Today, I set out for what I had confidently labeled my “long ride.” New saddle. Full kit. Clipless shoes. Downloaded route. Bike computer prepped. I looked like someone who knew what they were doing. And then I met my riding partner — ten years my senior, casually rolling up on a 2003 hybrid bike with […]
After my first 10-mile ride in a while, I felt great. Which should’ve been my first warning sign. It was one of those smug little spring mornings where everything feels deceptively doable. The sun was out. Birds were chirping like background extras in a Disney movie. I suited up in my Specialized padded shorts, with my
Day Two on the Saddle Read More »
There’s a special kind of optimism that comes with buying a new bike. You imagine endless smooth rides, perfectly tuned components, and a saddle that cradles you like an ergonomic cloud. And then you actually sit on the thing. I love my new Specialized Diverge. Truly. But the saddle that came with it? Let’s just
The Saddle, the Computer, and the Tiny Bit of Crazy Read More »
There are moments in life when you know you’re standing on the edge of something bigger than yourself. A wedding proposal. A career change. The decision to adopt a dog that will definitely ruin your carpets. And, apparently, buying a gravel bike. Walking into my local bike shop felt less like entering a store and
Before every big thing, there’s a moment where you haven’t actually started yet, but you also can’t seem to let go of the idea. You orbit it. You research it. You start making lists you don’t show anyone. You tell yourself you’re “just exploring” while quietly arranging your life around the assumption that yes, you
It was already sunny when I pulled into Foothill College, which felt deeply suspicious for 7 a.m. I expect mornings—especially Northern California mornings—to involve some low-hanging fog or at least a half-hearted cloud cover to suggest that the day is still considering its options. But no. The sky was scrubbed clean, sharp blue overhead, with