One silver lining of Covid 19 is it's causing a bike boom, at least in the US. Sales in the past few months are almost double their normal rates. I learned about this an interesting way. I broke a spoke on my Trek. So I called my local bike shop to make an appointment and … Continue reading Covid19 Bike Boom, and Fixing My Trek →

In a previous post I discussed the idea of a transformational path where you train your mind to help bring out the best version of yourself. Meditation is one of the main techniques for this, but there are what Eknath Easwaran refers to as "allied disciplines" that can support your efforts. I'll cover some of … Continue reading Techniques For Self-Transformation: Inspirational Reading →

A couple of days ago I biked over to Barnard road, one of our steeper local roads that I like to walk up for a challenge. It's a good pace if I get up it in less than 15 minutes pushing the bike. I set a new PR of 13:10 that day, which felt great. … Continue reading Local Bike-Hiking Adventures →

Many of us are facing training on hot days this time of the year. I go out of my way to avoid it by getting up early. My brother gets up at 4:30 AM in the summers in Phoenix to avoid triple digit temperatures. But there’s evidence training in the heat actually has benefits for … Continue reading Training in the Heat Boosts Performance →

I rode about 11 miles to Santa Teresa Park and went on one of my favorite hikes, a steep jaunt up to Coyote Peak, then a descent via a more circuitous route with a gentler grade on Hidden springs trail. It reached 100 degrees later in the day, but I left extra early to beat … Continue reading A Ride To Santa Teresa Park and a Hike →

I heard about this a letter from nutritionist Jeff Rothschild's mailing list. His website is here. There is a lotion containing sodium bicarbonate that is applied to the legs. It is supposed to get bicarb into your bloodstream and boost your performance and aid recovery from endurance activity. There's solid science behind this: bicarb buffers … Continue reading Interesting Confirmation of the Placebo Effect →

The Mendoza ranch entrance to Harvey Bear Park is off Roop Road in Gilroy. It's a nice ride down there on rural roads, then quite a climb up Roop. There is then nice smooth mostly double track, perfect for an off-road rider at my novice level. I recently had a nice ride totally about 4 … Continue reading Mountain Biking and Hiking- Mendoza Ranch →

I learned about two important studies from the Cooper institute on Clarence Bass's website. This institute was founded by Dr. Ken Cooper, whom many call the "father of aerobics". Reading his classic book Aerobics way back in the early 70s helped get me started on a life of fitness. Dr. Kenneth Cooper The first was … Continue reading Modern Medicine Helps, But Fitness Still Matters →

This is a nice loop that starts out semi-rural going from Morgan Hill towards Gilroy, then climbs up over the foothills separating Gilroy from the next valley over, which is rural, with ranches and vineyards. I'm not sure of the name of that valley, but Watsonville Road runs through it on the way to Hecker … Continue reading Mantelli Drive Loop →

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone"- Blaise Pascal, 1654. When we have nothing to do, no tasks to perform, just sitting quietly, our brains enter "default mode". You would think that would be relaxing, but for many of us it is not. That's when we start … Continue reading Calm Your “Default Mode” →