And on, and on...

I have been tracking the progress of Roz Savage, who I learned about on Will's blog. Observing her cross the Pacific has given me a lot to ponder about my own limitations, capacity for dedication, and drive for achievement. I have long considered one of my life's goals to be a bike trip across America, but with my life transitioning as it has over the last two years, I'm thinking that for now I should settle for goals I can accomplish closer to home. Still, keeping my long-term, but relatively minor bike-ride objective in mind as I watch Roz is good perspective.

Over the last week, I've done some reading on people like this, folks who do extraordinary physical feats because they want to, or feel that they simply must. For example, this article in Wired has started me thinking about my own running primarily as a mental challenge (a belief my brother has long held). Let me also share this link to Karl Meltzer's website, where we can watch Karl try to run the entire length of the Appalachian Trail faster than the current record holder (yes, people keep up with this sort of thing). He started this morning and seems to be moving along. Because.

Awareness test

On Sunday afternoon, I rode my bike for the first time this season. It turns out that I'm fat and out of shape, and nothing says, "worthless and weak" quite like the hills I can't ride.

If you'd like to see details of my ride, click here.

When I roll on surface streets, I spend a third of my time scared of motorized vehicles, and another third verbally assaulting drivers who don't bother to adjust their car's trajectory based on the presence of a large man on a bike.

(Video sent to me by my brother, Mark.)

Adventure Cycling

I took up road cycling about three years ago when I lived in Annapolis and have loved every minute of it. I don't think I'm any happier than when I am on my bike and heading out on a long ride (here in Atlanta, that's usually on the Silver Comet Trail). One of my life's goals is to cycle across the United States, and when I pull it off, it will be because of the good folks at Adventure Cycling. I have been a member of Adventure Cycling since I bought my current bike, and have found their website and publications to be first rate. I'm afraid that now the weather is such that I won't be riding outdoors anymore this year, but I do have a set of rollers that keep me ready to hit the road (and scared to death of falling off).