Editor’s Note Indulge: in·dulge, v 1. To allow somebody or yourself to have or do something enjoyable, AKA putting your soul on the top shelf Indulge is such a . . . tempting word. It was just reintroduced into my vocabulary during a casual conversation, and it was left stranded like a fragment of salty tortilla chip in the habanero salsa of my consciousness. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even used the word but I noted to myself that our lives and this magazine are all about indulgence. Many of us who get pleasure from cycling, skiing and outdoor recreation have allowed our games to become an especially important component of our lives. We spend endless amounts of energy, thought and money honing our ability to amuse ourselves. This is energy that could arguably be used for a more noble cause. To understand my train of thought you should know that I was raised by an artist and a physicist. The artist tells me to fling vibrant color all over the world, roll irreverently in the lush alpine meadows and explore dreamily into the mysterious chasms of my own imagination. Basically, live life without regard for labor and despondency. My other consciousness, influenced by the physicist, says wait a minute. Your life and work ought to have a significant and positive effect on the world. Exploring science and discovering solutions to the scourges of the world is our duty to existence. A society based on recreation and indulgence is one that is positioned for collapse. No culture has enjoyed more indulgence in life than us, except maybe the Romans, before they fell. Is it possible to find some sort of harmonic balance? Some way to conscientiously use the skills we have developed through the lavishness of our excessive play? I can’t help but look at the dichotomy of what cycling has become. I’ve mentioned it before. We repeatedly load our bikes into our flashy new 380hp AWD sport wagons (If you don’t have one, you know you want one. Just admit it. You want it all: 17-inch wheels, leather, Paris-Dakar-inspired suspension, the works.) and drive to fantastic locations to ride our bikes purely for our own selfish pleasure. Then we party and celebrate, toasting our freedom with fine California wines and hand-hewed microbrews as the red sun sets (enhanced by smog) over our mountain playground. Remember, though, the bicycle was originally a form of transportation and a very efficient form at that. We have a responsibility to use it that way. Our over-consumption of energy is one the greatest problems we face on this planet. It is the cause of maddening wars, disgraceful pollution and large-scale environmental degradation. Things we all agree to dislike. One of the feature articles in this issue is by a woman who challenged herself to regularly commute to work on her bicycle (see pages XX). It’s not as easy as you might think. It requires vigilant planning and gritty determination. There is nothing
worse than showing up for work with a black streak up your backside (something easily fixed with a good fender) but commuting to work by bicycle has countless positive effects beyond saving energy. Go discover them for yourself. If you can, dredge up the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk; Jack ends up trading his old cow for a handful of magic beans and gains entrance into a whole new dimension. Well, we can trade in our gas-hog for the magic of two-wheeled freedom. May 15-19, 2006, was officially Bike to Work Week. I hope many of you participated but why stop at one week? I say, if you can do it for a week why not take it a step further and make it a customary part of your life? Don’t be unrealistic. You may not be able to commute by bike every day. Try committing to three days a week or even just one. Most of us have developed our fitness to a point that commuting to work is not a physical challenge. It’s a mental challenge. Giving up the luxury of the car with heated seats and a six-speaker stereo system is the tough part. Commuting to work by bicycle is just one idea. Hell, at least try riding to the trailhead. The point is that if we dedicate some of our energy to responsible living then it will be even more gratifying to indulge in some errant recreation. Lust after a new custom built bike (see NHBS on page 64), your old bike doesn’t need to know. Celebrate your liberated life by riding your townie carelessly down the middle of the street, after closing down the bars at 2 a.m., pausing at every intersection to dance under the blinking red lights. Whatever makes you feel free. Let your socially responsible side have the majority vote in your lifestyle because when indulgence comes knocking, denial sneaks up the back stairs, shoes in hand, while selfishness peeks through the window, demanding to come in. By the way, I do commute by bike. Granted it’s only three measly blocks to work and grocery shopping but Gunnison clocked in at minus 39 degrees in mid-December and I rode to work that day too (the car wouldn’t have turned over anyway).
Mountain Flyer
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