In praise of the wind vest
Of all the articles of clothing we, as cyclists, possess, the wind vest is perhaps the most virtuous and exquisite. Who among us has not secretly harbored desires even during the most ideal summer weather for the air to turn crisp, the thermometer registering just shy of 60 degrees, so that we might adorn ourselves with this magnificent piece of apparel? Perhaps it is because of the rarity of its necessity that we find it so enchanting. A jersey is a jersey; we wear those...
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Accepting defeat
There’s a famous line; how does it go? Something about mice, men, and best laid plans? There are times when even the hardest among us–those who in order to evade the mind-numbing sensation bestowed by another session on the rollers may think nothing of a ride in sub-zero conditions as snow lightly falls–must admit that we have been defeated. And beyond simply acknowledging our defeat, we must learn to, above all, accept it. There is of course a fine line patrolled by one’s own integrity...
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My favorite meals, Part I
In many cultures, food plays a central role in the social fabric. A meal is not simply a compulsory routine occurring at regular intervals throughout the day, it is a community ritual, an exercise in hierarchies, a time to forge and strengthen relationships. If you find yourself a guest in a culture with such inclinations, a willing interloper eager to partake in a nonnative feast, the stakes at the dinner table are high. Out of respect, you take care to polish your plate, which leads...
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Feed me
I’m still coming to terms with the news that Google Reader, my feed reader of choice, will soon be undergoing a revamp that will rid it of its indigenous world of sharing in favor of integration with Google’s fledgling social network, Google Plus. (N.B. I got wind of the impending changes from my friend Mary’s blog via my “people you follow” list in Google Reader.) I’m not interested in joining another social network. I have and will continue to resist joining Facebook. I’m content with...
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Room food
Traveling can be stressful. Traveling for 35 consecutive days can be a little more stressful. This is what I have been doing twice a year for eight years, playing concerts all over the United States. For me, the biggest source of stress during travel like this comes from the schedule we are forced to keep due to hotel check-in times that have gradually gotten later over the years–these days a typical check in is at 3 p.m. And when the departure for a gig is...
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After nostalgia
The trend of “vintage,” especially as it applies to men’s fashion and goods, has been around for a number of years now. However, recently it seems as though consumer culture is being inundated and downright saturated with the vintage ethos. So much so that vintage no longer appears to carry the same heft or to elicit the same feeling as it once did. It’s not enough anymore to simply call something vintage–everyone does that–so new terms like “heritage collection,” or “lineage” have begun to supplant...
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A la recherche
How many times have I traversed these roads? Have my tires ever rolled over the same place twice? Were the asphalt softer, would I have worn a path by now? Do the fields remember me? The horses? The trees? Every ride is new but every ride is also a summation of memories from rides past. I vividly recall details of no specific importance from training sessions months ago, years ago. It’s a feeling akin to hearing a song from adolescence and being instantly transported to...
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Redefinition
When I first began life on the internet, the purpose was singular and simple: to have a static website designed to promote my work as a saxophonist. The site would house things like my biography, performance schedule, contact information, as well as audio clips and a list of pieces that I’d premiered or that had been written for me. Pretty standard fare even today, just about 10 years later, for performers looking to put themselves out there in the world. It was a great tool...
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Indian summer
This is October. October is a time for crisp air and changing leaves. It is a time to enjoy the comforting smell of chimney smoke and cinnamon brooms. It is a time for morning fog and frosty grass and savoring the warmth of the morning coffee as the chilly pre-dawn air wafts through a half-open dining room window while bare feet struggle to keep warm on the cold, wooden floor. It is a time for unstructured riding, a brief respite before we begin training for...
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Un jour sans
We’ve all had those days. Days when everything seems to be going against us, when nothing works out quite right or unfolds according to plan. It may be one big piece not falling into place, but more often than not it is a string of minor occurrences that keep accumulating and never seem to cease. Although we might recognize what is happening, that the gods detailed to manage and oversee the smooth execution of our well-worn routines have gone for an afternoon espresso, remaining rational...
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The first of many
The weather in Baltimore this weekend has taken a quick and unexpected, though not unwelcome, turn. It has become the weather of arm warmers and knee warmers, of lightweight shoe covers and long-fingered gloves, of wind vests and shivers at the beginnings of rides. It is the weather that greets me this morning. The sky is grey and just as my body warms up, a light, misty rain begins to fall. At first I ignore it, pretending my disregard alone will cause it to cease....
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