Today's subjects are flat tires and volunteering

A little more than two weeks until I leave!  Should I start freaking out yet?  Nah.  I’ll save all that for the day before. 

What, you ask, would I freak out about?  Well, as excited as I am, this trip will be challenging and the thought of it can be overwhelming.  One day at a time for now.  I have been enjoying some of the nearby bike paths that are right outside my house.  One path takes me all the way into Encino and around Balboa golf course.  It’s a little less than 30 miles there and back. 

This past Friday was quite the adventure.  I got to the end of the path, turned around, did a loop around the golf course and decided I wanted to loop again.  Soon enough I realized my bike felt off.  I stopped and looked at the tires.  What do ya know, I already had my first flat.  Bike & Build riders have gotten very useful emails with all kinds of information.  I do remember one that explained what every rider should have with them at all times: ID, money, tire levers, spare tube, road pump, cell phone, and a multi-tool.  I was four for seven and just so happened to be missing everything that would have helped.  I did not have money, a spare tube, or tire levers.  Let me just say, though, that even if I did have the tube and levers I would not have known how to change my tire because I hadn’t educated myself.  But the path I take is very close to the bus stop and it would have been easy to hop on and take the bus all the way back to my place.  But the lack of money kind of screwed me there.  If I were a female bird in this situation, then this would be me:

What to do?  Luckily, my dear friend, Kate O’Neill (pictured below), was both available to pick me up and also owns an SUV to fit my bike.  She trekked through Friday afternoon traffic and arrived an hour later.  I owe her BIG TIME. 

The other day I found out in order for Roy to get to Boston in time we are going to have to part ways on June 6^th.  That’s less than a week from today!  I will be so sad and lonely without him, but will probably be at the gym every day to get ready. 

Oh, also, I recently volunteered my time with Habitat for Humanity.  I went to Pocoima where they have quite a large site.  It was just the laborer, Curtis, and me all day.  I’m pretty sure this is because it was during the week.  He said the Saturdays were usually pretty full of volunteers.  Anyway, it was great.  I did a bunch of different stuff and he noticed I had quite the set of guns so treated me like an equal.  I got the sense he works alone a lot.  He loved to tell me about himself and his three children and the hardships they’ve been through.  It wasn’t until the end of the day when I was leaving and asking him to sign a form that he asked, “So what exactly brought you here today?” and then when I explained Bike & Build he was like, “Oh….. wow.”  Curtis was very helpful, though.  For example, at lunch he told me to leave the same way I came in and warned me if I didn’t, then the territory I was entering was notorious 18^th Street Gang territory.  “Good to know,” I replied….and then nibbled on my PB sandwich.

Curtis also told me the cast of 90210 had been there the week before to volunteer.  He told me they were “all such little people.”  I then started thinking what 90210 would be like if, instead of rich teens at high school, it was rich teens at a construction site. 

“Tricia, we really want to believe your cutting days are behind you, but we’re baffled as to where all the box cutters have gone."

“Adam, you think we haven’t noticed how you coincidentally keep forgetting to bring your brown bag lunch?  When’s the last time you ate a full meal?!”

“Guys, I just went to use the port-a-potty… and found a baby in there.”

“You’re screwing the dry wall supplier, aren’t you, you son of a bitch!”

 Overall, it was a good day.  I’m looking forward to participating in building with a group because I think it will be easier to look back on the day and feel slightly more accomplished.  Curtis and I moved at a good pace, but there were times I did feel like just one person.  Still, one is better than none!

What's in a name?

The Lone Ranger had Silver.

Hercules had Pegasus.  

Tobey Maguire had Seabiscuit.

Don't be confused.  I am still riding a bike with Bike & Build.  It has not changed to Ride a Horse & Build (yet).  But you should understand where I'm going with this.  The people I listed are all part of a human/horse team where one can not really function without the other (yes, I know the actor Tobey Maguire does not depend on a horse named Seabiscuit, but I just couldn't remember his character's name).  And I see clear parallels between their relationships with the horses and the relationship I (and any other cyclist, really) will form with my bike.  

I'm about to spend two months with 32 other people biking across the country.  BUT... I can't depend on those people to physically get me from point A to point B (note I said physically; I'm sure mentally we will all need each other).  My reliance is on what's between my legs.  That's right, my Giant....Defy 2 (that's the kind of bike I'm riding. What did you think I was talking about?).  

Just as any horse owner needs to take care of their horse, I need to take care of my bike.  I must treat it right and show it respect for this relationship to really prosper.  Neglect and laziness is really only going to hurt me in the long run, so the TLC really needs to be in full throttle mode.  

The point of this post is not to admit that I have to take care of my bike.  I mean, duh, any one knows that.  But since I'm about to spend two months on him/her, I think it's only appropriate for my Giant Defy 2 to be given a name.  

I went to google and typed in "name your bicycle".  This is the first link that popped up and it got my mind gears spinning.  Like the website suggested, I did consider naming it after a famous person.  But what if Hugh Jackman ever approached me and said, "Lovely bike, mate. What's its name?" "Umm...my bike's name is Hugh Jackman."  Awk-ward.  

Since Greek gods might have the coolest names ever I started to research them.  One of the first websites that popped up was 20000-names.com.  The website name alone was enough to give me anxiety, but I clicked anyway.  Luckily, the tab for Greek names only had five pages worth of names.  

Flash forward to the next day:

I got really tired of looking at names online.  I spent wayyy too much time trying to find an awesome Greek god/goddess name, but then I thought that was kind of cliche.

Today I woke up and went for a nice little 15 mile ride.  I wore my iPod (in just one ear for safety) and the song I Drove All Night by Roy Orbison came on.  It immediately pumped me up and had me pedaling fast.  And when the first lyrics were sung, "I had to escape, the city was sticky and cruel..." that was my "Aha!" moment.

My Giant Defy 2 has a name and his name is Roy and our theme song is I Drove All Night.  Granted, it is more about a guy driving all night to wake his lover from sleep to make love, but I still think the lyrics are applicable.  It could just as easily be I Rode All Night.  

The Lone Ranger had Silver.

Hercules had Pegasus.  

Red  (Tobey Maguire's character's name) had Seabiscuit.

Brad has Roy.  

A lesson in clipping in and out...

This past weekend I went and bought a bunch of bike gear including my new cleats.  I bought a pair of mountain biking shoes so it would be easy and more convenient to walk around in them (without damaging the clips).  

Anyway, this whole idea of basically being attached to your bike at the feet is new to me (and also makes me nervous).  

So I put the shoe on my right foot and approach my bike in the living room.  I still have yet to ride it because I'm getting it fitted this weekend.  I put my foot on the appropriate pedal and clip in.  I move my foot around.  Hmm...feels different.  Then I do what the instruction book tells me and twist my heel up and out to release.  Done.  "Wow," I think, "I am so good at this."

Because I got confident I then decide I want to sit on the bike seat and strap my foot in.  I straddle the bike which leans against the Chaise Lounge.  I put my left food on the cushion so I can balance myself on the bike.  Next, I clip my right foot in.  The next four seconds pretty much went in slow motion.

Second one: I accidentally put a little force down into my left foot (the one on the cushion).  Perhaps I was trying to readjust.  Suddenly, my balance feels off.  This is when I realize if I don't act soon I will fall.

Second two: Okay.  I now accept that I am, in fact, falling over.  I try to pull my foot out quickly, but have no luck with that.  That fear about being attached to my bike is coming true.  I look over and see what exactly I would fall into.  I have my two plants on a plant stand and right behind them is my window.

Second three: My 6'5" body falls over.  I put my hand out to try and hold myself up on the wall.  I miss the wall and, instead, my palm smashes into two of my horizontal window slats and shatters them.  Luckily, the screen is in front of them, so I don't get cut up.  The two plants and stand fall over and dump soil everywhere.

Second four: I think I have managed to somewhat hold myself up against the less fragile window, but after half a second my body hits the ground on top of the plants and spreads more soil around.  

I then look around and realize I am okay.  My foot has come off the pedal (success?) and I stand up, look at my bike, and then notice the debris outside.  I vacuum the soil up and, as of today, am still figuring out something to tell my landlord about why I'm missing two panes...

On that note, looking forward to getting out on the road with my bike!  I just don't want to fall over into traffic and have a car run over my neck.  

First Blog - A little back story...and a new BIKE!

Hello and welcome to my blog!

First off, a little about the title:  it's a quote I read from H.G. Wells (the popular sci-fi author) and something about it really stuck with me.  Perhaps I interpreted it as meaning a perfect world will come about through cyclists.  I know that sounds a little cocky, but I am proud of the fact that I'm about to embark on a journey that will truly help others.  

My current status in life goes a little something like this...  I'm 23 and living in Los Angeles.  I graduated two years ago from Ithaca College with a degree in Cinema and Photography and moved out to this city a few months later.  Since then, I've been working in the art department on two different tv shows.  

So what brought me to joining Bike & Build? Last August I flew to upstate New York for a friend's wedding.   I went with three good friends, including my pal, Bridget.  Bridget did Bike & Build in the summer of 07 and, for some reason, brought it up a few times while we were driving from NYC to Cooperstown. The only thing I could think in my head (and I'm pretty sure I vocalized it, too) was, "Wow, I could never do something like that."  I remember asking her some questions about it and her answers just furthered my interest in B&B.  Sure enough, the week I got back from that wedding I went onto Bike & Build's website to read more about it and decided, "Yes, this is something I want to do."  A few weeks later when applications became available I filled out all the forms, did all the essays, and applied.  I was accepted and that was just the beginning.  

Though I have been excited for it from the start, I didn't tell a lot of family and friends back home until around Christmas.  I started fundraising in January and am very proud that I've passed the required $2000 mark by the deadline.   I'm still fundraising now.  If interested in donating please visit this link.  I'm still in the process of telling everyone about it, but they will know soon enough.  

Okay, so why did I decide to embark on this trip?  Even though the jobs I've had have been great and filled with talented and fun people, I haven't necessarily felt like I've been challenged or done things I'm truly proud of.  And this isn't doesn't mean I don't work hard or seek promotions.  It's because I'm not exactly sure what it is I want to be doing out here.  I am confident it is something within the television and film industry, but I just need to figure out what.  There are so many different directions I can go and before I strap myself down to focus on them, I wanted to challenge myself.  Add to that the current economic status.  Some days I find myself so worried about myself and getting through these times, but the truth is there are so many people doing worse than I can even imagine.  When I first read about Bike & Build I was very interested in helping others.  I didn't do volunteer work in college (like Habitat) and I always regretted it.  Bike & Build really gives me a chance to reach both of these goals.  In the long run, the fundraising for the affordable housing cause and the building of houses are what will stick with me.  I'm positive biking will provide great memories, but I'm looking forward to lifting a hammer to make a difference.  

This brings me to my current status with the beginning of the trip less than two months away (destination: Boston).  As you can see below, I have my brand new (and first) road bike!  Bike & Build provides us with these bikes and all the gear is our responsibility.  The model is a Giant Defy 2 and I'm taking it into the shop this weekend to get properly fitted on it. See below!

 

In terms of training.... well, I don't want to go off on a rant about the terrible treatment I've been given lately by doctors, but, long story short, I've been sick for a solid two months.  The first month I still worked out and pushed myself, but the lack of getting better taught me I needed to rest.  So I haven't been to the gym in a few weeks and have yet to take my bike out.  The good news is I'm finally feeling better and that should be confirmed (medically) tomorrow.   Also, I will be building with the local Habitat chapter soon and am looking forward to that!  

This concludes my first entry.  Keep your eyes open for more entries to come as I count down the days until I arrive in Boston for orientation.  

Bike on!