The Off Season

Chipotle was my go to “quick eat” spot for well over a decade.

I quickly settled on the same chicken bowl that I would eat, over and over again, only changing when I felt like ballin’ out and adding some guacamole. While it was delicious and I knew what I was getting, I eventually started to ache for more. For something different.

During the lockdowns of 2020 I ended up eating out a lot, with Chipotle being a key party in rotation. I eventually took it out of rotation just to spice things up. After a month of no Chipotle, I realized that the break was much needed. It made me appreciate Chipotle again.

Cycling is no different. For over a decade, I rode my bike just about year round. I bought the rain gear and extreme cold weather layers to ride well into the winter. When the elements beat me out, I’d jump on the hamster wheel that is a trainer and spin out miles. Being so far in the weeds of riding made it hard to envision a life where I took a break from it.

Luckily, or unluckily, depending on your viewpoint, gravity will always bring you to the ground. Sometimes that involves separation from the bike. My first big bike crash resulted in a separated AC joint. I was off my mountain bike for 3 months while I recovered. During that time, I had come to the realization that cycling had become my entire identity. I had no fallback.

After a brief period of wallowing, I decided to dust off my camera and just go out and shoot photos. My legs still worked and I could sling the camera over my good side. During the months of shoulder rehab and recovery, I shot A LOT of photos. I credit that time off the bike with helping me see what I truly enjoyed in life beyond the couple hours a day spent in the saddle. It helped me.

Today, I have started making it a point to take a break from bikes in the winter time. I never truly enjoyed riding in the harsh weather, so why force it? When looking for alternatives, I found skiing to be the unexpected rush that helps keep the cycling stoke high.

Being able to stay in the mountains helps to still scratch the adrenaline itch of going downhill fast. Getting fresh air and admiring the visuals also helps with my mental state during a time when vitamin D levels are low.

With parking the bike for a bit the last few winters, I have found that I am more hyped up to ride once the weather breaks. It makes those first few days of riding in shorts much more enjoyable. Having spent time doing another sport that requires a different mindset has also opened up how I view trails that I have ridden a ton. It becomes easier to see bonus lines or trail jumps when you take a break and push your mind to process the mountain differently.