Starting Blog

Mogman is a long time participant and advocate of cycling and literally grew up on a bicycle of one fashion or another. It was a way of life back in those grade school days and was a form of a child's independence having the ability to go just about anywhere and any distance you wanted to go from home, at least until we were caught by my parents for going to far from home. My cycling roots go back to the early to mid 60s when banana seat bikes were the norm and could be had at a garage sale for $5. Back in those days, banana bikes were also used to jump dirt mounds (now they use BMX bikes for that stuff) as well as ride wheelies the entire street long. Of course bicycle helmets weren't even thought of, let alone talked about and that is why I ended up missing several weeks of school in the 4th grade due to a severe concussion and fractured skull. Once the banana bike was worn out and falling out of favor, it was time to move up to the long dreamed of and sought after Schwinn, in any model or any color. Instead of a Schwinn, I received a birthday gift In the eighth grade. I received a Raleigh English Racer, all new and fresh out of the box. I still remember that day (in spite of my age and subsequent memory loss). That lasted me until high school where I participated in a church youth group contest competing for a free car as first prize. I took second place and instead received a Sears Roebuck blue road racing bike with all the latest components. That became my main mode of transportation in high school outside of the daily bus ride to/from school. I then pursued my education and career which left little time for bicycling for about 10 years. I knew I was missing something. It was that void of serious bicycling in those early career years. Fast forward to the late 80s where the new trend was in trail bikes, hybrid bikes and soon to emerge mountain bikes with suspensions that put some cars to shame. So I remerged the avid cyclists I claimed to have been and started out with a new trail bike (hard frame). Since that time I have consistently added to my collection of bicycles and accessories. I have literally covered the garage ceiling with hooks covering the entire garage ceiling area to hang bicycles, bicycle buggies, car racks, space cases, etc. I have returned to my roots with vigor but with modern day technology. I now have gone to the extreme in my bicycling pursuits and have a bicycle for literally every occasion, and all the accessories to carry my bicycle anywhere and on any car. Of course, bicycling must include an iPod these days as well.

Why? What's the point? Just being in the outdoors, adventuring out, taking in the sights, experiencing around you what you miss when driving in a car and simply enjoying God's handy work. In addition to that, the health benefits (except of course for those close calls with automobiles) and "green" benefits simply add to the overall benefits. Having logged over 3000 miles in 2007, having ridden in 7 years of the MS-150 Charity events raising money for the fight against MS, having commuted to work via bicycle, I feel compelled to do more in 2008 and to experience more of what I have described above. I invite you to join in a as well and experience the world around you in a different light and where you can take more in and enjoy those things that we take for granted in our hurried pace and lives.

So enough about me, let's get to blogging and let's go cycling!

Mogman