Have you ever had a physically intense routine with no particularly glamorous upside that gives you the warm fuzzies a year later?
Biking Uphill for Daycare Pickups
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Ending 2023 Strong in San Francisco
On this rainy climb to a overlook on the Golden Gate Bridge, I contemplate what being a cyclist means in this era of my life.
What Happened to the Climb Mountains Blog?
When I last published a blog post, I titled it “We’re Building the Richmond Velodrome.” It was an ambitious statement. But it’s been over 4 years since then. I haven’t written anything for a long time. So what happened?
Cycling Motivation From Ben King
This is a guest post from Ben King, a professional cyclist for Team Dimension Data. I highly recommend looking at his other blog posts on benkingusa.com. Junior Cyclist Q&A August 4, 2016 Encouragement and mentorship from an army of supporters paved the way for...
Interview with Ben King
Ben King is a professional cyclist riding for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka from Charlottesville, Virginia. His family name is well-known here in Richmond and across Virginia as synonymous with excellence in cycling. When he's not biking, he enjoys playing guitar,...
Ben King’s Hard-Fought Stage 9 Win of the Vuelta a Espana
Ben King Digs Deep to Win Stage 9 of the Vuelta a España I got in touch with Ben King to interview him for my blog. Before he replied to me, I read his race report from the Vuelta a España. I liked it so much I decided to quote an excerpt of his race report before I...
We’re Building the Richmond Velodrome
It may surprise you to learn that track cycling was once a leading American sport. In the pre-WWII era, as Babe Ruth was cracking curved balls into left field, America’s winter sport of choice wasn’t basketball. That hadn’t been invented yet. It was track racing.
Athlete Spotlight: Madeline Griffin
Madeline Griffin, soon to be Resident Nurse, competed in many triathlons during her time at Liberty University. She recounts what inspired her to get into triathlons, what went into being a triathlete, and what she learned along the way:
Climb to Conquer Cancer 2018
Amy’s Army Raises Money for Cancer Research
During a group ride a couple months ago, I connected with a local Richmond cyclist who was promoting the Climb to Conquer Cancer 2018 Ride. I asked her for some more information on the story behind the event. Amy Williams, the namesake of the organization, sent this to me:
First Man to Bike to South Pole
Daniel Burton was the first man to bike to the South Pole. He was so kind as to talk to me about his trip. All quotes in this article are taken from our phone conversation.
What Are You Waiting For?
If there is one thing I have learned recently, it is that having a vague motivation to do great things in life rarely gets anyone anywhere. We all daydream of heroic exploits and globe-spanning journeys. Meanwhile, some people actually do them.
Nearly Cutting My Finger Off
…I then stood over the sink and held my finger too tightly to assess the damage any further. The top third of my finger felt severed and foreign to the rest of my body. It was like a bit of cartilage jiggling on top of the remaining two-thirds of the finger with unnatural flexibility…
Meditation Is the Best Vacation
Does this sound like work or vacation? Picture this. You wake up at dawn with a sore back. You start the stove, make and eat breakfast, wash dishes, take down the tents, and pack up. Then you hop on your bike and pedal for 8-10 hours and stop occasionally for lunch and snack breaks. You continue to grind away for 80 or 100 miles until you get to your next campsite.
Why I Like It… Godspeed: The Race Across America
A Film about Endurance. About a month ago, my brother and I saw the one day premier of Godspeed: The Race Across America. Godspeed is a documentary that covers Jerry Schemmel and Brad Cooper as they race from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland in just under a week’s time.
Sonnet of the Lost CLXXV
The misanthropic sailor roves apart
Faced here with icy seas that clutch his hull.
He shivers less. His furs obscure the chart
He drew to match the stars. His sails were full,
You Don’t Have the Stuff
I don’t care about most of the reasons why you should start commuting to work on a bicycle. You have probably heard them all before anyways. Such as how it might help the environment. You might have heard about the fitness implications or maybe even how it releases endorphins in your brain. That sounds good and all.
Why I Like It… The Vegan Cyclist YouTube Channel
The cycling community is bound by strong ties. When I awoke this morning, there was a cyclist sleeping on my couch. He had texted me yesterday afternoon to say that he was biking from Key West to Toronto and needed a place to stay. He would be arriving at my doorstep in about two hours.
The Storming of Thunder Ridge 2018
…Like Martha from the John 11 Bible passage, my family had the faith to believe in the future resurrection of my brother’s soul but were wrestling with the faith that his seemingly lifeless body would walk again in this earthly realm…
Two Miles from Destination- Heat Exhaustion Crushes our Progress
…We would carry all of various camping supplies, our tent, sleeping bags, food, and a camera across 475 miles and up and down 48,534 feet of elevation gain (for reference, the height of Mount Everest is 29,029 feet tall from sea level to summit). And we would do all of this in the insufferable heat of July.