One day when my very precocious oldest son was three, he was running through the house screaming in delight, jumping behind the couch, bounding up and down the stairs, and acting like someone was chasing him. I asked him what he was doing and he very excitedly yelled “I’m lost in adventure!” He wasn’t playing with any toys or playmates, but he was completely and excitedly engrossed in being “lost in adventure.” I learned something very valuable from my three-year-old that day. Life is what you make of it!
In Northwest Indiana, the time changes around November 1st every year, and we “fall back” one hour. We are the small pocket of the state that clings to central time, while the rest of the state is on eastern time. This means that our very short winter hours of daylight seem even shorter. It is pitch black by the time I get off of work at 4:30. This means that for just over four months out of the year, if I want to ride my bike, I have to ride not only in the cold winter winds and snow, but also in the darkness, five days a week.
I used to suffer on the winter trainer and treadmill, trying to maintain some type of fitness during the never-ending winter. I tried riding at 40 degrees and it was just unbearable. I didn’t think I could ever manage to ride outside during the winter. Then I changed my way of thinking. “Cycling” throughout the winter was impossible, but getting outside and getting “lost in adventure” was possible! My husband was the first one to think outside of the box when it comes to winter gear. Skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are all winter activities that people enjoy. So why not look at their gear? I discovered that ski boots were completely incomparable to any other footwear. Mountain bike shoes and road bike shoes are out of the question, even with toe warmers and neoprene booties. Ditto for my ski helmet and goggles in lieu of a winter cycling helmet. With my ski helmet, goggles, and full coverage mask I can ride comfortably in weather below zero. My tried and true winter gear is detailed on my gear page, and is available in my Amazon store. All of the gear listed has passed the test through trial and error of dozens of gear that didn’t pass!
If you’ve read my About Me page, you’ll know that my dream since I was 16 has been to ride my bike from coast to coast. It’s not just winter that gets in the way of dreams; life has a way of consuming us. Work, family, financial obligations and time get in the way. So I made the decision long ago, when my toddler was running through the house being “lost in adventure” that I would try to make my own adventures every day. I’ve learned to embrace the adventure in every one of my bike rides. After all, someday when I set sail on my coast to coast odyssey, each and every town that I ride through will be someone else’s backyard! So why not look for the excitement and adventure in my own backyard? This is one of the reasons why I always try to take pictures on my rides. I’ve discovered incredible beauty in my night rides, and sometimes I wish I had a better camera than my iPhone to capture the moment.
The past two Indiana winters have been particularly hard. Last year the Polar Vortex brought temperatures below zero for weeks on end and the ground wasn’t visible for four months because of the 70 inches of snowfall. It’s inevitable that Indiana winters will bring snow, and Northwest Indiana gets a double whammy because of the lake effect snow that comes off of Lake Michigan every year! The lake effect snow and the shelf ice that forms on Lake Michigan is so incredible, that I find myself being thankful for living in an area with such an amazing winter landscape.
Today I looked outside and saw freshly fallen snow. I was so excited, because I was really needing to be “lost in adventure”! I deliberately set out early before the snow plows had a chance to get out so I could be one of the first ones on the road. I found a county road that was completely unplowed, with no car tracks. It was so incredibly awesome, forging my own adventurous trail. This is the first photo on this blog. I hope that anyone reading this blog will get lost in adventure today in their own backyard!
Lou this was a great posting on your blog. I do enjoy reading your thoughts and viewing pictures of your adventures. I see an adventurous soul, and that makes us kindred spirits. I do hope that you make the coast to coast ride a reality. I would assume that kind of trip would be a 20-30 day thing or more depending on the daily pace and side trips/stops you made. You have the bike legs for it, so that is no issue. I know being a mom and wife is priority #1. Your time will come Lou.
I do have another thing to discuss with you. I am currently looking to fulfill a bike related long term goal of my own. I would like to discuss it in detail with you if you’re interested. I would like to ask you be my coach (Marc to unofficially LOL) Not a coach in the sense that we look of power outputs and heart rate thresholds. I need an adviser, manager, and cheerleader. I have no friends or family either involved in what I am doing or that care to be involved. Most of them kind of think that I’m bit crazy about my bike riding and racing ambitions. I put that out to you in a non-pressure way, and you can let me know if you would like to discuss it more. I think that with your help my lofty plans might just happen. This won’t be something that you need to put a lot of time into, and us meeting in person is not crucial either. Count me on team LRB for help anyway anytime making your big time bike dream happen.
Anyway keep posting on your blog. You write well, its entertaining, and most of all you inspire people with your actions and words. All the best hope the back is mending, and no more lifting fish tanks OK!!!!
I get what you’re saying about friends not taking interest in what you’re doing. I don’t know any serious girl riders, and most people I know think I am a bit off my rocker! Michael, I’m flattered that you would ask me to be your coach. I’ll always encourage all my Strava friends, but I’m afraid I’d suck at being a coach! I just want to put my earbuds in and ride in the sunlight. I will never wear a heart rate monitor or do any purposeful training. I just want to ride!