People go to wild places to search for their true nature.
Where is your true nature?
- Zen koan
In practice we use questions presented to us to help us find the path. The questions, like the path often vary widely in complexity and ease of understanding. When the practice and questions are appropriate for our abilities we find the flow of peace.
A few weeks ago shortly prior to coming to Hawai'i for the Ultraman World Championships I found myself in that flow of peace, riding my KM40 and simply riding to ride. It was wonderful.
Four days prior to the start of the race I injured my foot while moving a chair. I peeled the toenail away from the bed of my big toe and had to have the nail surgically removed. Unable to ride much longer than 90 minutes without pain and completely unable to run I peacefully withdrew from the race. Both Clar and I are helping with the race and my brother David who came to crew for me alongside Clar is now crewing for an Italian athlete who took my spot at the last minute.
I still feel wonderful.
Wild places are oftentimes the places that scare us and for me over the past ten years I have come to realize The Wild Place that scared me most was peace. Rather than moving with flow I raged like a pounding surf, confronting boulders and other obstacles head on rather than peacefully moving around them with grace and elegance. Over the last three or so years venturing into my wild place of peace with increasing frequency I have come to find value of visiting peace in the moments of my life.
Over the past several days I have been fortunate to make new aquaintances and reconnect with old friends. Soon I will drive down the Queen K and meet my fellow Ultramen and
Ultra(wo)men at the finish line as a massage therapist.
Peacefully and feeling wonderful, discovering my true nature.
The Pitbull
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
UltraMan Hawaii 2009
"It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear and not bothering."
Christopher Robin
Christopher Robin
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Gravel Goodness, November 7, 2009
The weather looks good for the weekend...so join the "Guilty Party" for some Gravel Goodness.
7:30 AM November 7, 2009
4 Way Stop, Robins, IA - Intersection of Mentzer and Main/East Main
Show and Go Format
No phees, phills, phretting or phonies...
7:30 AM November 7, 2009
4 Way Stop, Robins, IA - Intersection of Mentzer and Main/East Main
Show and Go Format
No phees, phills, phretting or phonies...
Perhaps we'll even see The Llama, Dolly!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Gravel Goodness 10/31/2009
There will be a gathering of "The Guilty Party" at the Four Way Stop in Robins, IA for some Gravel Goodness.
7:30 AM
Show and Go Format
No Phee, Phrills or Phretting
7:30 AM
Show and Go Format
No Phee, Phrills or Phretting
Some "Asleep at the Wheel" replies...
From a member of the local bike advisory council...
Well done. I agree the majority of our citizenry in Cedar Rapids and our surrounding communities is not “bicycle friendly,” but we must take action and begin to work to make cycling accepted as viable to make any progress. It will take time.
From a local cyclist...
"It will take time..." a.k.a. "not right now"
How about instead of "it will take time," we say "what are we going to do today?"
From a friend and RD in Hawaii...
CJ,
As I've been riding a lot more lately, I am constantly coming across "asleep at the wheel drivers". And many of them have the attitude of the guy with the gas pipe in your story. I learned a long time ago that my bike and I are a lot smaller than most vehicles on the road and if they're mad at me, they might take it out on the next available cyclist. For years, I just kept my mouth shut about the situation.
Now, I've discovered another solution. I make sure to acknowledge and thank those drivers who kindly share the road. I've even ridden in to the gas station to thank a lady that stopped to let me merge across the turn lane (while the car behind her was honking at her!). It is my way of educating the public--one car at a time. And, in my view, it keeps positive energy flowing in the community and universe.
A small step, but one that works for me! See you in a few weeks.
Aloha, Crash
From the owner of a nationally known triathlon shop
Thanks CJ. I hope all is well. I hope to one day adopt your philosophy of peacefulness. Until then I carry a Tazer when ever I ride to protect myself. I feel an obligation to not enable bullies at any place in society. I also report every incident in a clear, calm, professional manner to the local police. Surprisingly the police are most always very respectful in return as well as quite responsive to my concerns for my safety in their community.
By simply reporting the incidents, it offers evidence for future encounters other innocent cyclists (my wife, my kids, or my friends) may have with the same vehicle.
However, this all started when in 1993 the day I got back from Kona I was riding between Ames and Boone when I was shot by a pellet gun in the butt. I needed to go to urgent care to have x-ray and have the wound clean. On the urging of Michael Fatka I reported the incident to Boone County Sheriff and I earned no respect from him. Even with Jim Pollard joining me in the Sheriff's office he completely brushed the incident off. This taught me that I have to be more proactive in my own safety.
The value of reporting incidents is clear in the current trial of the California doctor who has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon when he purposely stopped short and severely injuring two cyclist. The driver was also charged from an earlier incident where he did the same thing to two different cyclists. The first incident was reported but no charges were filed. After the second incident the D.A. charged the driver with the first incident as well. It is well worth reading the coverage on velonews if you willing to read the internet: www.velonews.com
So once again thanks for reminding me that having some inner peace and letting the drivers get worked up is a much happier way to go through life.
Well done. I agree the majority of our citizenry in Cedar Rapids and our surrounding communities is not “bicycle friendly,” but we must take action and begin to work to make cycling accepted as viable to make any progress. It will take time.
From a local cyclist...
"It will take time..." a.k.a. "not right now"
How about instead of "it will take time," we say "what are we going to do today?"
From a friend and RD in Hawaii...
CJ,
As I've been riding a lot more lately, I am constantly coming across "asleep at the wheel drivers". And many of them have the attitude of the guy with the gas pipe in your story. I learned a long time ago that my bike and I are a lot smaller than most vehicles on the road and if they're mad at me, they might take it out on the next available cyclist. For years, I just kept my mouth shut about the situation.
Now, I've discovered another solution. I make sure to acknowledge and thank those drivers who kindly share the road. I've even ridden in to the gas station to thank a lady that stopped to let me merge across the turn lane (while the car behind her was honking at her!). It is my way of educating the public--one car at a time. And, in my view, it keeps positive energy flowing in the community and universe.
A small step, but one that works for me! See you in a few weeks.
Aloha, Crash
From the owner of a nationally known triathlon shop
Thanks CJ. I hope all is well. I hope to one day adopt your philosophy of peacefulness. Until then I carry a Tazer when ever I ride to protect myself. I feel an obligation to not enable bullies at any place in society. I also report every incident in a clear, calm, professional manner to the local police. Surprisingly the police are most always very respectful in return as well as quite responsive to my concerns for my safety in their community.
By simply reporting the incidents, it offers evidence for future encounters other innocent cyclists (my wife, my kids, or my friends) may have with the same vehicle.
However, this all started when in 1993 the day I got back from Kona I was riding between Ames and Boone when I was shot by a pellet gun in the butt. I needed to go to urgent care to have x-ray and have the wound clean. On the urging of Michael Fatka I reported the incident to Boone County Sheriff and I earned no respect from him. Even with Jim Pollard joining me in the Sheriff's office he completely brushed the incident off. This taught me that I have to be more proactive in my own safety.
The value of reporting incidents is clear in the current trial of the California doctor who has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon when he purposely stopped short and severely injuring two cyclist. The driver was also charged from an earlier incident where he did the same thing to two different cyclists. The first incident was reported but no charges were filed. After the second incident the D.A. charged the driver with the first incident as well. It is well worth reading the coverage on velonews if you willing to read the internet: www.velonews.com
So once again thanks for reminding me that having some inner peace and letting the drivers get worked up is a much happier way to go through life.
Asleep at the Wheel, Part Two
Recently a cyclist was hit and left in the ditch near the town where I live. The driver who struck him and left the scene of the accident has never been apprehended. Sadly I am led to quote Vonnegut, “So it goes”.
As is often the case in today’s society people were at first indignant and there was much saber rattling, finger pointing and such. Then the awareness and concern faded away as people moved on to other temporary “causes”, “slights” and “indignations”. (A transient conscientious of sorts, I first coined this term when watching people temporarily flood fitness clubs during the annual January fitness resolution craze, but could also be likened to watching a dog perseverate on a specific squirrel in a backyard until another squirrel comes into focus and then squirrel one is completely forgotten about)
I of course stirred the pot a bit in suggesting that Cedar Rapids, IA was perhaps not a “bicycle friendly town”. I was told I was wrong, (the Emperor was indeed wearing clothes) Cedar Rapids was indeed bike friendly. I received stern reprimands and told to stop my electronic bitching from members of various task forces, committees and advisory councils. I was told of plans for trails and bike lanes and how sharrows and bike lanes had been painted on distant avenues and thoroughfares and told I for one needed to advocate and step up.
Though I approve of the efforts to create trails, paint lines and physically designate places and the place of cyclists in today’s oil and steel dominated and driven society I, as do the majority of cyclists I know and ride with, still consider the general populace of Cedar Rapids to be not bike friendly.
As we know from past experience too often when cyclists are hit the issues are often swept under the rug, dealt with by insurance companies if dealt with at all. However as I suggested in a guest editorial published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on November 14, 1995 (2009 – 14 = 1995) I feel it is possible to share the road with and through the use of enforcement and education as our primary tools.
Education begins in the schools, however as the obesity crisis infects our youth as it has infected their parents it is apparent that few students ride their bikes to school. However when I spoke to children in the Cedar Rapids schools on bicycle safety issues over a 10 year period both students and teachers seemed interested in what I had to say and were eager for the correct information such as what is the correct side of the street to ride ones bike and why wearing a bike helmet is important, as I used a melon to visually drive home the point.
In my opinion enforcement is best left up to those in charge of enforcement although it appears that many are unwilling to do so. In the central part of our state there have been incidents of cyclists being gravely injured or killed and the incidents being swept under the rug because the individual who hit the cyclist “knew someone” or played poker with them at the VFW Hall on Tuesday nights. However we as citizens can speak with our votes and through rational forms of communication can press the issue.
On a related note…I often hear of local groups of cyclists who when they feel slighted will engage motorists verbally and challenge them. I used to be one of those cyclists and long before adopting a more peaceful path to my life had often challenged motorists who had threatened me. These types of challenges on my part ceased when a motorist pulled a 3 foot piece of gas pipe from under his front seat and offered to “adjust” my thinking. Now I just let the motorist go on, letting them be pissed for the moment at me until he or she transfers their aggressions to the next perceived slight.
Locally there is a meeting with our supervisors almost 14 years to the day that I proposed we could indeed share the roads. I plan on attending. As the meeting announcement said in part “this is an opportunity for cyclists and advocates to voice their feelings about trails, signs, paved shoulders, safety and any other cycling issue. The time is here for us to get a start on improving cyclist accommodations in Linn County. It all begins at meetings. The presence of a few at this inconvenient weekday morning meeting can make the difference for many.”
I agree. I always have.
The Pitbull
A note here: Last week I rode my bike to Lindale Mall to buy an anniversary gift.
(27 years and I have never forgotten!) There were no bike racks to be found so I locked my bike to a trash can. After finding out about this meeting I contacted one of the City traffic engineers to see if there was a secure place to lock my bike, other than a trash can. She promptly responded. So ride on over and engage in this opportunity for improving Cedar Rapids and Linn County.
As is often the case in today’s society people were at first indignant and there was much saber rattling, finger pointing and such. Then the awareness and concern faded away as people moved on to other temporary “causes”, “slights” and “indignations”. (A transient conscientious of sorts, I first coined this term when watching people temporarily flood fitness clubs during the annual January fitness resolution craze, but could also be likened to watching a dog perseverate on a specific squirrel in a backyard until another squirrel comes into focus and then squirrel one is completely forgotten about)
I of course stirred the pot a bit in suggesting that Cedar Rapids, IA was perhaps not a “bicycle friendly town”. I was told I was wrong, (the Emperor was indeed wearing clothes) Cedar Rapids was indeed bike friendly. I received stern reprimands and told to stop my electronic bitching from members of various task forces, committees and advisory councils. I was told of plans for trails and bike lanes and how sharrows and bike lanes had been painted on distant avenues and thoroughfares and told I for one needed to advocate and step up.
Though I approve of the efforts to create trails, paint lines and physically designate places and the place of cyclists in today’s oil and steel dominated and driven society I, as do the majority of cyclists I know and ride with, still consider the general populace of Cedar Rapids to be not bike friendly.
As we know from past experience too often when cyclists are hit the issues are often swept under the rug, dealt with by insurance companies if dealt with at all. However as I suggested in a guest editorial published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on November 14, 1995 (2009 – 14 = 1995) I feel it is possible to share the road with and through the use of enforcement and education as our primary tools.
Education begins in the schools, however as the obesity crisis infects our youth as it has infected their parents it is apparent that few students ride their bikes to school. However when I spoke to children in the Cedar Rapids schools on bicycle safety issues over a 10 year period both students and teachers seemed interested in what I had to say and were eager for the correct information such as what is the correct side of the street to ride ones bike and why wearing a bike helmet is important, as I used a melon to visually drive home the point.
In my opinion enforcement is best left up to those in charge of enforcement although it appears that many are unwilling to do so. In the central part of our state there have been incidents of cyclists being gravely injured or killed and the incidents being swept under the rug because the individual who hit the cyclist “knew someone” or played poker with them at the VFW Hall on Tuesday nights. However we as citizens can speak with our votes and through rational forms of communication can press the issue.
On a related note…I often hear of local groups of cyclists who when they feel slighted will engage motorists verbally and challenge them. I used to be one of those cyclists and long before adopting a more peaceful path to my life had often challenged motorists who had threatened me. These types of challenges on my part ceased when a motorist pulled a 3 foot piece of gas pipe from under his front seat and offered to “adjust” my thinking. Now I just let the motorist go on, letting them be pissed for the moment at me until he or she transfers their aggressions to the next perceived slight.
Locally there is a meeting with our supervisors almost 14 years to the day that I proposed we could indeed share the roads. I plan on attending. As the meeting announcement said in part “this is an opportunity for cyclists and advocates to voice their feelings about trails, signs, paved shoulders, safety and any other cycling issue. The time is here for us to get a start on improving cyclist accommodations in Linn County. It all begins at meetings. The presence of a few at this inconvenient weekday morning meeting can make the difference for many.”
I agree. I always have.
The Pitbull
A note here: Last week I rode my bike to Lindale Mall to buy an anniversary gift.
(27 years and I have never forgotten!) There were no bike racks to be found so I locked my bike to a trash can. After finding out about this meeting I contacted one of the City traffic engineers to see if there was a secure place to lock my bike, other than a trash can. She promptly responded. So ride on over and engage in this opportunity for improving Cedar Rapids and Linn County.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Cost of Five Hours of "Gravel Goodness"
Felt Cyclocross Bike: $1500.00
Specialized Comp Mountain Bike Shoes,
Crank Brothers Egg Beaters Pedals: $232.00
Having your Iron Maiden tell you she's glad
you came home muddy and happy: PRICELESS
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