A few years ago, (okay, maybe it was 20 or so) I would have told you that I loved rock climbing more than anything else. (Do not tell my wife!) I was consumed by it. When we weren't climbing, we were talking about climbing, reading about climbing, thinking about climbing or dreaming about climbing. I bet we were insufferable to our non-climber buds. Then…….all my climbing buddies moved away, or got jobs or got hurt or for some reason backed off or dropped out of the scene. I was forced to go climbing w/ a couple college punks that hung around the shop and thought I was some kind of local legend or something. I wasn't crazy about either of them, their conversation was lacking, there was this age gap and I was jealous of the fact that at least one of them was gonna surpass me as a climber way too soon. But, I was climbing. I had someone to hold the rope, split the gas money and someone to dream with. Except……….I didn't, not really. Oh sure, they caught me when I fell and they paid their share of the gas money but that dreaming thing just wasn't there. At all. So……one day on the highway, coming back from the crags I had as epiphany……it wasn't climbing I loved, it was climbing with Kent, Gordy and Jim! Sometimes I'm a little slow, but I get there.

So…….when will I get around to talking about why I ride, you ask? That's what I've been talking about! I ride as a way to spend time with my friends and family, pure and simple. Don't get me wrong, I love bikes, I love the sport, all the lore and ritual, all the power and glory, all the inside rules and jokes, all the cool stuff to know and all that but ……still……all that's not enough to get me in the saddle very often. I ride for fitness too, and because occasionally I'm kinda good at it, and because I think that riding to work is better than driving and because I like the wind in my face and the stars in my eyes and because just like Grant Petersen I believe that "bicycles are rideable art that can save the world" and sometimes even becsause it's kind of my job. But still…….I mostly ride to hang w/ people I care about. I've seen some really cool stuff from my bike and all of it was way cooler 'cuz I was there lookin' at it w/ friends. I think that the stronger the memories are the better, be they good ones or bad, and I have lots of strong memories from rides both wonderful and foul. All the stories, all the pain, all the struggles, all the achievements…..all made so much more vivid and lasting 'cuz I was ridin' with friends.

So, there you go. Not sure who wants to know or why, but there you go. I'm going for a ride now, see you later. ( Wanna join me?)