Words sometime fail

In Memory of Michael Janelle June 7, 1967-November 23, 2007


http://grannygear.com/RIP/Mike_Janelle.shtml

Winter short and sweet

Lets keep this winter short and sweet
This blog in turn lets keep it neat
While gathered round the fires roar
We'll dream of pedaling on the Shore
Before you know it buds will bloom
This will end your dark and gloom
Delmarva waits with roads unending
Self propelled no gas your spending
Health and fitness is your reward
Peace of mind in strong accord
Hasten spring in prayers and thought
Tune up your bike forget it not
Slumber now on that couch
But in the spring you'll lose that pouch
Happy are Delmarva's Bikers
Elated more then the hikers
If your adventure leads you here
You will have a place to cheer.

Cycling creates contrast

Cycling creates contrast in our lives. From fossil burning, air polluting, loud gas fired combustion engines to smooth, exhaust free, clean and quiet, pedal assisted human power. Could you imagine the change in the stratosphere if we parked the metal monsters for a week or two and chain ringed our way around from point a to point b. Man the whole world would be set upon it's ear. Why do we have to accept the norm when we all know it is not sustainable. We are sacrificing the planet and the future of all who will be coming after us for the sake of today's staus quo. I am again compelled to quote my favorite buddy Henry David Thoreau. If you don't know by now he is one of my true heroes. When Thoreau built his house on Walden Pond it also was a contrast to the norm. I laugh out loud every time I read this in the context of today's real estate market and current Wall Street uncertainty. The following is a quote from Walden :
"I have thus a tight shingled and plastered house, ten feet wide by fifteen long, and eight feet posts, with a garret and a closet, a large window on each side, two trap doors, one door at the end, and a brick fireplace opposite. The exact cost of my house, paying the usual price for such materials as I used, but not counting the work, all of which was done by myself, was as follows;
and I give the details because very few are able to tell exactly what their houses cost, and fewer still, if any, the separate cost of the various materials which compose them:-
Boards $8.03
Refuse Shingles for
roof and sides 4.00
Laths 1.00
Two Second Hand
Windows w glass 2.43
One Thousand Old Brick 4.00
Two casks of lime 2.40 that was high
Hair 0.31 more then I needed
Mantle tree iron 0.15
Nails 3.90
Hinges and screws 0.14
Latch 0.10
Chalk 0.01
Transportation 1.40 I carried a good part on my back
In All $ 28.12
These are the materials excepting the timber, stones, and sand which I claimed by squatters right. I have also a small wood shed adjoining, made chiefly of stuff which was left after building the house.
I intend to build me a house which will surpass any on the main street in Concord in grandeur and luxury, as soon as pleases me as much and will cost me no more than my present one."

Talk about contrast, yeah, yeah I know that was 1846 but factoring in inflation you still have to give it to the man. What should we give Thoreau you might ask, how about some thought, can you spare it ? If we only take the time to think and then act. Act out the contrast you are capable of. Watch an episode of Invention Nation, People are coming up with some awesome ideas and putting them in use. These folks are making a difference and I applaud them loudly.
When you ride your bike on Delmarva's back country roads it will give you some time to think and that's where some good can start.
I don't ever expect to see a world where cycling is the main form of transportation but I guess I am just a little pessimistic right now. Do your part, Pedal Delmarva

Pedal Anyway

The weather today provided little inspiration to ride but excuses like the weather provide little comfort and absolutely no reward. So Pedal Anyway became the motto for today's ride. Some times when we least feel like working out we have the best workouts. It is almost always the steps we have to take to get us to the gym, on the bike, in the pool, on the field, or on the mats that stop us from doing what we know we should do. The decision to get going is the hardest one to make and enforce upon ourselves. Once you are at the gym, on the bike, etc. it gets easier by far. This is a scientific fact, really I mean it. Okay maybe not pure science but a darn good theory to say the least. One thing for sure everybody in the fitness industry is full throttle now that the new year is upon us. Many folks have made that all important decision to get going and get healthier. You can do it. Don't let the weather and other such excuses rob you of your reward. So burn those calories, build the muscles, run that race, and take a friend along with you because victory loves company. Maybe we should start a new holiday that provides hope and motivation to the masses, I know what we could call it ,"Today". Pedal On !

Spring in January

I hope you have been able to take a little time for yourself these last few days. Almost 70 degrees in January on Delmarva is a rare occasion. Yesterday was a chance for a windy but sunny ride. The big thing on the ride of note, besides the awesome beauty and complete splendor of the day were the thousands of Snow geese in the fields. Have you ever been so close to a large flock of snow geese that you could not hear anything else besides their call. It is quite an experience to say the least. I know in this day and age of high tech fast moving lifestyles that a flock of snow geese may seem less then significant to many people but I disagree. My favorite person of all time (who I've never met of course) has got to be Henry David Thoreau. During his time that he was building his house on Walden Pond he wrote " So I went on for some days cutting and hewing timber, and also studs and rafters, all with my narrow axe, not having many communicable or scholar-like thoughts, singing to myself,-
Men say they know many things;
But lo! they have taken wings,-
The arts and sciences,
And a thousand appliances;
The wind that blows
Is all that anybody knows."
When you are riding your bike on Delmarva you will know the wind. If you can see the whole meaning of what Thoreau was saying then you will love riding here. Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts, we all know it is just a tease. Happy Cycling !!!

Ride Description and choices

A good friend of mine asked me today to describe the rides we are putting on at Pedal Delmarva for 2008. My first response was to say that they will be awesome rides, full of fun, fast, mostly flat courses that cover areas of Worcester county Md. By way of additional details I want to add the following. These rides will be on rural roads surrounded by farmlands, woods, and small towns like Berlin, Snow Hill,and Pocomoke City. One of the rides will take cyclists to Assateague to explore the island then return through the country side. The Assateague ride will be the one with the most amount of traffic due to the increased popularity of the area. Other ride choices will consist of 21 miles, 35 miles, 74 miles and 100 miles. These routes will take riders on a scenic cross section of Maryland's only seaside county. The geography on Delmarva consists of vast areas of wetlands, scenic waterways both brackish and salt water. Non agricultural areas are abundant providing habitat for an assortment of birds and animals. Farmland makes up the balance of the area with fields rich in soybeans, corn, sunflowers, and a whole host of seasonal crops. Spring and fall are my favorite times to bike here but summer is not bad either. You are close to Ocean City, Md. but a world apart. Far from the hustle and bustle the back country roads around Delmarva offer peace, tranquility, scenery, and a whole lot of pedaling possibilities. Check out the pictures on our blog and the website to get a good idea of what to expect. This area is already a cycling mecca and each year increases in popularity. I suggest you get here and bike like crazy, as often as you can, while you still can. We can also provide your group with custom century rides, metric century rides as well as 2 or 3 day bike tours covering Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Happy Cycling !!

Thinking about spring

Thinking about spring has become the only comfort on these sub freezing days. The thought of pedaling in the sunshine with 60 plus degree weather can brighten up any gloomy Gus. Even Florida is feeling the cold. I think a century ride like running a marathon is life in miniature. There is the anticipation, the fear, the happiness, the hard times, the performance, and the victory. After the victory comes the celebration. Looking forward to the spring, the challenge, the victory, and the celebration. The fear and hard times are all around us but biking in a beautiful place with friends can push the bad elements right out of the picture. Doing a distance ride can reap rewards that will make you want to celebrate. You will end up with some aches and pains but such is life. The older I get the more I realize you have 2 choices. You can sit around and do nothing and ache or you can go do something and ache. Doing something is much more fun. None of us know our fate in life and neither should we sit around and worry about it. I suggest you buy February's issue of Runner's World magazine. Read the story on the Life and Death of Ryan Shay (keep the tissues handy). Pedal On !

Things to admire and respect in 2008

I admire the guy or gal who rides their bike in these frigid temperatures. Yesterday was 60plus degrees on Delmarva, today was 30 degrees, what a difference. I saw a dude who was riding his bike today, cold weather gear to the tenth power, wind blasted and red faced. Many would say crazy idiot, I would say awesome ! I admire the blue blood front of the packer who has all the genetic and secular advantages a person could have. Give me the back of the packer 5 hour plus marathoner, the 13 hour plus ironman challenger and the 7 hour plus century rider, these folks I respect. The longer you are out there the tougher it is to finish. Sure we all love to see number 1 cross the finish line but the loudest cheers, the most heartfelt hoorays are always reserved for the underdog. God bless the underdog! I hope that you take resolve and courage from the back of the packers, the men and women who without all the advantages still rise to the occasion. I see athletes without all their limbs, working moms and dads, boys and girls who are weekend warriors but become strong gladiators who beat the odds. The obstacles that some people face are far beyond our ability to comprehend. Somehow these good folks summon the courage, find the resolve, overcome the stigma and succeed in spite of their shortcomings, these are the athletes I respect and admire. I hope 2008 challenges you, far beyond what you ever thought you were capable of, so far out of your comfort zone, into new territory. I hope that you will experience the challenge of the underdog, If you have the courage, it will be your greatest victory yet. Cycle on !!!!

Here we go again, a new year, a new start. 2008 has started with a really beautiful day here on Delmarva. 60 plus degrees, abundant sunshine, mild winds, and a sky so blue you can almost forget about the beer and wine overdose from last night's celebration. Almost being the operative word in that last sentence. I hope today was a productive day for you. So far it has been a great one for me. New years day is a good time to plan this years events. Set some lofty goals and take the steps to meet those goals. Hold your feet to the fire and don't be afraid to make 2008 your busiest and best year yet for event participation. I just received an email from Craig of the Baltimore Bike Club with details for this years TourDeMontes. This is one of the best three day bike tours you could ever want to do, so do it. It is not too soon to set dates aside for long bike rides and multiple day tours. Make these tours and organized rides a part of your training schedule, you wont be sorry. In the coming weeks and days links will be posted on our website to help put you in touch with many great rides and tours. We hope you do them all, especially ours (the ones we put on at Pedal Delmarva). Use these rides as a goal to be reached, as a training session, as a social gathering, as an excuse to buy new gear, and as a fun alternative to the daily grind. The great outdoors await, beats the heck out of any spin class (necessary evil). It is always better when you are pedaling to actually be going somewhere. Nothing wrong with spin classes (necessary evil) but if that's all you do, you are missing out big time. So make some plans, get the bike(s) tuned up, buy some new bike shorts, white lightning, etc. and get ready to make 2008 your best year so far. Use this short poem as your guide ; Nothing ventured, nothing gained, don't be afraid to try, so dream big dreams, reach for the stars, and set your standards high. Happy Cycling in 2008