippi River ride that started this craziness, a nice lady […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat If You’re Picked From The Crowd?
Simon didn’t plan on being part of the story. He was part of the crowd in town for the holiday. Maybe he knew about Jesus, maybe not. But he was going about his business and I’m sure he didn’t want to get involved with the horrible scene in the street. The Romans had beaten the man […]
Continue readingMore TagJust Stop Trying
Stop trying. Start training. It’s one of my favorite principles. It’s a principle because it’s timeless and applies in just about any circumstance. In about two months I’ll give a talk at a TEDX event in Loveland. If you’re not familiar, TED talks are different than most other presentations. For one thing, they’re very structured, […]
Continue readingMore TagWhy We Must Tell Stories
TMI–we’re buried in an ever-increasing flow of information. Perhaps as little as 100 years ago an educated person might know most of the important information accumulated by civilization. Today that’s ridiculous as access to facts increases exponentially. Funny thing…it’s a bit like drinking from a fire hose. There’s plenty of water, but you may not […]
Continue readingMore TagHow Does Your Team Connect?
On the initial FREEDOM TOUR in 2013, I created every route. I obsessed over each detail, scoured Google for guidance, and was absolutely certain I had each turn of the entire week perfectly mapped out. I printed copies of my master plans, handed them out, and waited for the perfect results of my hard work. I got […]
Continue readingMore TagGoing Fast To Slow Down
I like cycling…a lot. I suppose that’s pretty evident to anyone who’s been around here a while. I like the challenge, the freedom, the exercise, the sense of accomplishment. I like the community and the solitude. But I think what I like most of all is that cycling forces me to unplug and slow down. […]
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