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 …
Child on Top of a Greenhouse
Posted: September 19, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, family, friends, gardening, happiness, health, kindness, life, love, nature, Poem, Poetry, Prose, Theodore Roethke, writing, yoga 5 Comments…
The wind billowing out the seat of my britches,
My feet crackling splinters of glass and dried putty,
The half-grown chrysanthemums staring up like accusers,
Up through the streaked glass, flashing with sunlight,
A few white clouds all rushing eastward,
A line of elms plunging and tossing like horses,
And everyone, everyone pointing up and shouting!
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.
(W)ill
Posted: September 17, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, goals, happiness, hipster, kindness, life, Loss, love, lululemon, nature, Omaha, Plans, running, whole foods, writing, yoga 9 CommentsHard to say what’s right when all I wanna do is wrong-
Who doesn’t like planning? Planning workouts for the week, running events for the coming month, yoga class flow, playlist for cardio kick boxing class. It should come as no surprise to hear that “planning” is generally a good “thing” to do …
This is the point in our lovely post this evening when I tell you that all our grandiose plans are pretty much useless.
“How so?” Most of our plans and goals are not structured in a way that makes them effective if life, “things” go sideways for a spell.
If and Will plans, on the other hand, I have found to be extremely effective to staying the course and making them is an extremely empowering tool to helping you achieve your goal(s).
The trick is deciding well in advance when and where you will the take steps to achieving your goal. Quick example: “If I am falling behind on my training, I Will choose to schedule the time to train.”
Notes:
When it comes to reaching your goals, because you will reach them – avoiding temptation is critical, focusing on replacing bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves is vitally important.
Ask yourself the next time things start to go sideways, What will I do to get back on track!?!
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!
CultFit 