The Rising Tide.
In the last year, there’s been a growing trend in bike-to-climb and bike to (fill in the blank) adventures being pursued by professional climbers and athletes and making it into the media. I don’t claim to have any influence over this occurance, it’s an awesome thing, a sign of the awareness our generation is bringing to the table. Seeing this type of stuff in the media is truly inspiring, getting people stoked for bicycle powered adventures is only a good thing. There are also trends going on in the bicycle world I have been trying to influence. My generation is among those who helping to define a new era by choosing to not own a car or hold a drivers license. We are in a unique and optimal position to be able to go car-free, use a bike for transportation, and take part in extended adventures. Although I’m not often obnoxious about getting friends to change their habits or get rid of their car, when I see an opportunity, I capitalize. Engine troubles, transmission problems, and maintenance issues are great times to encourage friends to drive their shitty rig’s off a cliff. For the most part this is received with polite laughter, as in, I’ll laugh at your joke you crazy car-less psycho, but if done well and to the right kind of individual, even this technique can reap rewards. Other angles and tactics can be effective as well, the most useful of which is truth. Looking someone deep in the eyes and telling them the truth has proven to be very effective. “Yo bro! You’re blowing it!” This site is simply a mouthpiece for my musings, a journal in which I feel too critical to even write often, but one I try and keep up to date none the less. But this is also another way that I’m trying to spread the word, to provide a positive and encouraging example of what a bicycle life could look like. With that in mind here’s a look into the current adventure-bicycle scene, and the smaller world I’ve been able to affect. Cheers!
Part I – The Media and the Mind
First I just wanted to share a few images and links to some stuff you’ve hopefully already seen. Even if you have you should probably check them out again as it’s spring time and the stoke is high. Plan your adventure and get out!
Climbing.
Most recently Alex Hand-hold and Cedar Wright undertook a serious 48 day cycling trip through the desert southwest in which they climbed over 40 towers including new routes and first ascents. This trip was dubbed the sufferfest 2 after their previous successful effort to cycle the length of california and climbing all of the states 14000 foot peaks via a technical rouse, solo. Phew. Not only do these guys absolutely crush it in a relentless fashion, but they took time after their last trip to create solar installations in remote navajo lands, providing power and light to native americans, humanitarian craziness. Check out both of these trips as much as you can, with the full sufferfest movie here, and check out their instagram feeds for pictures from the latest adventures.
I’ve mentioned these guys before, but they bear repeating, check out Team Sweet-Bang for their last summers exploits in the Wind’s and Teton’s and to see what they’ll be up to this one. This one I found just the other night. A short film titled The Escape, featuring a couple dudes cycling south from pemberton to the north shore in vancouver, along the way shredding the single track this area is known so well for. A trip I’ve definitely dreamed of before, of course it involves a hefty investment in another bike I haven’t been able to afford.
Patagonia is a brand synonymous with both ecology and adventure. Their exploration into surfing and has been nothing short of dominating. Their support into the book and adventure of Slow is Fast is an example of their Live Simply motto and ecological business ethic. Over the course of 56 days Dan Malloy, Keanna Keene, and Kona Zimmeran road over 700 miles along the cost of California, along the way surfing some of the more obscure breaks and waves. Along the way these guys stop and stay with several farms, documenting their work and lifestyle in pictures and poetry. This is only a link to buy the book and video, but it’s worth it.
Another one which I have written about before is the Road From Karakol. I watched this one again myself the other day with some friends. Truly inspiring not only for the subject but also for the pure adventure and raw connection Kyle offers up in this film. On his way to Climb with partner Hayden Kennedy Kyle cycles through Kyrgyzstan while making stops to climb in the Tien Shan mountains.
The list goes on, but I’ll say this; watch these films read their stories, most of them you’ll be able to find for free, if you have to buy them, do it as a group, pass them around and share them. Pick a night to get together at a friends house, find a projector, and watch them together. Ignite the stoke!
Part 2 – Sweep the leg Jonny!
I’ve been told a lot about how people aren’t won over or influenced by “radical” positions, argumentative commentary, or nagging. I’ve been accused of being radical, ignorant, arrogant, and a snarky bastard. All true. But what a lot of folks consider “radical” I think of as appropriate, or more consisely, the truth. Sure, it’s easy for me to think that my way is right, correct, or the best, or that I’ve got it figured out and no one else is doing anything worthy. But I don’t think that’s the case. The human race is changing the Earth’s atmosphere through it’s industrialization. Oceans are becoming acidified, warming, and rising, our air is becoming polluted, toxic, and more commonly, unhealthy to breath, worst of all, we’re very much most likely causing the worlds 6th great mass extinction. I don’t think it’s radical or arrogant to assume the best way to prevent this from continuing is to STOP BURNING FOSSIL FUELS, or at least, find ways to drastically reduce our consumption and need. But mainstream society, the corporations and consumerism that rule our world views, have a different perspective. Greenwash and enviro-bullshit have pervaded every sector of the market now so that nearly every product or service can be found “All Natural” or “Carbon-Free”. But salvation cannot be bought and sold. To usher our race safely through this age of climate-change and outright eco-apocolapse will require ingenuity, creativity, and yes, sacrifice. Our current use and consumption of fossil fuels is what is actually radical. Our conception of mobility and food systems is what is illusory.
I started this site with none of these intentions. What began as an idea, an experiment, has now become a passion, an obsession, and most simply, a way of life. But the ecological undertones are unmistakeable. I’m stoked on this life because it’s rad, it’s challenging, rewarding, and amazing, but also because it fulfills in me a sence of purpose and direction, an understanding of how to fuse action with insight, how to cut through the bullshit and excuses that we so often have to float along with business as usual and do something truly positive and rewarding with my life. Sure, I could be in school studying environmental law and figuring out ways to lobby for a more sustainable future. I could be out spiking trees and setting fire to lumber yards, but I don’t see that getting me anywhere either. I’ve chosen a path that is simple and easy, it does not offend or obstruct, it is quiet an unassuming, so I use my voice to make sure you hear.
As I continue to grow, learn, and understand more about the car-free lifestyle, all the while I’m telling my friends, family, co-workers, how much fun I’m having, how easy and satisfying it is, and why it’s important for us all to make this transition to a car-free culture. A lot of organizations are out there to make “big changes”, they speak softly and unoffensively in hopes of attracting a wide audience. I understand this, no one wants to be told they’re blowing it, and if you happen to say that, they’re probably not going to continue paying attention, so getting people to change their habits and give up the most comfortable and seemingly necessary parts of their lives isn’t easy. But behind all the nagging is an interesting truth; young people are driving less. To me, this seems obvious, we’re interested in saving money, our social experiences happen more frequently online, and we’re interested in preserving the environment. So while I continue to be told how to reach more people, or more often even better answers to questions I’m not asking, like why I should get a scooter, or mail my belongings ahead of me, I’ll continue to nudge and encourage my friends and peers who are in the best position to go car free, that’s right, YOU!
For the most part this encouragement has fallen on deaf ears. Car-culture is the way and for many to contemplate stepping out of that is pure madness. But like I said, I know where to pick my battles, and in doing so, have hacked the knees out from a few wobbling, car-owning friends. That’s right, I have some success stories and will claim them here:
Although Amos hasn’t sold his car, and while I write this he might be flying somewhere over canada, but I do believe I helped influence his decision to first go on a 300 mile ride from Zion NP to Arizona, and subsequently ride over 3000 miles from his home in Alaska, to ours in Salt Lake City, and on to Zion. He embraced bicycle travel all winter living and skiing in Jackson, WY. Core.
My buddy Travis went on a bike trip last summer and despite hauling a heavy trailer with a slow mountain bike, he apparently loved it, and after experiencing engine troubles this winter, I hacked the knee and encouraged him to cut the cord while he had the chance, avoiding dumping a bunch of money into something that drinks fuel at 4 bucks a gallon when he could sell it and turn that money into a bike. Well that’s just what he did and now he’s headed out on an epic adventure for the summer. You’re welcome Trav. Epic.
Carter is Travis and I’s friend, and Travis’s traveling companion for some of his upcoming adventures. It’s been a few years now, but at one point Carter had a late 80’s Jeep that was eating holes in his pockets. At every opportunity I would encourage him to scrap it or file off the vin numbers and drive it of a cliff. It wasn’t until an unfortunate little engine fire that Carter saw the light, sold his rig to a junk yard and bought some panniers for his road bike. Now Carter continues to live the dream skiing your LCC pow all winter and living and working on a winery in southern utah all summer. Ballin’. When it’s cold and rainy I’ll be thinking of you guys riding in the desert sunshine.
My buddy JB is a sucker. What can I say, this guy is more perpetually stoked then quite possibly anyone I’ve met before, but the fact that he was due for some routine car maintenance meant he was vulnerable for a barrage of harassment to sell his rig. Even though his car only needed minor care, and was a climbers dream of good milage, 4×4 and clearance, I appealed to his bum side and convinced him he was wasting money throwing it into this old jalopy. And he bought it. And a bike. And after even more bad decisions he’ll be leaving with Liz and I on a 500+ mile bike ride through Utah and Idaho. Clearly the guy knows his priorities, and an opportunity when he sees one. Let’s Ride.
Anyone else out there? Who knows. Who else can we get on board, this is not an exclusive club. JOIN US! Just logging on today I noticed this site has cleared the threshold of 12,000 page views, small potatoes but it makes me wonder, who looks at this thing anyway?
Thanks, Tim
Related
Hey Tim, just met a Belgian dude in Nepal who had biked from there, climbed Elbrus on the way, and was on his way to Everest to hit it without oxygen. That’s a lot of biking!
Hell yes it is!