Cycling
May 19, 2023
Like any true ’90s kid, my bike was everything. I’d be out for hours, roaming the neighborhood with no phone and no plan. I used to run over soda cans so they get caught against the wheel and the front fork to make that motorcycle-like “rumbling” sound. Silly, but I thought it was COOL. I didn’t know it then, but that early bond with biking stuck with me, even after years away from it.
To be honest, weight has been a persistent struggle throughout my life. After I stopped playing ice hockey in my teens, any semblance of an active lifestyle simply vanished, and a sedentary one settled in. It was okay when it fit into my schedule, especially since it was on the way home from work. I actually enjoyed (and still do enjoy) lifting, but the gym culture never really clicked with me. Then COVID hit, I started working remotely, and going to the gym started to feel like even more of a hassle.
Around the same time, I moved to Easton, PA, during the height of the pandemic. If you know Easton, you know its charm, vibrant festivals, great food, a tight-knit community. But you probably also know about the pervasive parking problems, the constant construction, and the general chaos of city life. Getting to a gym became a logistical nightmare. So, I stopped going.
Then in 2023, I finally knew I needed a change, but it had to be something that truly fit my life, my routine. With easy access to the Delaware & Lehigh and Two Rivers bike trails practically in my backyard, the answer was obvious. In May, I stepped on the scale for the first time in a long time. The number: 317 pounds. It was was a brutal awakening. “How did I let it get this far? And can I even fix it now?” The very next day, I walked into my local Trek store, not really planning to buy anything, just to browse. But I walked out with a brand-new Trek Verve 2. As a bigger guy, I knew I needed something strong, durable, and easy to get on and off, and the low-step model fit that description.
I started riding a few times a week. That first ride? A grueling 2.5 miles that left me drenched and breathless, totally gassed by the smallest hills. But I kept going. Five miles became the new goal. Then 10. These days, a 10-mile ride is just maintenance, something I knock out without thinking. On weekends, I’m pushing 40.
That Trek was a fantastic workhorse, serving its purpose perfectly as I built my stamina and confidence. But as my skills grew, so did my desire for something faster, cooler, something more serious. Soon after, I brought home my second bike: a Bianchi Duel mountain bike. My journey on two wheels continued, fueled by a renewed passion and the open trails of Easton.
