Back to riding a bike

This was my initial entry in 2015.  As of 2017 I’m still on the bike.  In fact, I’m cycling more than ever.  If you are reading this, you are also likely seeing my brand new and improved blog page.  Welcome!  The blog has evolved since this first post, and of course there have been many, many rides.  Below I mention leg troubles that kept me from running.  It turns out that an affliction called Sarcoidosis is the culprit.   I’ve started a series of posts related to that which may be of interest to you.  Beyond that, the blog has evolved into posts on road bike riding, with emphasis on worthwhile rides you might enjoy, and mountain bike riding. My newest section is Beers I have Ridden, which is a fun look at the cold ones that make the after ride just that much better. I hope you click around and find some enjoyable reading.  — jc

We were at the front of a long line of cars, as we loaded our bikes on the ferry from Vermont to NY State.

After a long romance with running, I am back on my bike.  I thought running would be a temporary diversion from cycling, but it became a passion that took me to ten marathons and countless other 5k’s, 10k’s half marathons, ten-milers — you name it, over a period of about 15 years.

But before running, I considered myself a cyclist.  Thanks to some nagging leg issues, I parked the running shoes in the closet and got back on the bike in early 2014.  My passion for cycling has been rekindled, and the running shoes are now reserved mostly for lawn mowing.

It took a while to decide to dedicate a blog to cycling.  I had to be sure riding was back to stay.  As of today, June 15, 2015 it appears to be.  I think about blogging while I’m riding, so it makes sense to take the leap.

Like all projects, I’m in the wild-ass enthusiasm stage.  This is new!  This is fun!  It won’t take that much time!  Everybody will want to know what I think about this or that with cycling!  Well, maybe.

Before you know what to think of what I write, or in fact, whether it’s worth thinking about at all, it’s appropriate that I tell you where I’m coming from as a cyclist.

I like to describe myself as an intermediate, intermediate.  I’m not one of the big dogs racing road bikes on weekends, but I’m not riding a cruiser on the Greenway either.

In mid-season,  I consider a 60-75 mile ride doable. My full suspension Cannondale 29er mountain bike gets more use in colder weather, but if I venture onto the trails at Carvin’s Cove I would typically ride 15-20 miles on a Saturday.  I’ll attempt to ride over smaller logs, cross creeks and climb all day, but you can keep the downhill switchbacks for someone else!

I ride often with my wife, Mary and our group of friends — mostly couples.  We ride in Roanoke and take the occasional trip out of town.  In August we are all traveling to Montana for a week of cycling in Glacier National Park, and the famed Going to the Sun Road.  Since that is how Mary and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, it’s safe to say we are pretty gung-ho about bicycles. (Ed note:  We went, and it was great!)

Some of you may know me as the new anchor for WSLS, the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia.  Those who have been around long enough will remember the Tour DuPont coming through the region in the mid-1990’s.  You may also remember Lance Armstrong winning many of the stages in the local mountains, at the beginning of his career.  I had the privilege of broadcasting hours of the race with Paul Sherwin — now the famed sidekick of Phil Liggett during the Tour de France broadcasts. Paul and Lance were friends and I had the world’s first interviews with the yellow jersey winner after all of Lance’s victories.  (I’ll reserve discussion of my feelings about Lance for later. It was fun, but to this day I can’t believe my luck.

Ok — enough about me.  You know enough about my skill and heritage to know that I’m not a complete putz.

My intention here is to tell you about cool rides, interesting ideas that come down the pike,  stuff that bugs me, and whatever else comes to mind the next time I’m riding my bike.

Thanks for coming along.