Category Archives: Exercise

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Pack it In!

My motto- you can sleep when you’re dead.

When I saw this on the door of the Cafe LeMont up near State College, Pa. I laughed. It is so true. Carpe Diem, seize the day, pack it in. Janet always says I am in a hurry and always rush her into things. But when she gets it together and packs it in, she is happy. She doesn’t want to miss anything. And when we get together with our friends, Judy and Mike Smith, they are definitely cohorts in crime when it comes to squeezing every opportunity out of a day. Janet just rolls her eyes at the three of us but always complies. She may be tired at the end of a day, but always glad that she ……..packed it in.

Mike and Judy Smith- out hiking, cycling, and ski buddies. They are professionals at packing it in.

So, Janet said to me last week, ” where do you want to go for your birthday?” I really didn’t know, and we settled on a trip to State College with the Smiths. Janet and Judy were room- mates at PSU and Mike and I are usually along for the ride. We had not been to State College for a while and decided that would be a fun place to go. We stayed at the newly refurbished Nittany Lion Inn which was available because it was a non- football weekend. The busy itinerary for the weekend began when Janet and I drove to the Cafe Lemont, had lunch, and then donned the backpacks and headed up Mt. Nittany for a hike. Judy and Mike arrived a little later, and they set the land speed record up and back. LOL!! We all laughed and headed to check in at the hotel, shower, and then out to eat. No grass was growing under our feet that day. Hiking up Mt. Nittany is always fun and a rite of passage for Penn Staters. Again – Mike and I were along for the ride.

The view of Beaver Stadum from the top of Mt. Nittany.

Judy and Janet on their beloved Nittany Lion. Judy was a cheerleader back in the day. She still could be one.

After a quick cup of coffee the next morning, we all went out to Shingletown Gap for another hike. A beautiful trail with wonderful scenery and lots of rocks. I told them all that the people who hike the Appalachian Trail always call Pennsylvania ” Rocksylvania” because it is one of the more challenging sections on the route. Mike and I would agree because, as we knew full well, the subsequent mountain bike ride for the both of us would be full of challenging rocks. The ladies regrouped back at the Inn and Mike and I made our way to the Longberger Path and the Tussey Mountain Trail in the Rothrock State Forest. A route that he and I have ridden many, many times on our PSU weekends for football games with the ladies and their clan. As we made our way to the” Beer Tap” which is a fun marker at the confluence of a couple of trails, we forged ahead through heinous rock gardens along the way and wondering where the heck that Beer Tap was so we could begin the long descent back to the car. Mike led the way as I watched him battle the rock sections for as long as he could riding his bike before we had to hike some sections. But as the sun was setting, it was cold on the descent and the shower back at the hotel was a welcome relief. That trail seems longer and longer every year. Could it be that I am just getting older? Hmmm.

If you ever get the chance to see a NCAA Div 1 Volleyball game- go do it. Exciting.
Mike Smith at the Beer Tap- Tussey Mountain Trail
The Tussey Mountain Trail- Rocksylvania for sure.

Rushing back to pack it in some more after the hike and the ride, we all made our way to Rec Hall to watch the women’s volleyball game between PSU and Illinois. An exciting match for sure and thankful that Judy got tickets. We rushed to The Tavern right after the game, rammed down some food and then began our walk through the town and back up the hill to the hotel. A long day but …………….you can sleep when you’re dead. Right?

The next morning, after a road coffee, we did another hike at Mt. Nittany, had some lunch at the Cafe LeMont again and headed back home. A whirlwind couple of days which was anything but relaxing, but we did a lot and I, for one, was happy. The more I can pack in, the better I like it. Janet rolls her eyes again. But she knows who she married.

In the gondola in Utah with the Smittys and our friends Ralph and Amy Phillips

We will be heading back out west for another ski trip with the Flying Smittys this winter and I am sure that they will be up at at em early as is their usual protocol. Janet is used to the deal by now seeing that we have been taking ski trips with the Smiths for quite a while now. They love to ski, I love to ski, and Janet- well, once she is out and at it, loves to ski too. We just have to crowbar her out sometimes. LOL!!

So, I guess, the moral of the story for me here is ……………..get it while you can. There are so many opportunities in life that the operative word these days should be” yes”. It doesn’t have to be far away from home either. Lots of good places to visit and pack it in right in your home state. Great to travel, great to pack it in out of state or out of the country, but always wonderful to go for the gusto right in your neck of the woods. Remember- you don’t quit doing things because you get old, you get old because you quit doing things. Thanks for reading and pack it in – will ya?

A post snowshoe picnic right near the trails near our house. With the Smittys!
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Never Let a Number Define You

Time marches on

I told my neighbor Sumant that I was turning 70 this week. He responded, ” Patrick- never let a number define you.” I thought about that for a minute and kind of smiled. I really don’t feel any different, but numbers don’t lie, and you know that at least chronologically, you are advancing in age. I always joke with people that I will age chronologically but will never mature. People laugh, but really- it is kind of true. I still like to have that bright eyed, youthful look on life that sometimes doesn’t match my actual position. But how should we act or how do we move on when you hit a milestone like this?

My home trails
The Cliffs of Moher – Ireland
The Minarets- Mammoth, California

I think the best way is to just keep doing what you like to do. I ride my mountain bike for exercise all year and also I like to ski when the winter comes. Hiking is good too and the more active you are, the better your health will be especially if you eat correctly and get the proper amount of sleep. Nothing you have not heard before, but we pay more attention to it, the older we get. Sometimes, for a brief moment, I think about things when I mount my bike, but then I just go into ride mode and never think about anything but enjoying the ride and raising the heart rate. Same with skiing. At the beginning of the season at my local areas, I think- ” can I still do this?” Then I strap ’em on and push off with the poles and do what comes naturally – make a turn. From that moment on, the season begins. That brief moment of doubt is erased by the joy of the moment and the muscle memory of knowing how to ski- just like I have done for 63 years. I concentrate on making good turns, looking ahead, and making mature decisions on where to ski and how to ski. Sure, I am not making turns like I was years ago, but I am still trying to learn new things and trying new techniques. If you can stay in shape, the more successful you can be trying new things.

Lake Tahoe from Diamond Peak, Nevada
Jan the hiker at The Lodge at Glendorn Bradford, Pa.

But perhaps the most important thing in this next decade for me will be spending time with Janet and being active with her. We enjoy each other’s company, and I have tried to share my enthusiasm for the great outdoors with her and encourage her to get out there. I laugh and tell her I am crowbarring her out but once she is out there, she enjoys it and is thankful that I give her the push. Make no mistake, Jan pushes me too. I get stuck in my ways sometimes and she moves me out of the comfort zone.

As we age, we do gain some wisdom, and we cannot make a big deal out of things that we really can’t control. We don’t stress, and strive for a more peaceful life. We try to be kind and encouraging, and the great outdoors is a great venue for those virtues. Lots of good conversations can be had on the trails and in the chairlifts. I hope I can share some gained wisdom as I move on in this decade. I hope I can be kind and encouraging not only to my wife, but to my friends and family as well. Also, to new people that I will meet along the way. There is always a new audience for my well- worn stories if I just look for the potential victims. LOL!!! But all in all, I will take Sumant’s advice. I hope you do too. Thanks for reading.

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“Life is like a bicycle- to keep your balance- you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

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” The Times They Are a Changin”

Bob Dylan was right but for other reasons. This past weekend we changed the clocks over again and although I am not a big fan of the time change routine, it is what it is, and we need to face the fact that the dark days of winter are here. A lot of people change their exercise programs in the winter and go inside to gyms and workout centers. I like the outdoors and am not really into the indoor deal, so I stay outside and ride my MTB all winter. I retired my old winter bike and am getting a new one. But you need lights. I have been riding with lights for about 36 years. I can remember being chased out of North Park, back in the day, by the police because night riding was something they were not familiar with. We used to turn the lights off, and then when the police went away, we kept riding.

Technology has changed a lot over the years. We used to ride $300.00 Night Suns or Night Rider lights with water bottle cage batteries and a very dim yellow beam. Today- the lights are way more cost effective and you can get a lot of lumens, 2 hour plus, high beam, run times, for a fraction of that price. And the light quality is amazing. So many lights to choose from these days. But night riding was always an adventure.

The Moon Rocks- Davis, West Virginia

Recently I was reading Victoria Weeks’ blog post about the “Revenge of the Rattlesnake” MTB race in Davis, West Virginia which included the famous Moon Rocks. If you get a chance, read her post and follow her blog. Very entertaining and Victoria is a very accomplished rider and writer. (The Victory Lap ) https://www.victoriaweeks.com In her post, Victoria describes the challenging riding over the Moon Rocks and I told her in a response, that I remember riding there in the middle of the night at the old 24 Hours of Canaan races in Davis back in the day. I first was introduced to the rock feature when I saw one of the marshals for the race in a long black coat and a wide brimmed hat. He looked like the Grim Reaper as I made my way past him, silently observing, and onto the rocks. My yellow beamed Night Rider was state of the art at the time, and in fact they sponsored Laird Knight’s famous race. But to see that feature, at 3:00 in the morning and try to ride it and make my way through the bog that followed was quite a challenge, especially on 26 ” wheels, cantilever brakes, steel frame and an early version Rock Shocks front suspension fork. We didn’t know any better and that was the best technology that we had at the time.

Fast forward to the 24 Hours of Canaan at Timberline Resort, I can clearly remember following my yellow beam at 4:00 in the morning, all alone because the field was pretty well stretched out at that time, and hearing things go bump in the night. A bear? A bobcat? Another nocturnal animal? I remember one poor guy that I passed asking if he could stay with me because his light went out. I said sure but eventually he tailed off and I never saw him again. Felt bad, but you have to have charged lights for those lonely, West Virginia, late night laps. As my friend Shark always says, ” it gets West Virginia real quick” and it sure did at night, over the Moon Rocks, and through the river two times each lap.

Nothing like the night laps.

These days- at this time of year, I make sure my lights are charged and if I need any new batteries, I get them and am ready for the evening rides. Nothing like the old days in West Virginia, but enough of a challenge to keep me interested in riding at night. Good exercise- you don’t have to go indoors, and no matter what the weather throws at you, riding is always available. My Endura MT500 jacket and pants https://us.endurasport.com can withstand the harshest of weather and together with a good pair of lights,( helmet and handlebar), you can ride all winter without issue.

So, the time change is kind of bittersweet for me . It signals the end of the summer and fall and the beginning of winter. I like winter, but if you choose to ride in it, good clothing and good lights are a necessity. Things look different at night, just like they did in the old days, but it gives you a new challenge and the “changin” times are not so bad. So, if you like to ride, take a tip from an old guy like me- keep riding. You will really appreciate it in the spring when you are trying to ramp up your fitness. Those who back away in the winter really struggle when the time changes back again. Thanks for reading.

The local diehards.

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” To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Do the Right Thing

Jim Jacobs- owner of Peak Ski and Board

This is my friend Jim Jacobs who owns Peak Ski and Board in Allison Park, Pa. Jim is a fine skier in his own right, but also very knowledgeable in the ski business and is an excellent boot fitter as well. He is a second generation ski shop owner and has taken Peak Ski and Board to new heights over the last several years. Consider that climate change has made local skiing challenging in recent years, the fluctuating economy, Covid years and other potential roadblocks to succeeding in business, Jim has flourished. Why?- because he cares about his customers. He takes time to spend with them, assessing their ability and matching those needs to new equipment that makes the customer’s skiing experience tailor made. He spent a good deal of time recently fitting my wife Janet with a new pair of boots that she says fit her perfectly. Jim knows what he is doing and spends the time making sure the customer is satisfied before they leave the shop. Just yesterday, I went in to get a new pair of liners for my ski boots which had become packed out, and he came up with a quick solution for me that left me with basically what felt to be a new pair of boots.

Peak Ski and Board ready for the new season.
New equipment coming in daily to Peak Ski and Board.
Flying Tom Florcik- owner of Trailflo Bikes
A well stocked TrailFlo Bike Shop

Above is my friend Tom Florcik who owns TrailFlo Bikes in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. As you can see from the photo above, Tom is an exceptional rider who is not afraid to get airborne. An amazingly skilled rider, but also a very good businessman, who has developed a loyal clientele among the serious mountain bike set in the Pittsburgh area. Why is Tom successful? Several reasons. He knows what he is talking about because he walks the walk on the trails and does not just talk the talk. He is a good rider. He also is his own chief mechanic often working on customer bikes himself to make sure they operate perfectly. Like Jim, Tom takes the time to work with customers and when a bike is in for repair, he looks for other things that might need attention. Like the other day, when he replaced my well worn bottom bracket, he fixed my dropper post cable because he noticed that a recent crash has basically broken the shifting device. I had been using it, but Tom noticed and fixed it without me mentioning it. He pays attention to the detail and really helps customers who bring him bikes that need attention after some serious abuse on the trails. Tom is an excellent businessman who runs a tight ship and also does the little things that customers should notice. Like giving steady customers a discount which always shows up on his invoice. Not sure many people thank him- but I always do because I appreciate it as a customer. I recommend Tom’s shop and Jim’s shop to everyone I know and to all that ask me about where to get ski equipment and mountain bike equipment. They are both highly recommended.

But this is not just a promo for Jim and Tom ,but a post dealing with a subject that kind of irritates me. With the advent of the internet, ski equipment and cycling equipment are all available on- line. You can get pretty much anything you want on- line and it is your right. What I find intolerable is when people come into a shop like Jim’s or Tom’s and take up valuable time having both guys work with them, only to leave after the advice, fitting, measuring, etc, and order what they need on- line. To have Jim spend time fitting you with a pair of ski boots, only to have the right boot selected and then go out the door and order on- line. Same thing with Tom. Come into the shop, have Tom spend time fitting you with a bike, get all the measurements, and then order on- line. Not only is that unscrupulous in my mind, but when it comes time for repair, oftentimes these people come into the shop expecting a quick repair on equipment that they didn’t even buy from Jim or Tom. If you want to order on- line which is your right, then be prepared to fix things yourself when things go wrong. Oftentimes, Jim and Tom know what happens and they repair the equipment anyhow because they will take the business. But don’t expect special treatment if you took up their time and did not buy from them. Unscrupulous in my mind. But maybe I am just old school?

These days, there are fewer and fewer specialty shops around. The big manufacturers will boost their volume by making deals with the larger sporting goods companies, oftentimes competing with those specialty shops. A number of years ago, I learned about a deal that a large ski manufacturer had made with an on- line dealer who ran his business out of his garage in Canada. The next day, he was in to see my friend’s specialty shop and expected high volume from the specialty shop for the same product. He was willing to set up an on- line competitor but expected his specialty shops to not only carry a large volume but spend time and money promoting their product. Suppliers are a little desperate today and oftentimes their fair- trade business practices get cloudy when they need to meet their budgets.

Things have changed and business is tough these days. I get it. That is why it is remarkable that some specialty shops still exist among the larger worlds of Dick’s Sporting Goods, L.L.Bean, REI, and other large box store businesses. My point is that if you like the attention you receive from a specialty shop, complete with excellent advice, workmanship, and repair, you need to support these guys. You don’t come in, suck all of that knowledge and pricing out of the owner and the shop and go get it cheaper on- line. Yes- you might be able to get a better price sometimes, but you will never replace the time, effort, and service that you receive from a specialty shop. The good thing is that there are enough of us who support shops like these and keep them going with our business. Because we appreciate their attention to detail and attention to us as customers. Ok- off the soapbox now. Thanks for reading.

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Cyclo X 2024

Aaron Shafer- Founder of Cyclo X

Well, it was another hot and steamy day last Sunday for the annual ride to and through the City of Pittsburgh’s City Parks. A good turnout as usual even though it was the same day as Peddle Pittsburgh. I tell people all the time that Cyclo X is really a mountain bike ride because even though there is a lot of road riding in between parks, the trails in the parks themselves usually demand a mountain bike for most people. Mere mortals like me. I need the knobby tires as much as possible. The “A” group had people on mountain bikes but a lot of guys on gravel or cross bikes. Their skill is amazing. I ride with the “B ” group because I am a little “long in the tooth” for the “A ” group anymore. Despite the trite saying,………. age and treachery will NOT beat youth and skill. Hat’s off to Aaron for putting together great routes this year for both groups.

The “B” Group.

Just to give you some perspective, Aaron and 7 of his “A” group guys rode 80+ miles with some amazing vertical feet. Strava had it at 11,000 ft. Everything in Pittsburgh is up from the rivers and no matter where you go, there is a steep punchy climb. A real mix of trails, gravel and roads. Our group called it a day after 43 miles and close to 4,000 vertical feet and made our way back to the Grist House for some of their cold, delicious, craft beers. The Hazedelic IPA tasted pretty good in the 90 degree temperatures. But the routes are interesting and vary from year to year. Aaron even put some killer climbs in for the “B” group this year which left me kind of strained as we made our way up Mt. Washington on Sycamore Street. Hard to believe that the Thrift Drug Classic road race climbed this 8 times during the course of the race. Even then, a lot of pro riders dropped out after too many runs at that steep climb. But the lunch at Redbeard’s was a welcome rest. They are always so accommodating to our hot and sweaty group.

Shark and Sean Brady at Redbeard’s

The scenery was terrific as the bright and sunny day showcased all the city parks. It was kind of cool to see all the folks from Peddle Pittsburgh out and about too. It just shows that Pittsburgh has a lot of active folks with many outdoor opportunities. Road cyclists, mountain bikers, gravel riders, all enjoying what the city has to offer.

The send- off from the Grist House
The view from the Emerald Trails on Mt. Washington.

As much as the beautiful day showcased the city and it’s beautiful parks, there were some sights from the seat of a bicycle that made you ponder. Lots of homeless tents on the North Shore bicycle trail and also on the Southside. This is a problem and not really sure how to handle it but hoping that someone smarter than me can help these people out. My friend Pete Hilton, who was on the ride, is on the board of Light of Light Missions that does a great job trying to rehabilitate these folks who often have mental and drug related challenges. If Pittsburgh wants to showcase itself, they need to align as much as they can with organizations like Light of Life and help people in need. People in Pittsburgh are very friendly and helpful. They are the fabric that can solve this problem as well as showcase our city to the world as a caring community and an active outdoor community as well.

Pete Hilton and the Shark

I drove home that day thinking about how many more of the Cyclo X rides I can do. I realize that I am not 30 anymore and my riding strength is relative. But I believe in the importance of staying in shape, riding my bike, and keeping that positive attitude as long as I can. It is events like Cyclo X that keep me in the game. Thanks to Aaron and his hard work organizing this event and thanks to all the riders who came out. Try it next year- you will not be disappointed. Thanks for reading.

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The Headless Rider

You know, sometimes you have to come up with some ingenious ideas to get over on a chronic problem or use creativity in being proactive. Some work and some do not. Take the time I went to Tuckerman Ravine to climb and ski and thought that it would be a good idea to pre -pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and carry them in my backpack. At the end of the week of skiing and climbing and sleeping in the shelter up against my backpack, the prepacked bag of sandwiches from Pittsburgh ended up as a wad of peanut butter and jelly doughball in New Hampshire that was kind of disgusting at week’s end. Not a good idea.

Recently, however, I came up with a good one. The gnats in the woods this year have been particularly bothersome on mountain bike rides. As you start to perspire, those little buggers start to swarm your head supposedly looking for the moist, exhale of carbon dioxide. Riding up hills and grinding away, I found myself constantly swatting away gnats from my face and ears which really started to put a damper on what is usually an enjoyable experience riding my mountain bike. I found that anything over 7 MPH would help the situation, but climbing was usually below that speed. I tried every spray known to man and nothing really worked. Then it hit me……….a mosquito net. I ordered two from Amazon and they came the next day and problem solved. It worked great on the rides but there is one problem. Well, not really a problem, but a situation of perception.

I noticed that the net is rather dark and from far away, people have remarked that it looked like I had no head because it was so dark. Dogs started to bark at me in fright or not knowing quite what I was, coming up on them in the twilight. People think it is a good idea and make their remarks, but they also say I am rather scary looking coming up on them at a higher speed. I come breezing by with my bell warning them of my approach. It occurred to me after several comments that I was really like the Headless Horsemen in the famous Washington Irving short story ” The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. For the uninitiated, this tale written in 1820, is about a Hessian trooper during the Revolutionary War, that supposedly was decapitated by a cannon ball. The legend goes that at midnight, the horseman supposedly came to life in the graveyard and rode around the countryside looking for his severed head, terrorizing all who saw him. There is also a love story involved, but you can read that if you like. I always liked this short story and also liked Washington Irving, as he also wrote Rip van Winkle. But suffice to say, at dusk, riding my mountain bike, with the mosquito net, I can be quite daunting coming up from behind on some poor unsuspecting hiker or runner.

As good as the mosquito net works, the visual of no head tends to scare people and dogs. Especially when it starts to turn dark. I kind of laugh to myself when I come flying by and say nothing. The Ichabod Cranes of the world, on the trails, are quite intimidated by the approach of the Headless Rider of North Park and you never know, a new legend may emerge their as my rides continue.

I don’t have problems with gnats now, and this was probably one of the best innovations that I have come up with. But with my usual dark riding clothes, the dark net, and the silent passing with the bell, it could be a lot of fun around Halloween. But hopefully the gnats won’t be a problem anymore at that time. Think creatively and come up with something better than pre-packed peanut butter and jelly. There are lots of instances where your creativity could save the day. Thanks for reading and laughing.

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Motion Connected

So, we got this new app at work called Motion Connected. It is basically a tracking app that takes information from your sports watch and downloads it to show how many minutes you work out per day/ per week. It also downloads the amount of steps that you take during a day and a week. That is all registered on your download to your phone from your sports watch, but now it also is downloaded to the Motion Connected app. It was an interesting idea that was just presented to us in July and a lot of people in the company are on board. The incentive is when you reach certain levels, you are eligible for a gift certificate purchased by the company for your use. Lots of different certificates available with the Motion Connect incentive program.

All forms of exercise are legal so whether you are on a mountain bike ride, or a road ride, or a run, or in the gym, all forms of exercise count towards the incentive program. Walking is also included and supposedly you have to reach a certain heart rate for the app to kick in. We also have monthly challenges. This month it is a cardio challenge, and I am not real sure what the criteria is for that, but somehow I am doing ok in that challenge. I am also competitive for the weekly steps and minutes of activity. But I started to let the old competitive juices kick in when I started to question the amount of time the top three guys registered and also the amount of steps registered. Some of us remarked that some people logged the equivalent of running 4 marathons per week and up to 5 hours a day of activity. Do they work? Are they somehow entering data manually? I was starting to get miffed because my minutes logged from my Garmin are for the times I was moving on my mountain bike and my heart rate was above 95 BPM. I usually ride between 110 and 160 BPM. I was working hard, and I wondered how these people were ahead of me and also ahead of some other guys that I know work hard on the road bike, running, mountain biking, and in the gym. I felt like it was not fair for the company to pay out gift certificate to some people who were somehow short circuiting the system.

I also realized that walking was legit and in fact it is often seen as the purest form of exercise with the best benefits. I respect the walkers too. But I still wondered how several people were so far ahead of the rest of us in minutes and steps. My friends at work were starting to chuckle at my competitive energy for a guy my age. And then, it hit me. What is the true focus of this app for the company? It is to have a fun way to exercise for an incentive, a little competition, but mostly to motivate people to exercise and take a proactive approach to their health. That is what it is all about, Pat. You dummy. So don’t get your shorts in a wad about what may or may not be happening to others. Just focus on the meaning of the app and the benefits it will have for all of us.

It’s funny. The older you get, sometimes the competitive juices still bubble up. So now, I am competing with our company employees. LOL!! At least that was in my mind until I realized that I am competing with myself to stay active, healthy and maybe get a gift certificate. I can sweat my head off in this friggin 90 degree weather for a purpose. Thanks to Laurie V and our HR department for thinking of this and making it available to every employee at Armada. The health care industry is trying to change by encouraging proactive behaviors. Companies may be rewarded with lower health insurance premiums for healthy employees. Wouldn’t you rather take care of your health and be rewarded by being proactive, instead of just having a pill thrown at you? I would. I am a fan of Motion Connected- now that I have the right attitude. Thanks for reading.

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Solo

Riding solo

Back in March of 2014, I wrote a post called Flying Solo about how I enjoyed skiing by myself especially when I would travel out to the Pacific Northwest. Check out my March 5, 2014 archives on the side of my page. Not that I did not like skiing with a group, but how therapeutic it is to spend time skiing by yourself and riding solo on a chairlift. You can look around, take in the views, think, and just enjoy the moment – by yourself.

As I get older, I am starting to enjoy riding my mountain bike by myself. Again, not that I don’t like riding with people, but when I can take the time and put on my Shokz earbuds and listen to calming music, it is a nice experience. I can ride at my own pace, I don’t have to chase or wait for anybody, and can just take in a beautiful day and a beautiful place.

Back in the old MTB racing days- riding solo happened here and there.

I showed a friend of mine the other day my route through one of my favorite places to ride. I stressed my enjoyment of riding at my own pace or what I call PPPP – Pat’s Pleasant Park Peddling. I like the humorous bumper sticker that says ” start slow and taper off.” LOL!! When we finished the ride- I showed my friend how to end the ride- which was to go right to a park bench under a tree and hop off the bike and sit down. I tend to look around at the changes that occur with the seasons and think about the next change that will be coming. I have a chance to keep listening to my music and thinking about a lot of things. What is important in life? How I value my family. And how it feels to be entering my 7th decade. But riding keeps you in the game and you don’t let a number define you. But when you ride solo, or hike solo, or run solo, or ski solo, you have the mental time to consider a lot of things that are important and eliminate those that are not.

I have always used my bike as a therapeutic tool to relax, think about things, and unload some occasional stress that comes into all of our lives. I used to do it on a road bike, but now, it is all on the mountain bike. No cars, no honking, no chipped ham sandwiches thrown at you, and especially no issues with people texting and not paying attention to your safety. Yes- trees don’t move, but I find that I feel safer on the MTB than the road bike. Plus ,the tranquility of the woods and the trails in my collection of favorite places to ride, aids in the therapeutic process.

Whether you ride a road bike, a gravel bike, or a mountain bike, there are times when you have the opportunity to ride by yourself. If you don’t ride, you can perhaps think about starting – easy and taper off. Riding a bicycle has been one of the great joys in my life as it is good exercise and also helps with dealing with the stressors of ordinary living. Again- no offense to my riding or skiing friends, but time spent by myself is well worth the ride.

So the next time your friends bail out for one reason or another, think about going out by yourself. Most bails are due to bad weather, but if you have the right clothing, you can enjoy riding in the rain, sleet or snow. And if it is by yourself, all the better. Pull that hood up, put on your music, and get that ride in anyhow. After you get cleaned up, you will be glad you did it. I am getting smarter the older I get. And making use of solo riding time is enjoyable more and more. Thanks for reading.

The Beer Tap at State College. Lots of solo rides in Rothrock.

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The Bell

Many of the trails that are used today are multi- use. That means, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and trail runners, all use them and, in some cases, there can be conflict. Typically ,things happen when a group of mountain bikers come up suddenly on a group of people on horses and startle the horses and the riders. Or maybe someone is peddling up a steep climb on a trail and another group of mountain bikers are rocketing downhill and ignore the rule about the uphill riders having the right of way. Conflict happens. Or trail runners often have a negative feeling about mountain bikers because they startle them, or they come screaming past them and expect the hikers or trail runners to move off the trail. Conflict happens again. It seems that the responsible users of any trail system really have to know the rules and, well………, just be aware of being courteous to other users. No wonder conflict happens, and it seems like I spend time on every ride trying to improve the opinions of other users. I try to be courteous and get off my bike when horses are present because I am aware that bikes spook horses.

The trails are for everyone.

It seems like I am always trying to make up for the few bad apples who seem to taint our reputation with their rude behavior. Can’t we all be courteous and just get along? Again, I spend a lot of time trying to improve the perception that mountain bikers are all rude, young, ignorant people who will take what they need. Some of us are older and have a little more sense and can obviously see when there is an opportunity to share the trail responsibly. That is one reason why I got a bell.

Riding Rothrock at State College

A number of years ago, I attended Dirt Fest in Big Bear, West Virginia and was walking through the expo and came upon a booth that sold Timber quick release bicycle bells. You can see mine in the photo above. A nice little bell that basically you unlock when you see someone ahead. The bell rings as you ride along the uneven trail. You don’t do anything but release the lock and the bell rings as you bounce along. Most people appreciate the bell. Some people have earbuds, and you still have to gently make your way past them. But for the most part, people tend to stand aside, let you by, and usually make a favorable comment about the bell. I tell kids that I am one of Santa’s elves and ask in the presence of their parents, if they are behaving. This usually gets a laugh and lightens the mood.

Rocks help the bell ring.

But for the most part, if you use your head and consider the other party, you can do the right thing for other users. Oftentimes, if I see the same people twice on a local ride, I will get off my bike and let them pass instead of always expecting them to move. They appreciate it. I also use the bell around corners because mountain bikers tend to move along quickly and can startle people coming at you from a blind bend in the trail. Again, they appreciate it. Sometimes you have to sell the fact that mountain bikers are not all that bad to some user groups, but the more courteous we are, the more successful we will be. An interesting statistic is that mountain bikers do the most work on trail systems. This was validated locally in a meeting with our local county officials who sang the praises of our Trail Pittsburgh organization. Most of us try to do the right thing but we seem to always be righting a wrong of a small few who ruin the reputation of those of us who care.

The bell seems to symbolize courtesy. It reminds us that we need to be kind, and helpful and respectful to others not only on multi use trails, but anywhere we go. Wouldn’t it be nice if more people thought of others instead of themselves? It seems like a lot of people seem stressed today and tend to look out for themselves. They may not think of others who may be having difficulties,, or seem to be in the way of our quest to get somewhere quickly. Maybe we need a bell with us in our daily life and not just on the trails? The multi- use trail systems are really like a pathway of life. We all are following that pathway together. Let’s watch out for each other. Thanks for reading.

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B.A.

Bob Anderson at the front.

You know, as you grow older, you start to lose people in your life. It starts with grandparents, uncles, aunts, sometimes siblings, parents, but then you start to lose your friends. It happened to me last week when I lost a good friend – Bob Anderson. Bob was tragically killed when he came into contact with a high voltage downed power line after a storm. I won’t get into the details of that but suffice to say that Bob is no longer with us and that is a true tragedy.

Bob and I have been friends for close to 40 years. Starting way back in the Greenlee’s Mountain Bike Team days, to skiing together and hanging out after rides. Bob was an educator at Central Catholic High School. He was a favorite teacher of many of the students there even though he was tough and demanding, with his curriculum of diet and exercise. Bob was an extremely fit mountain bike racer even at the age of 63. A plant- based eater, he always paid strict attention to his health and was a fierce competitor and was extremely hard to ride with as I am getting older. I kept telling him that nobody is going to the Olympics, but Bob finished second in a race three days before he died. I did way better having a conversation with Bob after a ride than during.

But the great thing about Bob was that there was much more to his character than just mountain biking and racing. He had a heart for people and was the first one to volunteer to guide blind skiers, put on soccer clinics, help out at his church, and in general, if you needed a hand, Bob was there for you.

Bob – second from left with the group from Adventurefest.

We all attended Adventurefest together which is an annual event of Christian men getting together for a weekend of camping, riding, and other activities in the great outdoors of the Laurel Highlands. Bob was taken aback when he heard testimonies on Friday night at the cross with guys who have come back to Christianity after a history of broken homes, marriages, substance abuse, incarcerations, and other life hardships. Bob was a Christian man whose faith meant a lot to him, and we all had wonderful discussions at the campfires at night and he was always inquisitive about faith and what it meant to him.

Sunday he went to church up at Adventurefest and was the first to volunteer to permanently erect the cross at the Boyer’s Pond Campground for future Adventuremen events. The cool thing about the cross is that after the men give their testimonies, they pound a nail into the cross to signify that they have put it all back on the cross and have given their life to the saving power of Jesus. Very important to Bob.

Bob and Shark signing autographs at the World Cup in Snowshoe, WVA. LOL!!

Bob was a kind father to his two daughters, Paige and Brooke, and talked about them often on our rides. People knew Bob as an amazing mountain bike racer. Strong and competitive, he trained diligently for a long time. But there was so much more to the guy and people are just now starting to realize the other parts of Bob’s life that were truly exemplary.

The tough part about losing friends is that in most cases there is a catastrophic illness involved. People taken before their time. And many in my age group. I have lost a number of friends this year and last year. I thank God every day for my health. But this situation was a tough one. There is a lot of talk about negligence where I do not have the expertise to accurately comment. But it sure seems like this could have been avoided. But I do know one thing- Bob is in Heaven today. He went from Adventurefest, sitting around a campfire and talking about the Lord, and now two weeks later he is with Him in eternity. Wow. From Adventurefest to Heaven. Amazing! Thanks for reading

” Be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” Luke 12:3

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