I learned years ago that in some way, wind is always a factor on a bike so I didn't let the 15 mph NW wind bother me. I was down on the drops a few times and out of the saddle on hills. It felt great and my body didn't seem to mind so I just kept riding. Eventually I found my way to Applebee's for beer.
The more I ride the more I feel like I'm getting back to my roots. My Dad was a roadie and I grew up with him hanging out on my wheel, pushing me to do my best and giving just the right amount of encouragement at the right times to get me through. In 1994 I bought my first mountain bike and left the road for the trail. By '97 I had logged hundreds of miles of trails and felt cemented in as a real "mountain biker" after a trip to Colorado and Utah where I rode some of the best singletrack in the country at places like Moab, Winter Park and Fruita. Over time I lost my riding partners, my bike got old and I lost interest. By 2004 it was very rare for me to be on a bike. But it's never too late, right? I've missed that burning sensation you feel in your quads!
Prepare for randomness here...
Speaking of getting back to my roots, I also stopped listening to country music cold turkey back in March. I dug out my old collection of grunge from the mid-90's and am really feeling it again. Thanks Jason for bringing the satellite radio on our trip to the UP in March! Lithium on SiriusXM is the shit!
A couple of months ago I found this video of Pearl Jam doing Black live and it blows my mind. To see Vedder up there in his prime laying it down...it's incredible. Some people are just born to make music...when you hear them perform its like the music is moving through them and coming from the soul. I believe that. And the last verse, well, it sends chills up my spine...
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life,
I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky, but why
Why, why can't it be, can't it be mine
I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky, but why
Why, why can't it be, can't it be mine
Jason, tell Erik that I truly believe HE was meant to make music because when I hear/see him perform I feel the same way as when I see Vedder in this video. I can honestly say that his heart and soul are behind it and I mean that in the most sincere way. I have no idea what he is up to these days but I hope he has not given up on his dreams!!
Sir, it's funny you say this, because probably not more than 3 months ago, I had gotten tired of buying "new" songs on iTunes and playing the same playlists over and over and over again. Where did I go? Yup, right back to the 90's stuff. Listening to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Bush, etc...all takes me back to the College Days of mountain biking and taking road trips of epic proportions. Wish I had the XM to rock to.
ReplyDeleteOh man, so your a full blown roadie now, that didn't take long! Good for you though, if you put into it what you put into running you'll be super fast, I can see you getting into some races eventually and placing pretty high. Country music blows! Just kidding, there is good and bad music in every genre. I think it was the canoe trip last year that helped drive the nail home, Loc was demanding country music, and after 6 hours of listening to the same 10 songs over and over, every single one about drinking beer, driving trucks and tractors, and their girls leaving them, it was pretty annoying and some taunts were getting flung. Loc's reply to this (and maybe you were in on it too Remus) was that "I can relate to it". Really? because you drink beer and used to have a truck, thats all you want to listen to? I think part of the fun of some music is NOT relating to it. When I listened to 90% rap music, did I smoke weed and shoot people? no. (sure, I may have liked putting rims on my car, but thats only 25% of rap songs, haha). Enough of my rant, Eddie Vedder is sweet, and that song is sweet. As far as Erik, he's still doing some of the music thing, but like anything, to be extremely successul you have to be highly skilled AND highly motivated. Most people lack one or the other, thats why we are working day jobs for the man.
ReplyDeleteI was never a huge Pearl Jam fan, but Ten is one of the best albums of the 90's.
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