More Eventfully Uneventful Things...

Where I work

Had a pretty awesome day yesterday!  I went to work to what initially appeared to be a dead day at the bike shop.  And I don't mean we were playing the Grateful Dead.  I really can't stand it when things are dead at work because it leaves you searching for random things to do.  Anyhow, I decided to build up some bikes to restock for the floor inventory.  While I was sitting there working on some bikes, I realized what I was doing.  I'm working in a freakin' bike shop!  For some odd reason, that thought really boosted my morale for the rest of the day.  I realized that I had a hand at making someone smile by making their bike experience better.  When I was working in insurance claims a year ago, my life was surrounded around telling people bad news.  Having a job that I get to have positive interaction with the public is really awesome.  Yeah, the pay may not be much but I can adjust my standard of living to make that work.  Life is too short to be stuck doing jobs that suck!

After work, I met up with my buddy for a quick rendezvous to the bar.  The trip was short and mostly was to just catch up on some scores on Sports Center as well as the local gossip.  I'm trying to taper down the booze intake now.  Starting today is a new focus on my cycling.  I figured that I'm in a new position where I have to figure out what inspires me in life and what I want to set goals for.  I've always considered cycling to be that experience.  Therefore, I'm going to put a new found focus on dropping some weight, getting healthier and mashing those cranks pretty hard.  I realize that I'll never be a pro cyclist.  In fact, I don't even think I would want to.  However, I do have a competitive nature and I want to make the best of what I can in the amateur bike racing world.  We'll see what happens.

Life is truly what you make of it.  Lately, I've been abusing my life.  I haven't had any expectations or ambitions.  This isn't going to change immediately overnight but I do feel a change coming on.  I've got some great friends who have helped give me a little push and yank me up by my sandal straps.  A little outside motivation goes a long way.  So that's about it for now regarding the uneventful life of Jimmy Deane.

Bike Training...

I've taken enough time off the bike lately.  Probably a lot more time than I should have.  Now it's time to get focused a bit and set my sights on cyclocross season coming up this fall.  Starting tomorrow, I will begin a training plan of on bike and off bike workouts.  This year, I'm going to throw in more variety in my riding by doing a little more mountain biking with the mix of road riding.  Hopefully, the mix of mountain biking will sharpen up my technical skills a little more.  

As for races, I'm not sure what my race calendar is going to look like.  That will be something to figure out at a later date.  I do know I'm planning on doing the 3 Peaks race in North Carolina as well as Southern Cross.  There will be plenty of other events thrown in between as well.  I've also got my eyes set on going to Kentucky for the USGP race.  If everything plays out this year and I can get my upgrade to a Cat 2, I'll definitely go up to Wisconsin for Nationals and race in the Single Speed class (with no chance in hell of winning).  I gotta set me sights high but it should be a fun season regardless!  I really can't wait for all the mud, crashes, snow, more mud and even a little bit of mud mixed in!!

All this stress has really taken a toll on my riding.  I've gained some unnecessary weight and just don't feel great.  I wish I would have used my riding as a way to handle everything but it just didn't happen that way.  There have been a lot of realizations over the past couple of days that have given me a little bit of focus on reality.  That's why I'm getting back on the bike.  The one true love that I have left in life is cycling.  It would be pretty hard to take that away from me.

Wisdom of a Los Angeles Cowboy...

Wow, has it been a long and crazy week!  I'm not saying it has really been bad, just crazy.  Over the course of the last week, I've had to deal with a lot more transitioning.  I'm still trying to get my life figured out with this divorce on the horizon.  As life closes one door, maybe a new one will open and my existence on this earth can prosper. 

One bit of advice I received came from a cowboy from LA.  I was sitting in the bar the other night after work and started talking to this guy who was about to go on stage later in the evening.  The man's name is Crosby Tyler.  Crosby is a singer songwriter from LA who has been traveling the roads for many years doing what he loves, playing music.  He and started talking about my new job and how I'm in a transition point in my life.  I told him that each day, I wake up and I'm super excited to be going to such an awesome job!  Yeah, my job pays scrap but I can adjust my standard of living to make things work.  Crosby explained to me that life is really too short to chase just money.  He said that you have to look for love in what you do and the people you are around.  If you find that, you've found your next path for life.  This was somewhat of an awakening for me.  With all the shit I've been going through over the last month, this really brought light to who I am.  Honestly, I don't know if I'll be working in a bike shop forever but I do really enjoy being in that industry.  I obviously have a passion for bicycles.  Working in the bike shop allows me to express that passion each and everyday.  As for right now, I'm going to continue on that path, make some changes in my life and see what happens.  Ever since I moved back to East Tennessee, I've really just been living each day as it comes.  This has been really liberating in the sense that nothing has been too complicated. 

As for the rest of the week, I've met some other amazing people with yet more amazing stories.  I'm also still finding myself running into old friends each day.  This has been pretty awesome!  I remember leaving my hometown ready to go anywhere but staying here.  Now I'm back and I find a lot of peace here.  There's the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the people, the music and my family.  I don't know if I'll be here forever but again, I'm living for the day right now.