Crazy Sexy Life

Photo by Josh Hooten

I’m the furthest thing from a jock you are likely to find. Well, that isn’t true. A pear is less like a jock than me. My daughter’s favorite game, Candyland, also less jocky. But I’m a close third. So when I urge you to get on your bike and hit the road, understand I’m not some buff dude standing here in crotch defining spandex astride a $5,000 bike that you can lift over your head with your pinky. My bike weighs a ton, I ride slow, and while I do have those little bike shorts on, they are underneath a pair of regular shorts so I don’t horrify the public with my tightly bound and padded backside.

I’m the guy wearing his favorite band’s t-shirt, an old pair of vans, eating homemade energy bars because Clif—god bless him—doesn’t use enough chocolate chips. I’m the guy who stops every few miles to take photos or stare at the scenery. If one of these stops turns into a shoes off, knee deep walk in the ocean or freezing mountain stream and then a lay down under a tree, well, right on. That is who is urging you to climb on and start pedaling.

What I get from riding a bike doesn’t involve pushing a heart rate monitor to it’s max or doing anything you would call racing. For me, bike rides are about the lifelong practice of learning to trust my body and my will to get me where I want to go—a practice with much larger applications in life. The day to day can be littered with confidence shattering bullshit. But if you know you can ride your bike 50 miles, or to work most days, you’ll always know you are awesome in this way. If work or school or your general situation is slowly grinding you into a powder, you will at least know your own strength and having seen your determination in practice can most certainly help you get over.

Riding bikes also helps keep me connected to my surroundings. I pedal down slower streets than I’d drive down. I see how my town lives on those streets, and I wave at people I don’t see on the main thoroughfares. Nobody waves from their car at anything. It is weird NOT to acknowledge another cyclist if you are yourself pedaling. My favorite thing to do on the quieter, more bike-friendly streets is check out the gardens and see who is growing what. I run a mental sizing up of how my tomatoes are doing compared to everyone elses and will chat up any gardener who has particularly alpha-tomato voodoo going on. You might be surprised what edible lovelies get shared after a friendly chat with someone out tending their plot.

Photo by Josh Hooten

Out of town—on a lonely country road or in the woods—is where the real magic happens for me. Few cars, lots of time to think, lots to see. A few weeks ago some deer hopped across the road I was on no more than 40 feet in front of me. I’ve had close encounters with rabbits, geese, and some crazy looking chickens in the recent past. A few days ago I was riding along the Columbia River and saw a sea lion swimming upstream. A sea lion!

Pedaling around, as opposed to driving, reminds me I live in a community of people and animals and gardens and children and trees and rivers. Riding by them at 12 miles per hour, instead of 65 provides me excellent moments to consider and admire them. These moments help me understand more about them. A little respect, consideration, a little extra attention if needed: these things make for good community. I care more about that homeless fella if I feel the same cold he feels. I understand why you are sitting on the porch looking content and happy when I feel the same warm sun on my face as I ride by. Concern and consideration are harder to tap in ourselves when we zip past, mentally occupied by where we’re going or where we left. There is a lot to consider in the in between, y’all.

There are some great free resources for the aspiring pedal pusher. Bikely.com and MapMyRide.com are sites fat with user created bike routes. Type in your town, hit search, and watch the results come flooding back. You can add your favorites as well, helping your own community to find their two-wheeled way. You can search for specific landmarks, or more experiential items like “scenic” or “low traffic” if you’re just looking for nicer roads around you. I’m also a heartfelt lover of Google Maps and Google Earth. I’ve used Google Maps to see how wide the shoulder is on a mountain road I’ll be riding on soon in Middle O’ Nowhere, California. I’ve used Google Earth to zoom along a rather tricky route to the Oregon coast I’m doing soon. These tools take a lot of the scary mystery out of middle of nowhere rides, and can help you find the most friendly streets to pedal down for your commute or to the vegan milkshake cart. (What, you don’t have one of those where you live?)

Riding to work or all over the damn place can be a bit daunting at first, but so are a million other things you powered through in life. New jobs aren’t a walk in the park either. Nor is going to the doctor or jury duty, but you made it happen, and those things aren’t even fun or good for you! It might take a few weeks for your body to get in shape for a commute or regular ride, but if you stick it out and don’t treat it like a race, you’ll start hating the days you’re forced to drive. The ride home or the weekend trek will become your favorite time of the day or week when you can finally move your body, think your thoughts, and unravel whatever stress has been piled upon you.

Don’t get too wrapped up in gear and whether you have enough, the right kind, or if you look cool enough using it. A super crappy machine will hinder your ability to get places and might not be safe, but any working bike with no obviously failing parts will do. Having your local bike shop make sure it’s in good working order is a good idea and isn’t very expensive. Ride what you have until the upgrade is inevitable, then go to a local bike shop that isn’t overly salesy and get fitted. I say, in bikes, and in life, comfort above all else.

Once you have a working machine you are ready and able, you just have to be willing. The open road and maybe even seal lions await!

On May 6. Josh will leave Portland, Oregon on a 600 mile ride to Farm Sanctuary in Orland, California. He is doing this to increase awareness about farmed animals as well as to raise money for the farm. His goal is $10,000. He is also celebrating his 10th year as a vegan. You can read about his ride here and donate to his ride here.

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