I love my bike.

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."

-John F. Kennedy

West Mandeville Fire Rd., Santa Monica Mountains.

In my opinion there is no single greater pleasure in my life than riding a bike.  As a child I think we all have experienced the feeling of freedom that comes along with your first bike ride.  From that point on we are conditioned to think of freedom and bicycle as synonyms... and pure joy follows.  My best memories with friends as a child and as an individual all involve bikes...  

My first bike.  Peugeot circa 1960's.  Also the first bike of my father, uncle, sister, and cousins... and someday my children.  I was hipster before hipster... check the rolled up jeans and checkered slip on's yo.

... To that end my best memories as an adult involve being with my most loved ones on a bike...

Of the many things people asked me about when I moved to LA, how I would be able to maintain my lifestyle as a cyclist was at the top of the list.  At first I firmly defended my ability to do what I want wherever I am and I was sure I would be able to ride more than I did in MN based strictly on the amazing weather out here.  After all I was only living 8 or 9 miles from work surely there would be an easy route to bike commute.  When I lived in Detroit Lakes I commuted 20+ miles each way on my bike, whats a few miles in some traffic!?  I was wrong.  Within a couple months of living in Hollywood I had found the volume of traffic at all hours of the day and lack of bicycle lanes within the city daunting.  I love urban riding and don't mind being around cars, but it's different out here.  Drivers are different and they have no respect for cyclists or bicycle commuters.  After some time I recognized that I was missing being on my bike on a daily basis so I made a pact with myself to at least park my car after work and bike commute or walk anywhere I needed to go.  It was a start.  I managed to become a strict night rider and even toughed it out through a few wheel thefts.

When I moved to Manhattan Beach biking became easier as I had safe access to the hills of Palos Verdes Penninsula.  Also at the time of my move I convinced 2 of my friends, Matt and Joe, to purchase road bikes so I could have some company.  We have enjoyed months of gorgeous climbs and amazing ocean view descents.  Even though my group riding has decreased my monthly mileage has stayed consistent.  I think I have them to thank for getting me hooked again.

The Switchbacks of PV Drive East... much more fun descending than climbing.

Moving to West LA has allowed me to re-connect with the mountain biker inside of me.  Road biking is all well and good but I love getting lost on a bike.  Not worrying about time, simply daydreaming and paying attention to the trail and trusting my instincts.  2 hours later I come to and feel unmistakably refreshed.  Even though I'm in the most urban landscape I've ever lived I'm only a 3 mile bike ride to a 60+ mile single track trail head...

San Vicente Mountain Park... "This is LA"

A view from Mulholland Drive overlooking Mandeville Canyon Rd.  LA, CA

The trusty steed atop Canyon Back Trail overlooking "The South bay" and Catalina Island.

Now that I'm 100% back into the swing of the bicycle thing... What drives me to continue in lieu of other activities?  Beach tennis is about to start getting in the way now that tournament season has begun but I've been mindful enough to set up a pretty strict cycling schedule to make sure I don't forget about my first true love.  

• Monday nights I spin.  1 hour of warm-up followed by a 45 minute interval spin session with some dude from Compton that knows basically nothing about cycling but A LOT about yelling and good beats so it works.
• Tuesday I spin... it's nice easy follow up and cool down from the weekend and the Monday night slaughterfest.
• Wednesday is Whole Foods hot bar dinner and Yoga night with co-workers in order to let my muscles recover.
• Friday... now that daylight savings time has come I have time to get home after work and grab my Mountain bike for a solid 1.5 hour trail ride before dinner.
• Saturday and Sunday Mornings are reserved for cycling and coffee.  I often complain about the beach tennis community not being willing to start playing on the weekends before noon but the honest truth is that I appreciate it.  Lord knows once I hit the courts with a cerveza in hand there's no way I'm leaving for a sufferfest on my bike!

So this crazy schedule and this post are all because I just signed up for and am looking forward to L'Etape California.  Every year the Tour de France (and now the Tour of California) shuts down its Queen Stage a couple weeks ahead of the actual race for civilians to tackle.  This year L'Etape California is a 105 mile ride from Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara (Stage 3 of the 2016 TOC).  The ride/race will be punctuated by the famed Gibraltar Road Climb.  This is a climb that I've been dying to do ever since I was having to commute the central coast to help out with one of our northern clinics.  I would drive up Gibraltar Road every Monday morning as a way to give Miley (my Mini Cooper) her fix of tight cornering and quick accelerations.  As I was ripping up the climb listening to Jack White shred some ridiculous guitar solo I couldn't help but dream of climbing this thing in some sort of competitive environment.  I've done the famed Alpe d'Huez as well as Col du Galibier and Col du Telegraph on the tail end of an 80-mile day and now is my chance to have a ball and biscuit with what California has to offer.

Anyone that has ever ridden a bike with me knows that I absolutely love to climb.  When the road points up I'm at my happiest and strongest.  My hopes with this increase in training is that I'll find myself rubbing shoulders with Jens Voigt and Freddy Rodriguez on the final climb of the ride and put them into the hurt locker... unlikely I'll be able to hang with them to arrive at that juncture but just in case I'll be ready.  Along the way and at the sunset dinner on the beach I hope to meet some new and interesting folks to tell you about.  

Despite all the epic-ness that I love to take part in I will never forget and appreciate most the wonderful relaxing rides along the beach or through the countryside.  Some day when I am far too old to climb mountains on a bike I sincerely hope that I still prioritize a morning joy ride to grab a coffee and pastry.

"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."

-H.G. Wells