View from the sticks

The Grand Total is......8138.5 miles

2011-12-31T17:55:00.000-05:00

So another year is over and I have 8138.5 miles ridden to show for it. There were some new lessons learned and some older ones revisited. Here are a few.

1. Buy the absolute best equipment that you can afford. It pays big dividends in both comfort, ease of use and lower lifetime costs. This is really important in the choices you make in your clothing. I swear by Pearl Izumi but everyone has their own favorites.
2. Take good care of the equipment that you do purchase. Keep up on the inspections and routine maintenance on your bikes and keep your clothes clean.
3. When something wears out or brakes upgrade to the next level of component on your bike. Higher level components really do work better.
4. Get yourself high grade lights. During the day I use Blackburn Fleas in blink mode as a DRL (daytime running light) and at night I use NightRider Technical lighting. DRLS make a huge difference in your safety on the road and if you are going to ride roads at night you need to see AND be seen. Don't cut corners on lighting.
5. Protect yourself from dogs with a Dazer II. You can find it on Amazon. Trust me they work.
6. Ride everywhere you can.
7. Ride in all conditions.
8. Have the tools and spares with you to be able to self rescue. Be able to at least fix a flat tire or a broken chain.
9. Ride with your cell phone and some cash. Both will come in handy sooner or later.
10. Be sure to keep it fun, see you out there somewhere on the road!

6000 miles!

2011-09-18T18:25:00.001-04:00

I hit the 6000 mile mark this morning. It has been a difficult year to get big miles in but I am out there most every morning, chipping away at it.
I have been riding a TREK Transport this year on trips of between 2 and 22 miles. It is a great bike that does an outstanding job of hauling heavy loads. I was pretty happy with the bike as it was built but I decided early on that it would be a great bike with a few modifications. I added a Fizik Arone saddle, a Bontrager rear fender and Avid BB7 road disc brakes. I have been suprised at how quiet and fast the bike is. It does not feel like a heavy cargo bike. If you are looking for a great cargo bike then the TREK Transport should be on your list for a test ride.
One other item I have been using this summer is a Dazer II electronic dog repellent. I read about it in a book called cycling home from siberia. I was a bit skeptical but the price was right so I ordered one and took it on my daily rides. I have to say, I was suprised when I used it the first time and the dog broke off the chase as soon as I pushed the button. His ears went back and he turned away without any time lag. The Dazer II works! Buy one and try it!

What a year!

2011-05-29T23:30:00.000-04:00

What a year, and I don't mean that in a good way. I set a goal of 10,000 miles this year and it is becoming increasing obvious that I am not going to make it. At this point I have around 3300 miles in which is about 300 more than this time last year but I have not been able to ride a century yet this year. The weather has been so lousy this spring that I have not had a single day with a 6 hour window with decent weather. What I have been able to do is integrate bicycling even more in to the everyday transportation routine and leave the vehicles at home. It has been a long time since I drove the car to the grocery store!
As I ride around my county I see field after field that has not even been touched yet and it is almost June. The wet and cold spring has kept the farmers out of the fields to a great extent and we are running out of time. It is going to be a late harvest if they do manage to get the fields planted and who knows how the yield will be. That will not be good for anyone. I hope things are better wherever you are!

AND THE GRAND TOTAL IS..........

2010-12-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

8300 miles pedaled on the bicycles for 2010. I look back and remember all the things that I saw in all those miles, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, storm fronts rolling in, Ice, Frost, Snow, Rain, Scorching heat and Deep Cold. And I can't forget the night rides!
A huge variety of animals such as deer, fox, coyote, turkeys, raccoon, opossum, muskrat, woodchuck, rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, partridge, eagles, hawks, owls, etc............
I managed not to get hurt in all those miles even though I fell three times in the woods on my Mt Bike and once over the handlebars on the street.
So what shall it be for 2011? I would like to do another couple of century rides like I did this year and possibly a double century if I can get a really nice calm day. I would like to ride from the shore of lake Michigan to the shore of Lake Huron. I would like to do 8000-10000 miles but with more rest days and higher mileage on the days that I do ride. Whatever I end up having done at this time next year it will be fun and I can't wait to get started. See you out on the road and have a great 2011!

One Year - 8000+ Miles

2010-12-17T21:10:00.000-05:00

This week I went over the 8000 mile mark for the year on the bicycles. It seems like a lot but it did not really seem that hard when you go out and chip away at it for a year. It is by far the most mileage for me and it was done in everything from 5 degrees F in the middle of winter to 100 degrees F in the depths of summer. Wind, Rain, Ice and snow I saw all of it at one point or another. The way I figure it, I rode somewhere between 500 and 600 hours. These are some of the things I learned in all that time.
Equipment: Buy the absolute best equipment you can afford and then go a little bit farther. I had a total of 5 flats this year and that was all of the equipment trouble I had. Keep the bikes clean and well maintained so you will catch problems early. Also a clean bike is safer in traffic because you never know when the glint of sunlight off a bit of chrome or polished aluminum will catch the attention of some distracted driver who may not have seen you otherwise.
As far as cycling specific clothing goes, I am absolutely sold on the products made by Pearl Izumi. From shorts, gloves, base layers, jackets, shoes, to balaclavas I never had a problem and nothing wore out in heavy day after day use. I can not say enough about the quality of their products.
Safety Equipment:I have two helmets by Giro that I rotated from day to day. When I was finished with my ride for the day I would rinse the helmet in the shower and let it dry for a day. Both held up very well with little wear and tear.
I am also sold on Oakley sunglasses. I wore them every day on every ride and they protected my eyes from Sun, UV, dirt and road debris several times deflecting small rocks.
I always ride with a Road ID bracelet on. If I get in a bad crash or hit by a car and I cant talk, all of my information is on it so emergency services can know who I am and who to call.
Always ride with a mirror when you are road riding and keep an eye on it. Don't let cars and trucks coming up from behind surprise you. It is better to go for the side of the road or the ditch if it looks like someone may hit you. RIDE DEFENSIVELY! and assume that they don't see you.
Get a set of lights and run them in flasher mode even in the daytime. Trust me, DRLs or daytime running lights can save your life. I have noticed that most of the time, drivers give you more room when passing when you are riding with lights on. I use a set of Blackburn Fleas that are incredibly small and light but VERY bright. On several occasions I had oncoming drivers stop and tell me how great the lights were because they could see me for a very long way out.
Always take your cell phone with you. You never know when you migh really need help out in the middle of nowhere.
Goals: At the beginning of your riding season set some goals. Make them difficult enough that you will have to get out of your comfort zone to achieve them. I started out the year with the goals of 5000 miles and two century rides. I upped it to 6000 later when it was clear I was going to make it way early. I did both century rides and the last one I did in 5hr49m. Big goals make you get out there and work at them every day and they give you a big feeling of accomplishment when you achieve one.
Once you set your goals you can figure out what the very minimum amount of mileage you will have to average every day to get there. Then go out and figure out some different routes to ride that will cover that mileage. I never know from one day to the next where I will ride. I wait until it is time to go then see what direction the wind is coming from and how strong it is. If it is not very strong then I will head out into the wind to the halfway point then turn around and enjoy a little assist on the way home. If the wind is really strong I prefer to ride in a cross wind but that is just my preference. The point is to have lots of safe routes so you can ride something different every day without wearing yourself out fighting the wind too much.
Fuel: If you are going to ride lots of miles you are going to burn a ton of calories. You need to learn what you have to eat to get through a ride and then what to eat to recover so you can ride again the next day without doing damage to your body. Everybody is different but with research teamed with trial and error you will find what works for you. There are many books, magazines and web sites to help.
The same goes for hydration. Drink your fluids and pay close attention to how your body is feeling from day to day. I find that I have to force myself to drink enough in the winter when it is really cold and I am not sweating very much and I don't feel thirsty.
I will cover some more lessons that I have learned this year later on. I hope to see you out on the road!

Two new Forums

2010-10-27T14:51:00.000-04:00

There are a couple of new forums that you may want to check out.
Sustainable Country Forums is a place to learn about and share ideas about how to live in the future that is coming, like it or not. Great people and a great vibe. http://forums.sustainablecountry.com/forums/
The other Forum is a sister site called Silent Country. It is populated by alot of the same people but here it is darker, more down and dirty. Think, The Road or The Book of Eli. http://forums.silentcountry.com/forums/forum.php

Goals Met!

2010-08-13T12:14:00.000-04:00

I just got off the bicycle and have just passed the last goal that I had set for myself back in January! I did the two century rides earlier in the year and now I just went over the 5000 mile mark for the year. I still have 4 1/2 months left in the year so it will be interesting to see what the grand total is at the end of December.
I have learned a few things with all that riding. I was having a close call with assorted motor vehicles about every twenty miles or so. Lately though I have taken to using what amounts to Daytime running lights that are in use on so many cars. I don't like to add a lot of weight to my road bike, but with the Flea line of lights by Blackburn I get high intensity lights with almost no weight. They have three modes, the charge lasts for hours and they are not expensive. Since I started using them on my road rides I am amazed to report that I have had no close calls at all. I am still a bit shocked at how much difference the lights have made in daytime riding situations.
Here is the link. http://www.blackburndesign.com/lights.html

Great week

2010-07-22T22:55:00.000-04:00

It's been a great week. I hit the 4500 mile mark on the bicycle today, on tuesday I had a bald eagle fly over me about 20 feet up while I was riding. Very cool looking bird from that distance. And to top it off the first vegatables from the garden were ready this week. I hope things are good where ever you are.

Mid Year Update

2010-07-01T15:25:00.000-04:00

It seems hard to believe that half of the year is gone already but that is what the calender says. So far I am making good progress on the goals I set for myself in January. I finished the second century ride of the year on tuesday, 100 miles in 5 hours and 48 min. And after six months of riding almost every day i have a grand total of 3907 miles. I am closing in on the goal of 5000 that I set for myself. It will be interesting to see what the grand total for the year ends up being.
The garden is doing well so far overall with a few things growing a bit on the slow side. I am looking forward to harvesting some fresh vegatables soon! Around the county I see the farm crops are doing well, with the corn far ahead of where it usually is this time of year. Could be all the rain we have gotten this spring.
The little town I live in is holding its own through the awful economic times we are in. I wish i could say the same for the State but it looks like another big budget shortfall this year. I think it is going to be a good long time before we see anything that even looks like stability.
I wish everyone a good independance day holiday and a great rest of the year. Hope to see you out on the bicycle!

Half way there

2010-05-10T13:07:00.000-04:00

I just came in from a chilly and windy ride and I am happy to report that I went over the 2500 mile mark on the bicycle today. Half way to the goal that I set of 5000 miles for the year. It feels good to be over 700 miles ahead of schedule and with any luck I will end the year with a total mileage in excess of 6000. It should be an interesting summer!

5 gallons!

2010-05-04T20:46:00.000-04:00

I attended my 40th Red Cross blood drive today and I am happy to announce that I officially got my 5 gallon donor pin! I looked at a five gallon gas can today and it is still hard to picture that much blood. I am glad to do it though and i am glad to help some anonymous person in need. If you want to help somebody in need, look around for your local Red Cross blood drive and then roll up your sleeve and give, please!

http://www.redcross.org/

Century

2010-04-17T09:10:00.000-04:00

I crossed one goal for the year off the list yesterday when I rode a century ride on the bicycle. I ended up doing 100 miles in 6 hours 9 min in conditions that were less than perfect. The next time I go for it the conditions are going to have to be optimal because my goal is to get under 6 hours. When I finished riding yesterday I looked on the computer to see exactly how strong a wind I had been fighting and found out it was running at 18 to 22 miles an hour.
When I started the conditions were fine, a little bit of a breeze but nothing too extreme. It stayed that way for the next 60 miles and then I noticed that things were changing rapidly and a front was moving in. By that time I had made up my mind that I was going to finish, high wind or not. One of the benefits of this was that I got lots of practice in riding in the most aerodynamic position that I could. I could watch the display on the computer and see if the speed was picking up as I changed position.
Things to consider if you want to ride long distances are, get your bike in optimal condition because even a little extra drag in an out of adjustment component goes a long way, ride in a REALLY GOOD set of bike shorts, pay close attention to eating and drinking enough while you are riding or you will pay for it later on. A friend of mine who is an endurance racer told me that at 75 or 80 miles drink a regular Coke and he was right. The combination of the sugar and the caffeine really hit the spot. Be aware that at the +70 mile mark you have to be even more careful on the road than usual due to fatigue.
I learned some valuable things yesterday and I am looking forward to the next time I give it a go. But you can be sure that next time the wind will be calm. See you out on the road!

Spring must be here!

2010-03-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

I admit up front that my hearing is pretty bad but I had to laugh at the mistake that I made today. I was out riding the dirt country roads today on my bicycle when I started hearing the strangest sound. I rode further while looking down at the bike to try and figure out where this strange creaking sound was coming from. I'm thinking bottom bracket bearing failure or maybe the seat post when it dawned on me what I was hearing. The frogs have made their first appearance of the spring and they were really going at it! It was neat to hear them singing again and funny that I did not recognize it right away. Happy spring everybody!

Progress Report

2010-02-28T20:34:00.000-05:00

It was not a new years resolution but more of a couple of goals that I set for myself this year. The first is to ride a total 0f 5000 miles this year on the bicycles and the other is to do 2 century rides(100 mile rides).
5000 miles breaks down to 13.69 miles a day and I am doing a miminun of 14 to add in a little cushion. So today I did the math and and on three bikes I have ridden a total of 900 miles for the year. Actually when I first added it up I was at 899.61 so I jumped back on the bike and rode another four tenths of a mile to bring it to an even 900. ;-)
I have ridden a lot of miles over the years but never at this pace and I can tell already that I am stronger on the bike than I have ever been. By the time summer gets here I will be ready to tackle the second goal.
So I dare you, set a goal for your self that is a little ambitious and out side the old comfort zone. You might suprise yourself.

Plan B

2010-02-03T13:12:00.005-05:00

This is an interesting PSA video that was produced by the Ad council. In it near the end you will see the man grab a bag as they exit their home. Do you know what it is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ie7zjrQ3Oo

What he is grabbing is an emergency preparedness kit or B.O.B (Bug out Bag). The function of this bag is for it to be packed and ready to grab as you go out the door in the event of an emergency. FEMA has checklists of things that you can follow and if you visit LATOC forum, you will find long discussions of B.O.B.s and their contents in great detail. You may never need this bag but you will definitely feel better knowing that it is there. Consider it a sort of insurance policy.
Check these out.

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/
FEMA citizen corps http://www.citizencorps.gov/
LATOC forum http://www.doomers.us/forum2/
LATOC B.O.B thread http://www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,55895.0.html

The Golden Age of Bicycles

2010-01-20T13:07:00.005-05:00

I just returned from from three days in Chicago where I attended the "Park Tool Tech Summit" which is an in depth hands on seminar for Bicycle Mechanics. Before I go any further I would like to thank and congratulate Park Tool for putting on a first class event.
I attended seven different workshops that were put on by the Reps of each manufacturer. Mine were, Park Tool, SRAM, Shimano, Barnett Bicycle institute, Mavic, Fox and Rock Shox. They all did excellent presentations and I learned many things. What really struck me as we were working on the different systems, whether it was hydraulic Brakes, wheels, front and rear suspensions, was how precise the engineering and manufacturing of the parts was. It is amazing to me how much precise technology is packed in to a modern bicycle at what is really a low price for a fun and reliable transportation machine. Which is where the title of this post comes from. Right now really is a golden age for the bicycle. There are so many choices in styles, materials, components and price points out there that there is truly something for everyone. Now really is the time to go out and invest a decent amount of money in a good bike that fits you properly and that you like. You will ride so much more and have a more enjoyable experience if you stretch just a little and buy something nice. You will also get a precise and reliable mode of transportation that will take you where you want to go no matter how high fuel prices go and will do it for years to come. Do your self a favor and go in to a local bike shop now in the off season and ask questions, do your research and take some test rides. Then when you find that perfect bicycle buy it and take it home. You won't be sorry!

Kiva

2010-01-11T22:52:00.003-05:00

I got a notice the other day by e-mail that some of my outstanding Kiva micro loan balances had been repaid and that I had some credit to use. So I went to my Kiva account and found another person to make a loan to. It took a total of about five min and it was done. So far since I started doing micro loans through the Kiva organization I have made a total of eight loans. The loans have gone to people in Vietnam, Nicaragua and Africa.Four have been repaid in full, one is 91% repaid, two are 66% repaid and the last is a new loan. After the first loan I did I started up with a kind of theme. I loaned to women who were supporting family's in country's that have been in the receiving end of the US Govt and/or the Military.
So if you would like to help people without a big investment check out Kiva and give it a try. It is a great organization. http://www.kiva.org/

Blood

2010-01-05T18:33:00.002-05:00

The notice came in the mail this weekend and a phone call yesterday reminding me that the Red Cross was having another blood drive this week. It was today actually and I did what I normally do, rode my bike up to the community center, rolled up my sleeve and donated a pint. Not a big deal but it is an important thing to do.
They checked my donation record and I am two pints shy of five gallons, which I thought was a lot until I got to talking to the old guy next to me when we were done and drinking coffee. He was awarded his ten gallon pin today and he told me he started giving when he retired 21 years ago. That is A LOT of blood!
I have seen what a pint of blood can do for a person who is in need first hand and it is an amazing thing. So if you can, the next time the Red Cross is in town give them a pint and help somebody in need. And with any luck sometime this summer I will write about this subject again and I will be able to tell you that I got to the five gallon mark. ;-)

Clyde- the winter beast

2009-12-14T15:01:00.004-05:00

Pictured above is Clyde, a Trek cruiser I bought five years ago just because I thought it looked cool, I mean how many bikes do you see these days with springer front ends? Spring, Summer and Fall Clyde is the go to bike for doing errands around town if it is raining. But the winter is where it really comes in to its own. Clyde has some features that really make this bike perfect for winter riding. A seven speed Shimano Nexus rear hub provides reliable shifting in the worst conditions and can be shifted even when you are not pedaling. It also avoids all the maintenance headaches of a rear derailleur and cassette in slushy winter conditions. It has always shifted no matter how cold it gets. It also has a rear coaster brake that always works no matter how cold, wet and nasty things are. The big fenders are a no brainer in wet weather. Overall, I was about 80% satisfied with the bike the way it came from the factory for winter conditions. This year I did two things that get me almost to 100% satisfaction. I installed big flat platform pedals from Atom Lab that have built in studs to grip the bottom of your boots. The second thing I did was to mount a set of Continental Spike Claw 120 tires. I could not believe the difference that the tires made in icy conditions. The 120 carbide studs are mounted on the outside edge of the tire tread and do not touch the road surface when you are riding straight but if you lean in to a turn or start to slide and fall the studs provide an amazing amount of grip. I went out recently in some very icy conditions and rode hard enough to where a fall was almost a given. I never fell or even came close even riding way too fast for conditions.
So if you like to ride bicycles, instead of putting it away when the leaves come off the trees keep going and try winter riding. Riding in the winter is really not that hard if you dress for it. I dress just about exactly like I would if I were going snow boarding and I am very comfortable out there.
You can go with a dedicated winter bike like I did or equip your bike so it handles the rougher conditions without problems. Either way you go it will open a new dimension of riding to you and you may find yourself thinking of bicycling as a winter sport AND hardcore hardtimes transportation like me. See you out there!

Alan Watts- A conversation

2009-09-11T20:42:00.002-04:00

Alan Watts has a prominent place in my library with at least 27 titles on hand. He had a huge influence on me when I started reading his books right after leaving the military. Alan is also the person who introduced me to the TAO and guided my understanding. In 1971 he recorded for television " A Conversation with Myself" and it is amazing to listen to him clearly describe the problems we are encountering in society today. He saw very far and very clearly. The four parts run just shy of 1/2 hour in total. You won't be sorry if you watch the videos and take the time to read some of his books.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aufuwMiKmE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ8WeLrtFnY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RcjATFcbq4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOYIE-RX3No&feature=related

Alan Watts on Fear and Existence

2009-09-09T22:57:00.005-04:00

I invite you to watch these two videos by Alan Watts. He is my all time favorite lecturer, author and explainer of Tao. He died back in the 70's but was far ahead of his time and this short lecture is very relevant to our time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asqd1H4IluQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdrSyWSrZMo&NR=1

Hard times transportation

2009-08-31T12:13:00.003-04:00

The picture above shows the rig I have been using this summer to get groceries and haul other oversize packages that normally would be hard to transport on a bicycle. The trailer is a B.O.B ibex model that is very well built, has suspension built in and will haul 75 pounds. It also has a large, tough, waterproof bag that is included so you can haul things in rainy weather. It is very rare for me to go on any errands around town using anything other than a bicycle and having the trailer gives me more opportunities to ride and leave the car at home.

Kiva- loans that change lives

2009-08-16T21:16:00.001-04:00

I had an e-mail tonight from Kiva, the micro loan organization telling me that I had a credit from some of my loans being repaid. So in less than 10 min I had reloaned it to a woman in Peru that is running a small bookstore. This is my seventh loan and so far i have had a repayment rate of 100%! Two of the loans are totally repaid, the other three are 83%, 58% and 26% repaid. Not bad for a 100 dollar investment on my part. This is such an easy way to help people that I hope I can encourage people to give it a try

View from the sticks

2009-08-07T10:46:00.006-04:00

At various times on different sites and forums the subject of self defence comes up and normally I don't participate much. The fact is that even though I live in a state that allows licenced concealed carry of handguns, I don't carry. I truth there is only one period during the 24 hours of the day that I feel at all vulnerable and that is at home when I am sleeping. I am a very peaceful and non-violent person with one exception. That is if someone comes into my home, uninvited and armed then the claws come out. What you see in the picture above is what is in reach when I am sleeping. No matter what side of my bed I wake up on there are at least two edged weapons within reach. I have preferred edged weapons for very close quarter combat in the dark for a long time. If at all possible I don't want to fire a firearm indoors because as soon as you do you are both deaf, momentary blinded and somewhat stunned.
I also keep my cell phone close at hand to call 911 but the fact is in the rural area I live in it can take awhile for reinforcements to arrive. And with all the budget trouble city's and towns are having I don't see it getting better.
If I do get awakened by something and I have to investigate then the other weapons come in to play. The flashlight works well to temporarily blind someone and makes a handy club. In my other hand is the shotgun, chamber empty, magazine loaded with buckshot. A pump shotgun makes a vary distinctive sound when a round is racked in to the chamber that most everyone understands. I call it the universal translator.
I hope very much that I never have to use any of this but it is close at hand on standby if I do. Everyone has a different situation in their homes and what works for me may not be appropriate for other people. I live alone so I can do somewhat different things than a home that has children in it. When I had kids at home the firearms were unloaded and locked up but could be gotten to quickly in a special safe. What I recommend is at the very least think through your situation and what your response should be. It is your home,you don't ever have to be a victim and surrender without a fight.

View from the sticks

2009-07-31T11:18:00.004-04:00

I had a very close call last night on the way home and I thought I would share it. I was driving home on a street i don't often take at a time I was tired and not paying close enough attention to my surroundings. There is a road right next to the local grain elevator and the railroad tracks cross the road here. Like many RR crossings out here in the sticks there is no automatic barrier or lights. It is up to you to look and listen closely before crossing and that is where I screwed up. I have poor hearing with constant ringing in both ears plus I had the radio playing. The railroad tracks curve around the back of the grain elevator so there is no more than about 50ft of visibility. So I am driving and just as the front tires of my car hit the railroad tracks I hear a train whistle and it is LOUD. I look to my right and no more than a car length away is a fast moving train engine. I floored the gas pedal on the car and just cleared the track as the train went by. There was maybe a second of margin but no more. So in the end nobody got hurt but it was very close. The AAA was right in there old advertisements that most accidents happen within 5 miles of home and I think it is due to the familiarity of our surroundings giving us a false sense of security. So learn from my mistake and look and listen closely when crossing railroad tracks. You DON'T want to look up like I did and see nothing but fast moving train engine filling your vision. ;-)

View from the sticks

2009-07-24T09:32:00.005-04:00

I was working with and talking to the co-owner of the shop I work in yesterday when he happened to mention that he had just found out that he had come in to a small five figure inheritance from his grandmother. I just listened as he wondered what he could do with the unexpected windfall. Should he buy this or that or the other thing?
This went on for a while and I did not say very much, then he asked me what I would do with it. I think what I said surprised him.
What I told him was I thought he should either stash it away as an emergency fund or use it to pay down debt. Then when he wondered why I told him my thoughts on personal finance.
I told him that I am completely debt free and have been for almost a decade. That I do not buy anything unless I can pay for it up front. That when I do buy something I buy the best I can find and pay the extra cost because the item usually works better and lasts longer.
I told him that being debt free is a state of mind and a lifestyle choice that takes discipline and practice but in the end is much less expensive and much less stressful that the debt driven life we have been taught is normal.
Being debt free brings freedom and many more choices. I told him that if I was in debt I would not have been able to retire at 49 and take up a much lower paying job that I enjoy very much. When you are in debt you are on a treadmill and cannot stop moving. The bigger the debt the faster the treadmill goes. If you lose your job or get sick you are in danger of very quickly losing everything that you worked for.
It was one thing to take on debt as a normal lifestyle choice when jobs were plentiful but it is quite another to do it in an economy where jobs are still going overseas and the unemployment rate is north of 15% like it is here in Michigan. He listened to what I had to say but I am not holding my breath that I convinced him. All our lives we have been told to buy things right now on credit, with easy monthly payment plans. Why wait? Enjoy it all now! Keep up with the Joneses!
An alternate lifestyle of pay as you go and healthy reserve cash has its own rewards and is well worth pursuing. Start where you are, but at least start and I guarantee you will not regret it.

View from the sticks

2009-07-17T10:45:00.004-04:00

I had an interesting experience last night that brought back a lot of memories, this is what happened.
The annual 12 hour endurance mountain bike race is going on this weekend at our local trail and the Rep for the Night Rider Technical lighting company rolled in to town to support the race. He showed up at the bike shop yesterday and he and my boss decided to put together an impromptu night ride last night. After some phone calls, dusk comes and 18 riders showed up. The Night Rider Rep hands out loaner lights to anyone who did not have their own and off we went in to the woods. I have ridden this trail many times over the years in the daytime but never at night so I did not really know what to expect. What I found out was that it is with the right equipment it is like riding in the daytime but twice as fun. I am going to be doing this more often.
The memories it brought back was how in the Rangers we were creatures of the night. The vast majority of the time our schedule was inverted and we would sleep during the day and do operations all night. The darkness was our friend and we were very comfortable in it. It even got to the point where the climbing team I was on would climb and do fairly technical operations at night.
My challenge to the readers of this post is this. Go outside this summer and discover the night. It does not matter if it is looking at stars in the backyard, walking around the neighborhood, hiking, or biking in the woods. Go out and experience it. A few tips, give your eyes a half hour to adapt to the darkness. The center of your vision is a blind spot at night, look off to the side of something you want to see clearly at night. Once your eyes have adapted to the darkness protect it as much as possible. Use a red filter on your flashlight or close one eye if you must use white light to see something. It you don't it will take a while for your night vision to come back.
The night time world out there is fun to explore and get comfortable in. Give it a try!

View from the sticks

2009-07-03T09:08:00.002-04:00

I got a card in the Mail today informing me that there is a Red Cross Blood drive coming to town next week. Not that I really need the reminder because I have it marked on my calender from the last time that I gave.
I started donating in 1980 in the Rangers. They would line everybody up in formation and march all of us to the post theater and we would all give blood together. I don't remember anyone complaining because we knew that from the nature of our job that we might be the person who needed the blood.
These days I continue to give blood as often as I can just because I feel it is the right thing to do and it is a really easy way to save someones life. I have lost track of how many gallons that I have given but as long as they will take it I will give it.
So do something selfless just because it is the right thing to do. Call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or search on line and find when the next blood drive is coming to a location near you and give.
And in a strange twist of fate you or your family member ends up in a ER needing blood it may be your very donation that saves the day. Go ahead, just do it!

View from the sticks

2009-06-26T11:05:00.002-04:00

I try fairly hard to buy things that are made in the U.S. as much as I can just on general principle and if I need something I will look long and hard find it. It has sort of become a game that is getting harder to play every year. Sometimes I wonder to my self if this country makes anything at all anymore.
This subject really hit home to me yesterday at the bicycle shop when we got in a discussion about the Cannondale bike brand. Cannondales are near and dear to me and I have been a loyal customer for decades. I think that I own seven of them. They are extremely high quality bikes at a fair price that are made in the USA. At least until the end of this year that is. The company recently announced that in 2010 frame manufacture will be moved to Taiwan and 200 of the current 300 employees will loose their jobs, a move that the parent company Dorel says will save the company $4 million dollars a year. They may save several million dollars but they are going to loose at least one very loyal customer.
So if you want a really good bike that will last for the rest of your life and is made in the USA, grab a Cannondale while you can. It is a dying breed.

View from the sticks

2009-06-14T21:46:00.003-04:00

I rounded up most of my bikes the other day for a group photo. There were still two missing. What you are looking at is the future of transportation in this country. We will still be driving cars for a long time but they will be used less and less to get around for trips under five miles.
The reaction that I get for having all these bikes strikes me a funny most of the time. I buy good quality bikes, Cannondale for the most part, and I still have less invested in all of them than I would have to pay for a decent used car. Most people don't understand what riding a good quality bike with good components is like and how much easier it is to go longer distances with one and also what a pleasure they are to ride.
So do yourself a favor. Go to a reputable local dealer, look around and take a test ride of a few upscale models and spend as much as you can afford to. Then start leaving the car at home for the local errands around town. You will be glad you did!

View from the sticks

2009-06-10T10:07:00.004-04:00

I have been thinking since I posted the brief piece last week about David Carradine how it was that I came to follow the Tao. The beginning was seeing Kung Fu as a kid. I did not care about the martial arts so much as the scenes in the monastery where "Grasshopper" would learn from Master Po and the other monks. That I found fascinating. Then came a book called "Dispatches" by Michael Herr which is probably the best book on the Vietnam War I have ever read. In it he wrote about a war correspondent named Tim Page who was in to Taoism.
The next link in the chain was in the Rangers. I was hanging out with a few other Rangers who were interested in the Martial Arts, especially the power of the mind. I was also reading a little bit of Carlos Castaneda at the time. The Rangers pushes people way beyond what most people would consider their own limits. I had many experiences that could not be explained in a logical, rational manner and followed them where they led. I learned some lessons that could not be learned any other way and trying to describe them I find nearly impossible. I also had a very small Bible that the Military gives out. I carried it in my Rucksack and would read it during the waiting portion of the "Hurry up and Wait" that the military is famous for. I read it cover to cover at least a dozen times over the four years I was in.
After leaving the Rangers came a few years of trying to find a balance between the life and experiences I had left and the new one as a civilian. It was very difficult and I was reading and studying very hard trying to find balance.
A major influence and the writer I give the most credit to as far as discovering the Tao goes, is Alan Watts. I have around thirty of his books and one I read over and over is "Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown, A mountain Journal. Alan is the one who really helped me, post military.
Other books with a major influence were:
TAO, The Watercourse Way by Alan Watts
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
NAM by Tim Page
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
The Nature of personal reality by Jane Roberts
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels
Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams
Illusions by Richard Bach
This is but the very tip of a very long reading list. There are hundreds more upstairs right now that had some influence on me to some extent. I do love my books!
Anyway, there is an old saying that the Tao can not be described but only experienced and as I go along though life I believe that is very true. The books above pointed in the general direction that I should go but the Tao teaches in its own way and in its own time.

View from the sticks

2009-06-07T09:50:00.004-04:00

For a while now I have been feeding the birds and have enjoyed watching them. After I got a guidebook I was very surprised and how many different bird species I had visiting my feeders during the course of the year. I took the next step this year and started on a long term project. After seeing an Eastern Bluebird in the garden for the first time ever I got plans and started building nesting boxes for the Bluebirds. I am also working on building boxes for the little brown bats that fly around my back yard at dusk.
An added bonus to watching the birds during the day is the great job they do in keeping the insect numbers in check. I had so little insect damage in the garden last year and did not know why. I did not realize how aggressive a predator they were until watching them go after a frayed piece of string blowing in the breeze in the garden last year. They must have thought it was a moth and went after it for hours.
So if you can, give the birds a little help and they will repay it many times over.

View from the sticks

2009-06-04T12:11:00.002-04:00

It is with a touch of sadness that I read that David Carradine died today in Bangkok. His role as Kwai Chang Caine, aka "grasshopper" gave me my first exposure to Asian Spirituality and is one reason that I follow the Tao today. As the master once said to grasshopper, "Time for you to leave". RIP and thank you Mr Carradine.

View from the sticks

2009-04-04T13:16:00.003-04:00

Spring is slowly easing its way in to central Michigan and I can't wait for it to stay. We get a few nice days where I can work outside in the garden or the shop and then that cold wind out of the north starts back up. I have increased the miles on the bike to over 10 every day and the legs are protesting less. I had hopes of seeing more people on bikes this spring but since the gas prices came down from last summer people are back in the cars even for their short trips around town.
If you decide to ride your bicycle more this year, now is a good time to look it over closely and see if anything needs maintenance or repair. Pay close attention to the tires for cuts, weathering or low pressure. Look at the brakes to be sure the pads are not worn or dried out. Operate the brakes and the shifters to make sure everything is operating properly. Give the frame a once over looking for cracks or major dents and damage. Pick up the bike and give the wheels a spin by hand and see if there is any wobble. Last, give the chain a cleaning and some lube to start the season out right.
If you have any questionable areas then take it to the local shop and get them fixed or get a manual and some tools and give it a try on your own. Its a good skill to have when times get hard. The worst that can happen is you will have to take it to the shop and have them do it after you give it a try and can't get it fixed.
Think Spring and enjoy!

View from Downtown Chicago.....

2008-10-06T14:11:00.003-04:00

And no, I'm not talking about the river, unfortunately. Hi everyone, it's Alecia- My Dad invited me to contribute to his blog, and well, I'm not exactly busy at work right now... :(

I work in a Commercial Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company, and as most would expect, the general mood is a little....shall we say depressing??

It's easy to look at the agents here and think "poor babies, not making their millions this month, boo hoo!". I know that's how I felt up until I moved into the Chicago office last month from Phoenix. Problem is, looking around I am seeing young people, mostly all my age, that just graduated college a few years ago and decided that real estate was a good idea (can you really blame them?). These guys don't get a paycheck until they sell a deal. Some of these guys have not sold a deal yet- and many have been here since 2005. I watch these guys bring in cheap frozen dinners (the kind that don't even fill ME up) from home for lunch every single day- and they aren't doing it by choice. These guys are losing money by coming here everyday. They look at me and say "man, I would love to trade you jobs....". And they are dead serious.

It's easy to be naive and overly optimistic when all you have ever experienced is excess. Even I, who grew up in small town Michigan, have only seen good times. Sure, I have made my fair share of stupid decisions, but I have always had food in my stomach, and I have always known that no matter how stupid my decision was, I would have help if I needed it. It's really hard to wrap your head around a looming crisis when all you have ever known is peace. It was really hard for me at first to truly realize that the world won't always be the way that I know it- and It's even harder knowing that some of the people I love will never realize this until it's too late.

I found www.latocforum.com in the beginning of the year and well, freaked a little at first. Realizing something like Peak Oil truly exists and is imminent is not easy. Most people that hear about PO immediately shut their brains down and stick their heads in the sand because it just doesn't "fit" with their expectations of the world. And then there are the people like my Dads co-worker that fall off the deep end and freak out a little too much. I tried to stay right in the center- prepared, but still living in the "real world".

I am lucky, my Dad (obviously) understands, and my Husband plays along and lets me do my thing, even though I am pretty sure he thinks I am at least a tiny bit crazy ;). Also, I am fortunate enough to have an ex-Ranger Father that lives in a paid off house in a small, agricultural town to fall back on if (when?) my company finally folds, my hubbys company folds (he thinks it will never happen, I hope he is right...), and we run out of $$ (won't be long!!). Most people are not this lucky. Most people I know keep less than a weeks worth of food on hand and would just simply sit down and cry if the lights went out. I hope these people can get a grip before it's too late....

Well, the DOW is down 761 (OMG!) points at the moment and I should really go back to pretending to work now (yea right, I will be on LATOC in five minutes guaranteed, LOL).

Till next time,
Alecia