National Park
Ama Sol
Redwood National and State Parks

2022, Redwood National and State Parks, CA

National Park
Ama Sol
Yosemite National Park

2022, Yosemite National Park, CA

National Park
Ama Sol
Kings Canyon National Park

2022, Kings Canyon National Park, CA

National Park
Ama Sol
Joshua Tree National Park

2022, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

National Park
Ama Sol
Death Valley National Park

2021 Death Valley National Park, CA

Up ahead: Coastal Pedaling 101; 2021

For those who are curious, here is my planned route down the coast. I’ll start in Washington State, hit every spot worth seeing along the Oregon coast, and finish amid the California Redwoods.

These maps don’t necessarily capture the exact route I’ll be taking, but they do capture my intended overnights. I’m allowing myself flexibility, with 3 days off the bike to spend wherever I want or need to, so I won’t put any goals for dates for any one overnight. I’ll have the freedom to push on and have fun, and have the freedom to bail anytime, should I be halted by fires, smoke from fires, rain, broken gear, COVID, or other apocalyptic scenarios that are the norm these days. This adventure is not about the destination. It’s entirely about the journey. Wish me luck!

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Old West Scenic Bikeway

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Ride Summary

Experience

* I didn’t feel much like riding, and worried I wouldn’t make it “all the way”. Like usual, I underestimated myself and did just fine. Eventually I relaxed enough to enjoy the scenery.

Weather

* W
arm and sunny

Spotted

* A few other cyclists on the road, all going the other way, all looking like they’ve been bikepacking for a very long time.

Roads

* Delightful. There could have been more shoulder considering this was a “scenic bikeway” with fast moving trucks, but it was fine.

Mechanicals

* None

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Nothing but Tailwind

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Ride Summary

Experience

  • I felt so tired and out of shape. But the wind pushed me along this flat (downhill, actually!) one way track. I had to dig deep at the very end, repeating my pedal mantra for an hour. It hurt my ego and helped my ego all the same.

Weather

  • Warm and sunny

  • Wind at my back the whole time.

Spotted

  • A new style or urban, secured sharps disposal container

Roads

  • Wow- there are so many more bike paths in Salem than I imagined!

  • Smooth, well maintained- Oregon still hasn’t let me down.

Mechanicals

  • None

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Two wheels rotate for Pi Day

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Ok, so I know Pi day is March 14 (3.14), but it took me a while to archive rides this year. I decided to ride in the shape of the Pi symbol, in a mileage of 314, on 3/14. Considering that I’m pedalling in circles, making round wheels turn to do it all, and that I finished eating a pie, it was all too meta for my brain to handle. I became giggly with excitement and likely scared passers by with my solitary laughter. No matter, this ride was fun.

Bucket List Rides: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks

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I started out just thinking about how beautiful Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks must be, and how wonderful it would feel to bike them. I dream of someday having enough weeks free to explore this incredible area. The picture here is a heatmap of most popular places people ride in the park. I am a long way from actually making this adventure happen, so this is more of a placeholder to remind myself that it needs to get on the plate in the future.

Virtual Bike MS 2020

This ride spanned so many days that a recap is in order. That’s what this is here. What a year!

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I met Heather in Loveland, Colorado for a reunion tour. It was the best ride of the whole series. Heather initiated this ride, so it’s only fitting that we actually got to do some riding together. I am forever grateful we made it happen. The struggles continues for people with MS. And for my mom, it only gets harder with every day. But thanks to my sponsors, Heather’s sponsors, and the society, those struggles are made a little easier to deal with. And for people who develop the disease today, most can expect to live a normal life thanks for the recent treatments this society helped fund.

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Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 5)

July 15, 2020. Elgin, Oregon.

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Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 4)

July 14, 2020. Wallowa, Oregon.

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Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 3)

July 12, 2020. Umatilla National Forest, Oregon.

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Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 2)

July 11, 2020. Summerville, Oregon.

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Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 1)

Juy 10, 2020. Elgin, Oregon

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What is virtual Bike MS?

Sunday series: Portraits of Blue Lighting

She is exceptionally photogenic. I am not sure why, but I feel compelled to photograph her everywhere I go. She makes the world around me more beautiful.

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Bucket List Rides: North Cascades National Park

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North Cascades National Park is inarguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. Why not bike it? This could be done as a 60 miles one-day trip, dropping off at Washington Pass and stopping at the Visitor’s Center. It could also be done as a 153 mile/3-day bike camping tour from Mazam to Bellingham. Either way, this ride would probably be the most amazing in September.

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Planning Ahead: The Scenic Bikeways of Central Oregon

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I think it would be super fun to stay in Sisters or Sunriver and enjoy some of the Scenic Bikeways of Central Oregon. The first on the list is McKenzie Pass, 38 miles one-way, which I think would be best enjoyed as the first ride of the adventure.

Sisters to Smith Rock might pose as a fun add on to a one-way McKenzie Pass ride, or a fun loop on it’s own right. Twin Bridges Loop is 36 miles total and makes for a perfect day trip. Madras Mountain Loop is also another perfect 29-mile day trip. Can’t go wrong!

There is also Crooked River Canyon, a 36-mile round trip scenic ride that would be fun as a day trip.

Training Load Gains

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Garmin calculates a running tally of workout “load” based on the time and intensity of my workouts. While many metrics like “stress” and “body battery” feel too gimmicky for my taste, this load seems to have real wisdom. I noticed that it’s when I exceed the optimal load that I burn out and require so many rest days that I feel like I’m starting all over again. If Garmin doesn’t say I’m overdoing it, I tend to be able to stay on track. This is insightful for me during phases like the one I am in now where I’m working out less than typical, expect and remember the typical, but need to keep it slow to get back there. It was just a month ago that my optimal load was something like 300 a week, which is really hard to maintain considering I could exceed it by doing just 2 workouts. I took care, followed the data, and stayed on course. In a short amount of time, the high end of my load is up to 928. This is a number I can stay under and make steady, ongoing improvements with. Yay!

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