The ‘Deal Kitchen’

Here’s the deal: You get one shot. No matter who you are. Whether you’re good, bad or indifferent. Whether at the peak of youth, in the final stages, or barely beyond the start line at the highest professional levels. So much can happen. The seemingly impossible can go two directions so fast: up or down. Lucky or unlucky. Blessed or what can surely feel cursed. The deal is a handshake, an implicit agreement. We make deals with business partners. With our families. With own selves.

Some deals are only for profit (or unexpected loss). Others are the art of compromise to keep the peace with our tribes. And still other deals are secrets locked inside and never shared. We make different deals every day, whether we like it or not.

But an important deal easily forgotten in the daily flow: that of health. I love cycling for several reasons. Among them is the well-being produced by the act of pedaling circles (and squares on the toughest days). Spin up, raise your heart rate, work your muscles. Expand your mind. Think. Experience.

It’s ironic that all the check marks in the positive column for cycling compete with a handful of negatives — including dangers of speed and sharing the road with vehicles. We cyclists know this, but can forget. We understand the word “suffering” yet equate it as a way to grow stronger, ride farther and faster. You only get one shot on this thing called earth. Regardless of your beliefs or biases, that much is inescapable.

Which brings me to the “Deal Kitchen.” It’s the place where you can cook up the ingredients of what you want your life to become: something to enjoy, experience and share with others. I learned more about this glaring fact today while on the bike. I listened closely to the words being said. Yes, there are no guarantees, warranties or refunds on the deal of life. The rewards are what you make. But if you don’t go for it, you’ll never know. Some of you will do your first century ride this season. Others will race for the first time. We all are standing over a stove. I’m in the deal kitchen, working on a batch of dreams. It’s a good place. I hope you’re enjoying your deal kitchen. Cook the best you can, something that makes the world better and celebrates that which is good, kind and decent. One shot. Don’t waste it.

Wendy’s single and a side order of hallucination Matt Longson is my hero. Straight up. The man completed the Hoodoo 500 last weekend. In under 48 hours (official race cutoff), he pedaled 519 miles, climbed 30,000 feet and endured 30+ mph winds. He stayed on the bike when he didn’t want to. He rode when most (and many)...
Success would be the best revenge The title of this post is a quote from Author Unknown–at least as far I know. Why write a blog post about revenge on a site that celebrates all things cycling? Here’s why: the verbal war in the last 48 hours between cyclists and sports radio talk show host can’t...
Less is more Ran the numbers tonight. Not bad. YTD mileage is nearly identical to 2009 — a tad under 3,000 miles, or closing in on 5,000 kilometers (counting missed mileage from Mt. Laguna Cycling Classic, Death Valley Double, Borrego Double Ordeal and a few in-town shorties). But one major change in the...
Pablove Across America As a father of two great daughters and the husband of a cancer survivor, I’ve been absolutely moved to indescribable emotion by the story of Pablo Castelaz. Pablo died six days past his 6th birthday this past June. His father Jeff is riding across the U.S. soon to honor his...
Mind games Ever struggle with training motivation? Me, too. I’ve been told the hardest part of any ride is the mere act of kitting up, clipping in and pedaling the first few revolutions. After that, it’s all gravy (organic, if available, thank you). But first, come the mind games (in a good...