Franken-Dingle
Posted: September 23, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bianchi, Bicycle, Bike Shop, biking, building, Campagnolo, creating, cycling, Engineering, freshly pressed, happiness, hipster, Jamis, jogging, life, Lifestyle, Local Bike Shop, love, lululemon, Mechanic, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, perspective, philosophy, pilates, principles, Repair, running, Saturday, simple, simplicity, Single speed, tinkering, weight, whole foods, WordPress, writing, yoga 15 CommentsI have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them-
WARNING – What you are about to read will cause a chain reaction (literally) during your Saturday morning club ride. Lycra clad purist will recoil in horror if you whisper in hushed tones “Franken-Dingle” chasing the head of the line. For you see, some believe that Franken-Dingle does exist, that there is carbon clad, sub 20 pound make that 18 pound Dual Speed (<–What?!?) road bikes tearing up gravel roads and local crit circuits from hither and yon. It should also be noted that the trendy – hip – ironic folks at the corner bodega recoil in horror upon seeing this bike.
For some of us shade tree bike mechanics, building and riding bikes is just for fun, a way to enjoy a hobby that’s in line with our thoughts and beliefs about living simply. Understanding the significance of embracing humility is profound– we rebuild Bianchi Reparto Corse wheel-sets to wither time away during the evening after work, we adjust and tune Campagnolo Centaur Century Grey crank-sets with our kids on the weekend to teach them the virtues of proper chain length – line and tension. Although for others (like the dude writing you this morning), living simply and riding simply is a method to connect to a larger set of philosophies and principles.
My decision to embrace living simply, is simply my way of staying grounded in the face of a high-tech, sped-up, warp-drive world. Turning a wrench, teaching my son hands on, building and riding bikes offers a passionate connection to the long-lost tradition of “doing” rather than “let me Google it real quick … “. We truly are adrift in a sea of mass culture and gadgets.
My challenge to you? Put a claim in on your true self, click in and ride, set a path to a more reflective, more fulfilling life. Pretty cool huh?!?
The Build:
*All the pieces and parts on this wonderful ride were sourced from the following: Local Bike Shop(s), Craigslist, Friends and finally the garage my wife said was getting “cramped” with spare bike parts everywhere!*
Frame – Crank-Set – Seat Post – Saddle – Headset – Handlebars – Stem – Brakes … From a good friend.
Wheelset – Campag Cogs/Spacers … Bartered and traded gear at my Local bike shop.
Fork – Cables – Housing … Met an awesome family on Craigslist, selling a “crashed” Felt Z Series road bike. Top tip: Strap down your bike on your vehicle before heading out on the highway!
Bar Tape – Brake Levers … Bought at the bet bike shop in Omaha – Omaha Bicycle Co.
Chain Stop – Bottom Bracket – Chain – Chain Tensioner – Pedals – Tubes/Tires … The messy garage!
Notes:
Our modern world moves way too fast, and our lives would be more fulfilling, dense with meaning and purpose if we slowed “things” down just a touch …
The Urge
Posted: September 18, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Creativity, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, nature, Omaha, passion, pilates, ramblings, running, Temptation, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 16 CommentsNo evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from-
Many of us currently live in a culture, a society so to speak where we are expected to eat healthy, drink the freshest of coconut water(s) and purchase “things“, many of which we don’t need. It’s our duty to be faithful consumers of what we are force-fed via advertisements in Runners World and Yoga Whatever.
What are we to do to look after ourselves in a culture that is certainly not looking out for us?
Avoid temptation – Yeah like this is easy … There are many temptations in today’s world, don’t believe me? Resist the temptation to click Here. Whatever you do, do not click this link!!!
Will you fail this seemingly simple temptation?
Motivation is the answer we are seeking. Motivation to persevere, even when our self-control has been run down, pushed to its limit!
Notes:
The idea that I am proposing is that by regularly exercising our willpower in one aspect of our lives (resisting adverts etc), it will lead to a stronger sense of self, willpower in many other areas of our lives as well.
Granite (S)tate
Posted: September 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: AMc, blogging, Breaking Bad, compassion, cronut, crossfit, cycling, exercise, freshly pressed, gluten free, Granite State, health, hipster, kindness, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, Temptation, trail running, whole foods, Willpower, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsThere is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable-
You feel your willpower diminishing as the morning grinds on. Suddenly, watching TV this evening and finishing a dozen cronuts sounds like the perfect plan to wrapping up this dreadful day. To hell with running and “working out” after work!
*Plot Twist*
You may want to write this down or bookmark it even – Chances are you may not read anything quite like it here again … Anything that reduces stress, boosts your mood, or recharges your spirit can also restore your sense of self-control. Conveniently listed below are a couple of my go to strategies, although they may look like temptations and distractions, I like to think of them as “strategic indulgences“.
Cronuts, go ahead and try to resist these flaky morsels that have descended upon us from heaven! That “thing” between our ears uses more energy for willpower than practically anything else. A small tasty bite can nudge our brain back into self-control mode. Fine, make it a few bites!
Our willpower is often at its peak in the morning, after a good nights rest. When we become tired, it often becomes much harder to control our impulses. Sneaking in a short nap in the afternoon helps to not only reduce stress, a short nap also improves our mood, and restores focus. Pretty cool!
Notes:
Your body, mind and spirit need a break from time to time – I also know that restoring our willpower is unique to each one of you reading today. Exploring new ways to restoring your willpower is time well spent … Are you going to finish that last cronut?!?
Bad Day
Posted: September 13, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bad Day, blogging, compassion, Creative Writing, cycling, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Kay Ryan, kindness, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, Poem, Poetry, Prose, recovery, trail running, weekend, whole foods, WOD, writing, writting, yoga 11 Comments…
Not every day
is a good day
for the elfin tailor.
Some days
the stolen cloth
reveals what it
was made for:
a handsome weskit
or the jerkin
of an elfin sailor.
Other days
the tailor
sees a jacket
in his mind
and sets about
to find the fabric.
But some days
neither the idea
nor the material
presents itself;
and these are
the hard days
for the tailor elf.
– Kay Ryan
Notes:
“Things“will get back to normal around here this coming Monday. Until then, be well and have an amazing weekend!
Hornear con CultFit
Posted: September 6, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, crossfit, cycling, exercise, fitness, fitspiration, free range, freshly pressed, friends, happiness, health, life, love, lululemon, Media, musings, nature, Omaha, passion, pilates, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, writting, yoga 15 CommentsA true genius admits that he/she knows nothing-
I remember the events as though they happened yesterday afternoon … I was confident that healing my battered body would be easy and competing at a high level once again would be a cinch, but then, I tried myself once again. I thought of myself as impervious to illness and injury, but then I destroyed my back and ruined my 35-year-old knee. I believed that I had put these injuries behind me, then recently I experienced a painful event like so many that happened in the past. Injuries and setbacks can be humbling experiences, if we listen and pay attention to them.
“Humble Pie” is as good for your body and soul, more so than organic food, yoga, riding a uni-cycle and running at 6am. Do you feel like discussing humility in the most positive sense this morning? The self-effacing, not self-abasing sense? If so please leave a comment below …
Notes:
Real folks, real passionate – authentic folks (the exact opposite of fitspiration) find it challenging to shed a few pounds in a healthy manner, learning to quit abusing their bodies is even harder. I thought it would be easy because of this “thing” called willpower, the very same willpower that kept my broke ass – well broke, for so many years.
If your ego has been damaged by the setback(s) life likes to serves our way, a little “Humble Pie” may serve as a more preferable flavour …
Be well and please take care!
CultFit 