I got up this morning and just started writing. After three weeks I got back on my bike after a disolcated finger. Although still not 100%, it was OK, I could hang on. Being back up on the hill made me refelct a little too. Through riding we can connect to many things, so I wrote a little about a few simple ways to feel a connection.
When we ride we can connect with elements of ourselves that others might not be able to reach. We might not want to show them or even share. Anger, Fear, and Anxiety can often be linked to our past, they can eat us up, take over our lives and destroy us internally, but also massively affect those around us. Riding bikes can help us understand and manage these emotions, and we can use riding as a tool to help conquer them in the present and future. When we ride alone we can express our vulnerabilities. It doesn’t matter what level of rider you are. If you imagine your riding aggressively it’s a fantastic way to take out some anger on a trail, really attacking the turns or the sections ahead of you. Beating a climb by never giving in. If there is a technical section ahead of you, attack it, if it beats you, attack again and again, and if you can’t be heard scream as loud as you can. Many times I have been surfing, and dived under the surface and released my anger. I've also stood on the hill, just before dark, alone with my bike and just screamed. If we can let some anger out, it means we don’t take it home, we don’t let others see this until we’re ready to open up, and avoid the transference of these emotions to those around us and the ones we love. If you happen to be reading this and in search of a release, get a bike, find a hill, and try screaming, it might not be a solution but I guarantee it’s a means to manage an unwanted emotion. Riding bikes is a perfect way to release this negative energy because it’s such a positive experience. Fear can be frustrating and often linked to limiting beliefs; ‘I can’t do that’!! But riding helps us work and connect to our fear because we can learn to progress. Whether it be jumping, speed, steep drops, climbing, endurance rides, or general bike handling, the more we progress, the more we understand our own relationship with fear, the more we can use the emotion in our favour. Fear of what others think of us is often a massive barrier to entry. If you’ve grown up worrying what others might think of you, then this will carry over into other aspects of life, including sport and riding bikes. I hope many others would agree that within the MTB community, I’m convinced that no one cares, they just love to see people progressing. At any bike park you will find all levels of rider, and personally I’ve never witnessed anyone laugh or mock someone who is trying. A foot of air on a tabletop is a huge thing to some, the first time clearing a huge gap is another, and if any other rider catches you doing either, they’ll be there to congratulate you or offer words of support. It’s similar to the fear of going to a skatepark and feeling embarrassed because you're not very good. From experience of being that person, I’ve only ever been the recipient of another person's stoke and support. Some sports just seem to have that built into their DNA, some communities want others to progress and in turn this helps alleviate fear in others. These are the communities that you can connect with, these are the communities that offer support and will help you also conquer any insecurities. It might be a long work in progress, but using the endless sense of achievement through riding, these lessons can then be translated to managing any fears you might have in everyday life, whether it's jobs, relationships or personal battles. Connection to the MTB community has so many benefits. The club rides, the social chatter, the shared experiences, the events, competition, and the feeling that you are not alone. Remember one in four people will suffer from some form of mental health, and joining the MTB community means you're likely to find someone to talk to, someone that will relate to, and understand your feelings. There are organisations now like the Trail Therapy Project in Plymouth who are helping people through riding MTB and offer organised group rides. But if that is not your thing, most areas have clubs and groups who meet regularly and are open to new members and riders and provide a range of rides from week to week. The connection to nature might often be the most talked about draw of riding a MTB. Getting away into the hills or mountains is hugely beneficial for the mind and dating back to the birth of the MTB itself, it was a way of climbing up, and accessing the highest parts of the wilderness. Fast forward nearly sixty years and riders are still drawn to the benefits of being outside, breathing freshair, riding alone or with friends, being in Nature has to be better than being stuck in our own minds. My local hill is probably one of the smallest in the country. It’s the First and Last Hill in the UK, but I call it ‘My mountain'. Downhill runs of thirty seconds, and steep climbs back up. The views look out over to the ocean and an unbroken 360 degree vista of real beauty. I can sit up here and watch nature, listen to nature and really become mindful. I spend a huge amount of time on this hill and why I call it ‘My Mountain’. Beside the ocean where I surf and swim, this hill is very precious. Finding your mountain, your slice of wilderness, your escape when you need it, will connect you to nature that is both powerful and hugely beneficial. If we can make a connection to these elements then the connection to your well-being and your mental health will become stronger. An unbreakable bond will be made, and once committed you’ll find this very hard to ignore. Surfers have a relationship with Mother Ocean that is very powerful. Immersing yourself into the ocean and feeling the power of a wave, and riding that wave. Energy that has travelled thousands of miles, provides an unfathomable sense of connection and joy. As a surfer myself this might sound all ‘right on’ and ‘duuuude’ but just ask World Enduro Champion, Jack Moir, or World Cup Winner, Laurie Greenland, where they go when then home, they head to the ocean. But if you’re not a surfer, then we are surrounded by Mother Nature. I’m no hippy, but being outdoors with my bike is good for the body and the soul, mind and matter. My Mountain is as important to me as the ocean and I’m lucky enough to immerse myself in both realms. When one is not welcoming, I escape to the other. Both have helped me to heal through some rough times mentally and physically. That old phrase ‘the power to heal’, it’s true, if you embrace it. Find your space, take your bike, ride, sit, observe and be open to being mindful and you will feel the benefits. On those days when you haven’t got the motivation; I beg you to find it. Ask yourself a simple question. ‘If I go riding now, how will I feel in one hour?’ The answer will only ever be positive. Or ask this. ‘If I don’t go riding, how will that serve mentally and physically?’ . I'm Sure the answer would be ‘It doesn't’. You don’t have to do training laps or conquer any fears if you don't feel like it. You might find that turning the pedals is enough. Look over some hedges, climb a hill, sit for a while, take it all in, get some mud on your face, get wet, watch some people walking their dogs, do a lap and ride home. One thing is certain and all the greats can't be wrong. Riding you bike will make you feel better and you will feel connected to whatever it is your looking for.
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Beau Miles always has a message. This is really worth a watch. As the world is on a self destructive journey to quarry the hell out of the planet in search of minerals for new technologies, supposedly designed to save us; Beau has a message here, and a warning which it seems we are all ignoring. All the production and destruction of communities in the race for of Lithium batteries for cars and bikes and phones, the open quarries for cobalt, precious metals and materials, are all poluting our planet, and as I write this, not as an activist, but an active hypocrite who uses all of the products (except electric bikes and cars), this film really does make you sit up and think. Take a look and please leave a comment, subsribe to Beau Miles on Youtube and watch more of his films, you wont regret it.
A perfect watch for those of us who will not grow up, and still ride bikes or have a real passion that keeps us going...Check this out.
Another must watch. The endless pursuit of getting back up to achieve a goal. Skateboarding has so many lessons in life, and yet has always been portrayed as something kids do. I know skaters in their 50's and are still progressing, at any level.
I'm a terrible skater, I have a mini ramp in my back garden and I'm still awful, but this film is just awe inspiring.
Its been an age but Summer is a time for being outdoors and I have been. I had a little medical scare but all is great now and I've been off the mountain bike for a bit with some frustrating bike repairs. The Graveller has been there for back up and some miles have been put in over the weekends, and the surf has been keeping me sane too! A new board which I'll be writing about has also kept me pretty distracted. Anyway, in the mean time, please check this long awaited project from one of the worlds must underrated surfers; Bryce Young.
Enjoy. I'll be back soon with some new posts. I’ve written about the age thing before and I often wonder if it's only us simple men folk who have this feeling of not wanting to grow up. Is it more scary for men getting older? Is it a bad thing to want to stay youthful and annoy our spouses with our incessant need for new toys?
My man shed consists of two things really; Bikes and Boards. Both activities have this intangible ability to keep me feeling young at heart, even though my body is telling me otherwise. A broken ankle, thirty something years ago, a broken wrist, a little closer than that, and a broken foot in 2016, all seem to have this physiological nagging system that worsens with age. That's not including the suspected torn Meniscus Ligament in my knee, the carpal tunnel in both my wrists (injections don’t work) and the pins and needles at night, both tennis and golf elbow, both of which I play neither, and as for the funny gone (gold elbow), there is nothing funny about it when you knock it. A shoulder impingement, a knot in my upper back the size of a golf ball, a dodgy lower back which has just yesterday taken me out of work for a couple of days, and finally if you put a level across my shoulders I’m about two inches out and drop a line down my spine and I'm out of plum!! When I rarely see a Doctor and they ask ‘how can I help’? Now, I might have gone there for a specific reason, but I often feel like getting a list out and saying ‘well Doc, where shall we begin?’. But getting to see a Doctor also panders to the male ethos of ‘not to worry, it’ll be fine, scenario, and pride definately comes before a fall'. Like most blokes who refuse to give in to this male pride, we ignore the symptoms as long as possible until one day, no doubt, we’ll inconvenience our beloved spouses and they’ll hopefully be there for us in some futile attempt at empathy. I laugh when I write this, by the way. So we just crack on, refusing to give in, ignoring the painfully obvious fact that our bodies are telling us something as we get older. In fact more like a distant screaming at us to slow down. But we can’t. We refuse to just sit back and become part of the arm chair brigade. We’ll just keep taking the vitamins, and applying the ointments for the bones and joints. Continue the pathetic excuse for stretching while our coffee brews in the morning, whilst arranging the next weekend at the bikepark, or surf trip, or the enduro race, or ridiculous attempt to stay young. We’ll get out on our bikes, boards, skateboards, snowboards and surfboards and pretend we still rip. Some of you still do by the way. Surfing is different for me personally because I’ve never imagined I was Kelly Slater, but because I love the old sixties and seventies surfers and the lines they draw on a wave. As a result, my surfing is a simpler, less radical approach than today's rippers, which means I don’t have to do much on my boards which is great for the knees, and the back. Apart from the cutback, rotation plays no part in my surfing, nor does leaving the face of the wave. For those of us older folk that are still riding bikes, the e-bike has come to the rescue for many and helped to realise that life isn’t over after forty or fifty, you can still ride up and shred down. I’ve not given in yet. I’m just not ready, but also and more to the point I can’t afford one! However, when I see kids in their early teens on an ebike, my soul leaves my body for a brief moment and I have to take a breath and count to ten. When family or older friends ask ‘if I’m still riding’? It's a question that always baffles me. The same with surfing, ‘are you still surfing’?. I’m not sure what the answer should be. ‘No, I gave that up a long time ago, I came round to your thinking that it’s just for kids’. I’m not sure what I would do instead to be honest, both pursuits are very much a lifestyle or life choice, whichever way you look at it. I’ll always ride bikes as long as my legs work. I might not go jumping or tearing down hills as fast as I can, but I'll certainly riding some form of bike. Maybe just some more adventure riding on my graveler, or just out in the lanes looking over hedges and taking in the views. I’ll always surf, because I’m a surfer. You don’t just stop surfing or imagining that you are that icon who inspires you to be better. As long as I can walk down to the water's edge, I’ll go surfing, because there are so many water craft to enjoy riding waves. I’m not talking SUP, or Foils (not for me, they don’t count). I’m talking, boogie boards, wooden belly boards, paipos, or handplanes. Hell, you don’t even need a board, just stick your arm out and body surf. I love seeing older people still doing the activities they love, whatever it may be, but If it's not obvious by now, I’m very much into the more action sports genre. To see older surfers, skaters, snowboarders, mountain bikers, BMX riders; it’s phenomenal and hugely inspiring. Kelly Slater still competes on the World Tour at fifty, Greg Minaar won a World Championship at Downhill at forty, Tony Hawk is still sending a halfpipe at fifty something and the legendary Tony Alva, well, he’s still skating bowls and he’s over sixty. When I ride down here at Old Hill Bike Park or the Track at Portreath, there are loads of us Dads who should know better. Still pretending to be teenagers, and some pull it off better than others, most of us refusing to also change our fashion sense that we’ve had since early teens. Shorts, white socks, chequered Vans and a favourite t-shirt, is the go to outfit. There is a 55+ division in the National BMX series now and it’s one of the largest categories for entries and probably will be at the World Champs this year. Hows that for kids not growing up,considering most of them started back in the early 80’s, they’re still tearing it up on kids bikes, with a smile on their face and the type of camaraderie you’ll never see at a Sunday Football match. In Mountain Bike enduro events I’m now I think I’m a Grand Master. In surfing I believe I’d be a super veteran if I competed. I just love it. The grey haired, physically broken amongst us, still have the mental age of a kid who still wants to jump off a crate with a bit of plywood as a ramp, or at least chase that feeling of pulling a trick, learning a new one, or crash trying. . I suppose this post is a few words to remind those amongst us who continue to fight for our youth. Maybe it is the simple male that refuses to grow up but who cares. Despite what our own resistance or others tell us, or our physical scars remind us, don't give in just yet. Maybe it’s time that we remind some of us older folk to get out of the arm chair, go to an exercise class and get back in shape, get back on a bike and go for a lap or two at the local pumptrack, and take your 85 year old Mum down to watch her son loving life, like I did. Don’t say ‘I used to race BMX’, go and do it, join a local club and do a few laps at your own pace, enter a club race and just see what an great community you may have left behind. Dust off and Fix that bike in the garage and go for a ride. Win back that love you had for two wheels when you were a spotty teenager, riding everywhere with your mates. For those who stopped surfing when it got too busy. Did you stop surfing because you couldn’t be bothered to compete for waves anymore? Well, if you still have that love of the ocean, and that nagging feeling of FOMO, get a bodyboard and get hammered in the shorebreak with your kids, believe me it’s hilarious and crowds don’t come near you, because they all got out!! Whatever way you look at it. It’s time to just get busy and never grow up. Apologies for the lack of posts. I try to do at least one a week, but I’ve been enjoying summer, getting out in the evenings, riding bikes, surfing, and getting a new board in particular and I’ve also been to my first festival. Yep, at 54 years old I've never been to a festival. Well, now I have, I have broken the festival cherry. The Great Estate Festival is no Glastonbury, but it's right here in Cornwall at the Scorrier Estate, and only thirty minutes from home. I’ve been to some big gigs over the years in stadiums and big concert arenas, but not being one for crowds, I think I’ve always avoided the festival environment. Even at the stadium gigs, like U2 way back in 1987 at Wembley, I remember how claustrophobic I felt, and soon found myself up in the seats, way above the stage and just watching the crowds, the and the fans surging forward. Maybe because I crave space, but I’ve never enjoyed being in the thick of it. The Great Estate Festival is a small scale event, still with plenty of people, but not mental. After our group rendezvous at Smokey Joe's Cafe, along with every other van in Cornwall, we convoyed in and were greeted to a weekend of scorching weather, beautiful grounds with plenty of shaded areas for the non-sun god people like me who burn at the slightest sign of any summer weather. Our van pitch was extra but it did mean we could replenish the hip flasks when necessary, and have a quiet space away from the hoards of teenage campers who gain access on their parents ticket if under 18. The festival was super fun, but I did have this strange feeling of being slightly overwhelmed, or rather the question popped up, ‘what am I supposed to do’? Do I just wander from stage to stage, watching as many acts as possible? Is it OK to just pitch up in the main arena with your seats, beers, food and family and watch the world go by? Do I get drunk or not? Do I really want to go into a silent disco with five hundred teenagers? The answer to the latter was an immediate NO!! Although next time, I’ll give it a go. I did know that I was there to watch the headline acts. The Selecter on Friday night is a band I grew up with in the late seventies, early eighties. I was fully expecting my early ‘Rude Boy' to come out and have a ’moonstomp’ with some fellow old timers. That we did, and scattered around a crowd were the trilby hats, the grey hair and the unmistakable bobbing of heads of the old boys and girls amongst us who grew up listening to Ska music. The Selecter and lead singer Pauline Black did not disappoint. She has an amazing voice and once saw her sing acoustic back in Brighton. Then we had Primal Scream on Saturday, a band who just embodied the nineties, taking weird drugs, and the fans turned out for them in the thousands. I’ll be honest like many, I was only familiar with their classic hits, but it was the other songs that caught my attention. They were epic, and even a power cut halfway through only made the fans want more, and a rising full moon over the estate only added to the emotions. I will add that out of everything we saw the band that stole the show for many were the truly amazing Elvana. Probably my favourite act over the weekend. A tribute band combining Elvis and Nirvana. They were pretty special and absolutely a crowd favourite, with a lead singer dressed in a cannabis leaf printed jumpsuit he was a true entertainer. Totally out of character I found myself, just off the front, and just behind the mosh pit and loving every second, watching my son and his friends get bundled around to tunes like ‘Feels like Teen Spirit’ and ‘Come as you are’, with and Elvis lookalike belting out the tracks. This was brilliant, as to were the young lads playing 60’s Rock n Roll, and although we missed it, the Hip Hop Karaoke was supposed to be all-time. There was also plenty to do for the kids of all ages. Plenty of woodland adventures, axe throwing, archery and fairground rides. One of my friends took his son to the Blacksmith stand and came back with a stunning piece of metal work, and this convinced me that I missed out on something special here, so I’ll be doing that next year for sure, and maybe spend a little money in the well-being arena. I did enjoy the Festival, I think I found my feet a little more on the second day. A good couple of hours watching people cruise by, ferrying kids in trolleys and wheel barrows, dressed in all manner of festival outfits and in all states of sobriety. Outfits either bought especially for the Great Estate, or just pulled off the dresser rails when the season started, they looked the part of Woodstock gone Glam, and middle aged parents with hippie kids in tow. Unlike myself, many seemed like veterans to this festival lifestyle, and as we sat next to the Jubel Beer stand, in a couple of deck chairs, with a couple of pints of Grapefruit Ale, we observed the beginnings of a stunning Saturday evening, with everyone carrying there festival beer mugs, full or empty, heading off to watch another act, at another stage, catching up with friends, or just taking it all in like us. The whole experience was pretty special, but I’ll be honest, I liked that we had our van to retreat to and take a breather, cook some food, regroup, and head back down for some more action. The van was my Great Escape when I needed it, and the Great Estate, 'the most rambunctious garden fete' is soon to be booked for 2024.
Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been a busy old bugger. Festivals, Riding, Surfing (loads) and generally being out and about enjoying this glorious weather we've been having. Anyway, there are posts in the works, photos to accompany them, but for now, I'd like you to take a couple of minutes and watch this. The riding is great but the trail build is exceptional. I've been riding a few trails lately at both the Track in Portreath on a Wednesday evening and the Old Hill Bike Park, and having so much fun. Take a look and leave a comment, I think you'll enjoy if you like riding bikes, and if you'd to know moreabout James Pettitt who built this materpiece the check out the Fiftylicks podcast with Josh Bryceland and Josh Lewis. Enjoy
So I'm stoked to have written a product review for my great friends over at DMR BIkes. I've known these boys since the very beginning of this iconic brand and been using their bikes and parts forever. Whenever I visit the family in Sussex, I always like to pop in and grab somethng for my bike, like a pair of new grips or pedals. Well I've been using the Nylon V11 pedal for about two years and I wrote my honest review which was a pleasure to write. Just follow the link below and have a read. If you're in the market for an affordable flat pedal for your bike then you simply can't go wrong with these beauties. I'll repost a blog later this week that I wrote back in 2020 when they were celebrating 25 years of business, and in a couple of years I hope I can write on celebrating 30 years.
For now, check the review below. On ‘The Mind Unset’ Podcast the other day I listened to the host, Chris DiCroce who posed the question ‘What’s your Story?’ and this got me thinking, so I left home with his question in mind. Was I confusing this with imagining my own obituary? What would that say? Would it be full of smoke being blown up my backside, still fethering my ego as I slide into the burners in a wicker coffin. Would it read like a school report? 'Could have done better'. 'He was easily distracted, If only he’d paid attention'.
What would be 'My Story'? I do like a story. I’m no adventurer or explorer, but I do like to take opportunities when they arise, I don't think I'm a massive risk taker, in fact I'm the opposite. My first music festival in my life is next month, and that's here in Cornwall. I've been to concerts but the whole Glastonbury, Donnington Park, massive crowds...Nah, that's not me. What about yourselves? Would life be full of adventure and passion? Would a eulogy speak to your compassion and convictions? Exploits and tales? Choices and Decisions? Arguably it’s a great exercise to reflect and evaluate where we are in life, and it should be a positive experience. What are we learning now that might help us or inspire others in the future? Are we missing anything? Can we do anyhting about that? A question that always pops up in podcasts is what we would tell our 16 year old self if we had the chance? But what if we looked back at our sixteen year old self and just took note of what we can see? Would we see a young person with a clear path, determined to achieve great things or a confused individual that’s a little lost and not knowing a purpose in life, and finishing school with no clarity or direction. Now look at yourself today. Did you achieve those goals or are you still confused? I know where I am. The latter seems to be my trademark, but I’m working on it. Yes, I’ve had loads of jobs, and each one I’ve thought of as an opportunity and I think that’s OK, but at sixteen I didn't know what I wanted to do, and to be honest still don't, but this doen't mean I have known success. I certainly don’t want my gravestone to read; ‘Here lies the World Champion Procrastinator. He thought about doing great things, had some great ideas, but then put the kettle on and sat down again, and never saw them through’. I’m not that bad, but we all have our moments. Am I a good listener? Maybe. Do I retain information? Only if it's relevant. I like to think I have made a difference in some aspects of my life. Working with Veterans, a College Tutor, Coaching Sports people towards positive mindsets. I surf and ride bikes as much as possible to look after my own health and mental wellbeing. I'm a good Dad and Husband too, I think. I’d like to think my story would be about a good ambassador for a healthy and enjoyable life and that’s really all I could wish for. ‘He made the most of what was on offer’. Education, or the great outdoors, travel, sports and creativity, even work choices, some good, some bad but always learning. I learnt I don’t need workplace stress in my life, so I got rid of it, I made a positive change and this changed my story. I’d hope for a few words that mention how I like to chat 'He does love a story'. My son is always telling me I’ll talk to anyone, and I do. I always remind him that a quick chat to a random person, in a queue, at the bar, in a shop, walking the dog, wherever it happens; that quick exchange of pleasantness might change your day and theirs for the better. Opportunities can also come from having a chat and I love the idea that a simple chat and a parting smile can make a huge difference. Cycling the other day, I actually began to think why not many cyclists were say hello. I nod and smile at every passing cyclist, and on this particular day, It seemed the majority of the other riders were just not interest. Until, a young lad, rode up to me as I was taking a rest, and said' Hello, I love riding my bike and I love riding through puddles'!. That made my day. He changed my perception that day. He was covered in mud, he epitomised what cycling should be about. Smiling, enjoyment and yes, riding through puddles. When did everyone get so serious? I passed him again on my return and asked if he'd found more puddles, and he replied 'Yes, I went through the same ones again'. He was smothered and his parents thought it was hilarious. That will be his story one day I hope. Surfing has been a huge part of my life. I’ve learnt so much from being a surfer, or should say that as the years pass by I've learnt so much from learning to surf, because you never stop learning. Perseverance, determination and commitment are key attributes needed. But then I ask myself how I managed to become a surfer when other aspects of my life have lacked the perseverance, determination and commitment needed to succeed. Does this speak to an addictive personality trait? I don’t even know what that really means. I knew I wanted to become a surfer, and a story could be told about that. I was obsessed, and from that obsession came selfishness. There is no way anyone can truly become a surfer without being selfish, and that is probably the same for any passion, when nothing else matters. Personally, relationships suffered, employment was designed around the habit, and the mindset was so focussed on the next surf, weekend trip, weather forecast or opportunity, that I surrounded myself with people who are addicted to the pursuit as I was. I even married a surfer. Our stories can unfold as life progresses forward, or hindered by barriers that hold us back, acting as a barrier to either learn from, get over, or step around. People who’ve had life changing injuries will be writing a new story, a new chapter. Loss and trauma might contribute to new fears, and limiting beliefs, but if we can also allow these to open up new opportunities for change, and move forward once more with resilience and a fighting spirit. The story that you tell might have begun in the past, but could well be shaping your future. Our stories are our own to share if we like, or we could just wait for someone to share them for us. I’ve left a few hints here for my family! In the meantime, I’m putting my efforts into writing new chapters of mine and I’m thoroughly enjoying the process. I'm out looking for the next experience to write about. The last post was the experience of gaining a photo, and this led to another this week. The search to add to your story will add to the quality of your life, and I’d like to thank Chris DiCroce from ‘The Mind Unset’ for putting this thought in my head and writing my own thoughts on it. This is a great exercise. Please have a go. What is your Story? You never know, it might lead to change if you need it, or enhance your story even further. |
AuthorHi, I'm Russ Pierre, a Cyclist, Surfer and outdoor enthusiast. Please join me as I have some fun on my adventures and write about all the stuff that makes me tick. Archives
October 2023
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