Category Archives: recreation

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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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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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To Assume

The baby porcupine

I heard it was going to be a scorcher this week here in the East so I thought I would cool you off with a winter like post on an interesting subject. I was in Alta, Utah a couple of years ago with some friends and we stopped at the side of a trail and lo and behold, a baby porcupine came waddling out and made its way over to me. It kind of looked at me and decided that maybe I was friendly and started to make its way up my right leg. I didn’t quite know what to do and just stood still while the baby’s curiosity was piqued, and my friends all got a big kick out of it.

I looked over to my left and a young female ski patrol came up to me and admonished me not to feed the porcupine. I politely told her I was not feeding the critter and it was just curious and making its way up my leg. She came over, lightly brushed the porcupine from my leg, gave me a rather nasty look and told me again not to feed the porcupines. At that moment, my friends got a little testy with her, but I simply said………..” really- I did not feed him.” She skied away shaking her head and we made our way to the lift.

The Collins Lift at Alta

Thinking about that a little bit riding up the chair, I realized that she was assuming I was one of the tourists who maybe fed the porcupines. Maybe she had some issues with people in the past, saw an out of towner like me and decided that I was just another touron making her life miserable. She assumed things and was in error. You know what they say about assuming? Well- we all know that one.

It is interesting sometimes at ski areas when the “locals” sometimes are not enamored with the guests of the resort and sometimes assume things. Whenever I get the “I am a local” line from someone on the chairlift, I ask them where they are really from and more often than not, they are from Cleveland, Houston or somewhere else not quite local. Maybe they have been there for a season or two but now they qualify themselves as a “local” and look with disdain at the people who spend money and help to employ them. They assume we are something we are not. You know, I respect them with the job that they are doing, so I would expect some courtesy on their part in return. Not always the case, because most people are cordial and happy to have people visit so that they can be employed. But sometimes you get the attitude that you are not welcome and really – that is short sighted.

I have found as I have gotten older, that it is important to look beyond the obvious and try to see the world from another’s point of view. There are people who are hurting, have had a tragedy in their life that they are trying to recover from- not always in the best way. I think it is important to deliver the benefit of the doubt to everyone with whom you come in contact. Try to see the world from their point of view. Try not to assume that they are wrong and have no say in an issue.

People are busy today. They often don’t have time or don’t think they have time to assess a situation and dismiss someone with an assumption. Sometimes young people see me with my gray hair and assume that I am old and in the way. But maybe if they would stop for just a moment, get to know us old gray mares and maybe see if there was something of value from us, life would be a lot more friendly. We most often would shock them with some revelations about our skill on a mountain bike, a pair of skis, or just general knowledge instead of just blowing us off.

Old gray hairs that can still ski. Don’t assume. We don’t let the old man in.

We all are in the same boat. We all assume things every day that might not really hold water. We dismiss people who are really not who we think they are. The homeless are not all drug users and alcoholics. I met a kid who was eating at the Light of Life Shelter here in Pittsburgh who was trying to put himself through college at Pitt and had no residence. I helped a lady to her feet after a bad fall on the sidewalk and took her to the Urgent Care. Hundreds of people drove right past her either too busy to help her or assumed that someone else would help. They assumed that she was ok and kept on driving because their schedule would not allow them to stop.

We all need to stop assuming and try to put ourselves into another person’s shoes. That really is the only way to stop division, and perhaps help someone who maybe does not agree with you, or you assumed they would not agree with you. You know what they say about people who assume? Thanks for reading. Stay cool this week.

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The Geriatric Ride

Jeff, Darrall, and Steve. Pounding through the rocks at Laurel Mountain

So it was an absolutely beautiful day in the Laurel Highlands this weekend and a fun group of eclectic individuals came out to ride the challenging rocks and roots of Laurel Mountain. These trails are not for the faint of heart but the challenge is always accepted by riders in the Western Pa. area who are up to the task. The interesting thing about this weekend was the conversation and the condition of the participants. One amazing stroke survivor, one guy with a prosthesis ( amazing rider), one guy who just had two cortisone shots in his shoulders the day before, one guy with a pacemaker, and the rest of us reveling in the senior years on the trails. Now with all of this going on, it was fair to say that they all went for it and “sent it” for the whole ride with some of the actors opting to even add more challenging additions to the ride. Outlook Trail, and the whole Black Bear Trail. The rest of us finishing on the Spruce Run Trail which, in our minds, is even more challenging than the popular Wolf Rocks Trail.

Samra on the left had some funny comments for the group.

One of the more amusing comments on the ride came from our pal Samra when she was listening to all the ailments being described and said,” what’s next Pat, a discussion of upcoming colonoscopy appointments?” We all laughed hard at that one and kept riding along the Silvermine Trail to an interesting stop. Now this group is like a lot of mountain bike groups. There are a lot of characters and seeing how they react to certain situations gives one some perspective into how they tick. Take our friend Jeff. He wanted to get up ahead a little bit to get through a rocky section because he still has some peripheral vision issues resulting from his stroke. As we came up behind him, he told all of us to stop because there was a rattle snake crossing the trail. Jeff being Jeff was a little impatient and got a stick to get the rattler moving and when he raised his head in the strike position, he seemed to be looking right at Steve as if to say, ” why are you guys messing with me, man. Don’t you know it is our feeding and mating time?” Steve told Jeff in no uncertain terms to back off, which we did, and the snake went along his carnal way looking for the ladies. Not our ladies on the ride but his ladies in the woods. LOL!!

Rattlers at Wolf Rocks. They are there but if you don’t mess with them, they won’t mess with you.

One of the next more interesting things for the seniors pounding the trails was when our friend Don had a mechanical. Now on these kinds of trails, there tend to be some mechanicals along the way. Mostly with the bikes but Don C had one with his prosthesis. The rocks bent it a little out of shape and Don got his tools, took a time out, and repaired the mechanical ankle with dispatch.

This guy can repair his prosthesis in the field due to rock damage and still outride most people. Amazing.

All in all, you have a very capable ride group with Don O and I giving options along the way. Darrall and I are the most senior of the group with Don C right behind and the rest descending in chronological order. But suffice to say- youth is wasted on the young, and this group tends to squeeze the most out of any challenging conditions with a smile on their face and the attitude of ” give me more.”

Young people who we meet along the way are kind of shocked when they see older riders performing at this level through this kind of challenging terrain. It kind of gives them a peek of their future if they keep riding and stay healthy. With most people our age tending to back off a little bit, this group goes to Laurel Mountain. As we get older, sometimes we have to get out of the comfort zone a little bit and challenge ourselves. That occasional push tends to keep us young not only physically, but mentally with the thought that, ” yes we can still do this.” It is great to hang with a group like this.

Keep Riding the Rocks!

Bottom line, if you are a senior, or one approaching the senior years, keep doing the things you like to do. Challenge yourself. Do it with maturity, but push yourself every once in a while. It keeps you young, vibrant and not ready to throw in the towel just yet. My neighbor always says to me, “Patrick, don’t ever let a number define you.” I agree. Thanks for reading

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