Hey everybody,
I just wanted to inform you all of a website which I've recently been introduced to. It isn't confined to the sport of cycling but instead focuses on photography of charitable events. I was introduced to the site by the creator, Ed.
Ed, is a very cool guy who I met during the Trans-NH Bike Ride. As the only other person there with a video camera we both stood out to each other right away. Ed has filmed/photographed several events already and is available for hire if you want to capture a personal event on film or video as well. But like it says on his website "you won't become a client - you'll become our friend", Ed is a very approachable and generally friendly individual. Of course his video camera and his video journalism abilities far surpass my own, with that said he and I are going to share what footage we can with each other. Which is a much better deal for me since I only have a cheap cumby camera and he's got an HD Video camera :-P. But anyways, like I said, Ed is a very cool guys with a pretty unique website, so I would highly recommend you check it out. He also has a Blog which he has invited people to join and post on (which I will also be doing in the near future). So, if this sounds interesting to you go check them out.
Website: http://www.photoadventureswithed.com/Welcome.html
Blog: http://www.photoadventureswithed.com/blog/
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
High on Life Again
This doesn't technically have to do with cycling, but I like to lump all physical activity into the same category, so that's exactly what I'm doing with this post. As it was mentioned in the comments from the previous post: "intense engagement with a physical activity, coupled with the social aspects, can probably produce the proverbial 'runner's high'" or "post-ride depression" is how I was feeling until this morning. I expected today to be another uneventful day in which I wished to be back on the ride with all of the cool people I met. Instead, I got the exciting news of what level high school class I will be teaching in the fall (including the student's names, very cool), which gave me the mental high that I had been feeling deprived of.
Then because it's summer and I'm a student who is taking the summer off (sorry to make everyone jealous) I decided on a whim to go and hike Mt. Major in Alton, NH. For those of you who don't know about this mountain, it is little more than a large hill (although it has some steep sections on one of the trails, and some great views), I hiked up and down in about 1.5 hours.
Then, when I returned home I went for an amazing paddle (kayaking) on the Oyster River where I watched the high school kids that I normally coach row by under the direction of the summer coach (and later heard that some of the rowers had said they wished I was coaching this summer, nothing like being wanted to make you smile :-D).
So all in all I'm feeling much better. Now I've just got to figure out how to keep this feeling going for the rest of this week. Like I said in the last post, come and join me in some of these activities if you're in the area. My email address is in the profile (and I live in the NH seacoast area). That's gonna be it for now, but I shall return again to post when you least expect it ;-P.
Then because it's summer and I'm a student who is taking the summer off (sorry to make everyone jealous) I decided on a whim to go and hike Mt. Major in Alton, NH. For those of you who don't know about this mountain, it is little more than a large hill (although it has some steep sections on one of the trails, and some great views), I hiked up and down in about 1.5 hours.
Then, when I returned home I went for an amazing paddle (kayaking) on the Oyster River where I watched the high school kids that I normally coach row by under the direction of the summer coach (and later heard that some of the rowers had said they wished I was coaching this summer, nothing like being wanted to make you smile :-D).
So all in all I'm feeling much better. Now I've just got to figure out how to keep this feeling going for the rest of this week. Like I said in the last post, come and join me in some of these activities if you're in the area. My email address is in the profile (and I live in the NH seacoast area). That's gonna be it for now, but I shall return again to post when you least expect it ;-P.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Now Entering The Doldrums
Now that it has been a couple of days since the Trans- NH bike ride, life has returned to it's slow predictable pace once again. I realize that it will soon be shaken off (especially once I start my ride to Florida) but for the time being, the excitement of this past weekend has left me in adrenaline withdrawals.
Even the 4 flats (the 4th doesn't really count because I wasn't riding the bike at the time), which caused a flurry of frustration, excitement, fear, and once Courtney (the fastest tire lever in New England) appeared a sudden calmness that suppressed my fears of falling behind (yes, even on the recumbent I fear desertion :-P).
Then later I enjoyed watching new aquaintences, whom I hope to call (or at least someday call) friends, test ride my bike (which is a "Bacchetta Strada" for those of you now looking to buy). Whether the reaction was fear, joy, excitement or simply curiousity from those who tried the bike, I was very simply, happy.
As the only recumbent on the ride, it quickly became not only a great ice-breaker, but my destinguishing feature. I was suddenly known to all as "the recumbent guy". My real name is Chris by the way :-P. And for those of you reading this who gave the bike a try, I hope that whatever your reaction on the bike, your feelings afterwards were good ones. I certainly had a great time getting you all rolling (sometimes forgetting to tell you how to steer until after I let go, whoops, sorry).
In any case, it was great to meet you all, and I'm glad that I could be the cause of so much curiousity. The bike along with myself will be back again next year, and as many years after that as I am able.
By the way, if any of you guys/girls are in the NH Sea Coast area, either long term or temporarily, shoot me an email (it's in my profile linked to this blog) and maybe we can shake some of this lethargy with anything from a beer to a bike ride.
That's gonna be all for this post, but keep tabs, after another couple weeks things should start getting very interesting on here :-D. And don't hesitate to leave comments for me, I love feedback.
Even the 4 flats (the 4th doesn't really count because I wasn't riding the bike at the time), which caused a flurry of frustration, excitement, fear, and once Courtney (the fastest tire lever in New England) appeared a sudden calmness that suppressed my fears of falling behind (yes, even on the recumbent I fear desertion :-P).
Then later I enjoyed watching new aquaintences, whom I hope to call (or at least someday call) friends, test ride my bike (which is a "Bacchetta Strada" for those of you now looking to buy). Whether the reaction was fear, joy, excitement or simply curiousity from those who tried the bike, I was very simply, happy.
As the only recumbent on the ride, it quickly became not only a great ice-breaker, but my destinguishing feature. I was suddenly known to all as "the recumbent guy". My real name is Chris by the way :-P. And for those of you reading this who gave the bike a try, I hope that whatever your reaction on the bike, your feelings afterwards were good ones. I certainly had a great time getting you all rolling (sometimes forgetting to tell you how to steer until after I let go, whoops, sorry).
In any case, it was great to meet you all, and I'm glad that I could be the cause of so much curiousity. The bike along with myself will be back again next year, and as many years after that as I am able.
By the way, if any of you guys/girls are in the NH Sea Coast area, either long term or temporarily, shoot me an email (it's in my profile linked to this blog) and maybe we can shake some of this lethargy with anything from a beer to a bike ride.
That's gonna be all for this post, but keep tabs, after another couple weeks things should start getting very interesting on here :-D. And don't hesitate to leave comments for me, I love feedback.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
WOW!!!
So... I've just returned from the Trans-NH bike ride for the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). It was easily one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. Nevermind the beautifully challenging 250 mile bike ride, I have no doubt in my mind that it was the people that made it such a great time. Never have I met so many people who were not only friendly and kind and generous and self sacrificing, but also fun/funny, interesting, and simply genuinly good people.
The riders were made up of a wide range of skill and speed but never hesitated to make sure that those with a flat (namely me with my 4 flats) were taken care of before continuing on. The support group was fantastic with great food and drink at the rest stops every approx. 20 miles, and were friendly and encouraging, not to mention hard working, extremely accomodating and well prepared (seriously those rest stops ran smoother than full suspension mountain bike). And lets not forget the massuers who worked miracles on all of the riders at the end of each ride.
As for the coordinators; while not all of them rode their bikes (often saying "next year"), they did an amazing job with all of the accomodations and the food and finding such a gorgeous new route for this year. Even on the recumbent there was a perfect mixture of brutal hills and jaw clentching down hills, with some of the most stunning scenery that I've ever seen.
With all of that said the reason that this ride exists in the first place is clearly meaningful to those involved in the ride who put so much effort into it to make it such a great time. I have personally come away from this feeling like I got much more out of it than what I put into it, and although I made a serious attempt to get donations this year (with the final tally for myself, as of 6/22 being $1350) I hope to double it next year. It was an honor to ride for Joe and Pete Lafferty. I only had the brief pleasure of speaking with Tim Lafferty, during the dinner at the Littleton Fire Dept. (and remember the speed balls he would throw back to the pitcher during the softball game). As he stated after dinner in Lebanon, he is clearly proud of both of his sons (whether with us in person or in spirit) and it was a great honor to both search for donations and to ride in their name.
To those of you who may be reading this and had made a donation either to me or to another rider or if you were another rider who went and found donations of your own... THANK YOU!!!
As of 6/21 this years ride had raised over $163,000! Which is a huge accomplishment. It is undoubtably an event which I will remember for the rest of my life, and something I will participate in every year until I no longer have the ability to ride a bike (and then I'll probably work with the support group :-).
That's going to be it for now, more will come soon... See you on the road :-D
The riders were made up of a wide range of skill and speed but never hesitated to make sure that those with a flat (namely me with my 4 flats) were taken care of before continuing on. The support group was fantastic with great food and drink at the rest stops every approx. 20 miles, and were friendly and encouraging, not to mention hard working, extremely accomodating and well prepared (seriously those rest stops ran smoother than full suspension mountain bike). And lets not forget the massuers who worked miracles on all of the riders at the end of each ride.
As for the coordinators; while not all of them rode their bikes (often saying "next year"), they did an amazing job with all of the accomodations and the food and finding such a gorgeous new route for this year. Even on the recumbent there was a perfect mixture of brutal hills and jaw clentching down hills, with some of the most stunning scenery that I've ever seen.
With all of that said the reason that this ride exists in the first place is clearly meaningful to those involved in the ride who put so much effort into it to make it such a great time. I have personally come away from this feeling like I got much more out of it than what I put into it, and although I made a serious attempt to get donations this year (with the final tally for myself, as of 6/22 being $1350) I hope to double it next year. It was an honor to ride for Joe and Pete Lafferty. I only had the brief pleasure of speaking with Tim Lafferty, during the dinner at the Littleton Fire Dept. (and remember the speed balls he would throw back to the pitcher during the softball game). As he stated after dinner in Lebanon, he is clearly proud of both of his sons (whether with us in person or in spirit) and it was a great honor to both search for donations and to ride in their name.
To those of you who may be reading this and had made a donation either to me or to another rider or if you were another rider who went and found donations of your own... THANK YOU!!!
As of 6/21 this years ride had raised over $163,000! Which is a huge accomplishment. It is undoubtably an event which I will remember for the rest of my life, and something I will participate in every year until I no longer have the ability to ride a bike (and then I'll probably work with the support group :-).
That's going to be it for now, more will come soon... See you on the road :-D
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Welcome
Hello!
This is a new blog that I have created in order to journal my experiences on my bike rides, Welcome!. The first of which is going to be this weekend (6/19) on the Trans-NH bike ride to support Muscular Dystrophy.
If you'd like to donate, here is my website, please go there and simply follow the direction.
https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=9e57c630-5beb-4902-b873-328ffc7ef15b
Stay tuned for blogs about this ride, which is a three day, 250 mile ride from the canadian boarder to Concord, NH. And starting later in July I will be blogging about my ride from NH to Florida. Until then.
This is a new blog that I have created in order to journal my experiences on my bike rides, Welcome!. The first of which is going to be this weekend (6/19) on the Trans-NH bike ride to support Muscular Dystrophy.
If you'd like to donate, here is my website, please go there and simply follow the direction.
https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=9e57c630-5beb-4902-b873-328ffc7ef15b
Stay tuned for blogs about this ride, which is a three day, 250 mile ride from the canadian boarder to Concord, NH. And starting later in July I will be blogging about my ride from NH to Florida. Until then.
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