"Live Your Moksha" 7 Week Challenge

I just spent a few days in California and while I had a good time surfing, relaxing and spending time with G, even the palm trees and sunny weather couldn't penetrate my cloudy attitude.

That just won't do -- life's too short to get stuck in "broody Kristen" mode.

So perhaps as an answer to my new-found awareness, the universe plopped this in my lap. And I'm looking for some moral support. I'm calling it "Spring Cleaning" but for the soul. The yoga studio hosting the challenge is calling it "Living Your Moksha."

It's seven weeks long, and focused on "yoga off the mat" — one week for each of the seven pillars. In their intro they say, "Yoga is not just something you do, but something you are. It’s in the way we talk to people, wait in long line ups, how we eat, even how we argue." I'm hoping to add a bit of that yogi peace to my day-to-day — because goodness knows I am not talking, waiting, eating or arguing with any kind of grace or eloquence lately. And hey, they're even promising some magic.

We get our challenges delivered to our inboxes and then it's up to us to put our minds to completing them. Stuff like:

• Be Healthy Challenge: No processed foods/toxins in the home


• Live Green Challenge: 7 days of vegetarian/vegan eating


• Be Peace Challenge: 1 hour of silence daily

I am really hoping I can convince one of you out there to join me in this — it starts May 1 and it's only $10 to sign up, plus whatever costs you need to cover for yoga classes (though that's not the focus of the challenge). Some Moksha studios are apparently even offering a discount. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out their website, or the facebook community.

Hope you'll think about joining me!

Namaste, Bitches.

A Close Friend Turns Ten

It's 2012, and that means my old friend, Road Bike, is now a healthy ten years old. If I had my way, I'd never get a new one -- but that's not how aluminium works.

So I started mucking around on the Trek site and have now wasted a couple glorious hours in the Project One area specifically. I've been there before trying to see just how boss a price tag I could rack up on a bicycle (I think I broke $20,000 one day ... probably even easier to do now) but never with the intention of shopping.

Til now!

Here's what I came up with for a first draft -- Waaay more bike than I need for my purposes, but just enough to get me through another ten years. Suggestions welcome! Or if you'd like to customize one of these beauties for yourself, go to http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/custom_project_one.

Drivetrain Gruppo: SRAM Force Compact PG-1070
Wheels: Race X Lite Clincher (tires: Bontrager R3, white)
Stem: Race X Lite
Headset: Cane Creek IS2 Carbon
Handlebar: Race X Lite Blade Isozone
... and most important: it's PURPLE (to match my mountainbike, of course).

Believe in Yourselves, Kids!

This came up [again] in my day-to-day. Such a welcome little message of hope on the virtues of learning to ride a bike, as well as a shout out to rock and roll. It's the kind of video I don't mind watching again, and again.

Thanks, kid.

Rides of Hope: How one man is using mountain biking in the wilds of Israel to connect with young inmates

This story was both inspiring and heart-breaking — I got choked up within the first four minutes. I am so glad I stumbled upon it, though it's been out there in the world waiting for me since April 2010. It's a story about a man in Israel, who is a computer programmer by way of profession, but who also happens to enjoy mountain biking, and how he is making a difference, one Tuesday afternoon at a time.

He walks by the state prison one day, and thinks there must be something he can do to help the kids there who have lost their way. So with the help of a warden he organizes mountain bike rides for ten of the young inmates at a time. It didn't start off so well — he admits, "I’m used to algorithms and data structures and super motivated students, and nothing in my background prepared me to deal with a raging, violent adolescent in the middle of nowhere.”

But together, they learned their way around each other. "When a kid like this gets into a fit, the best thing you can possibly do is stay as close as possible. It's difficult, because what you really want to do is go away — but that's what he's had all his life; people walking away from him."

He links the act of mountain biking to the act of falling in love with ourselves, leadership, and empathy. His name is Shimon Schocken, and these are his Rides of Hope.

My first-ever Cortado

As most two-wheelers know, the world of cycling is inextricably tied up with the world of caffeinated beverages. And yet, I know comparatively little about the go-juice. Who better to fill me in than Matt P, known espresso afficianado, and my new roommate besides.

This weekend, between shifts scrubbing and polishing our new digs in the East End (didn't you hear? I'm moving again!), we took a break for a tiny little drink that packs quite a punch called a Cortado.

Matt tells me that if I were ever to spend my winter's training with pros like Michael Barry in Girona (I dunno, maybe next year?) this is what I would be having on every ride's coffee break. It's served in a small glass tumbler, just a little bigger than a shot glass, called a "Gibraltor." It's made with delicious espresso, cut with warm milk in about 1:2 or 1:3 ratio. It's like a little mini latte only better. The barrista even did some foam art that I think was supposed to be a heart, but to me it looked more like garlic. Let's not read too much into that.

Anyway, I took my little Cortado to the table as it was served. No need to add anything. My first sip was a little bit harsh. But every sip afterwards got better and better - smooth, the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. Of course, that meant the best was saved for last and by then I was completely hooked.

We got ours at Crema on the Danny, but you should be able to get them at any reputable espresso joint -- even if it's not on the menu. Hope you enjoy one soon (and I hope the same for me!)

Cheers.

Outside Ride #1

I was convinced (and it did take some convincing, I admit) to join some RPM peeps for a Saturday morning ride this weekend. The early start time was offset by supposedly perfect weather.

Imagine my shock when Saturday morning turned out to be a drizzly, foggy let-down.

But, onward! Had a great ride with this bunch that included old friends and new ones. Got a little bit of testing done (mainly to stay warm) and the hypothermia stayed to a minimum.

Big welcome to group ride season!

Red Panda says: Always play with your food!

Today was starting to feel like a lost cause after spilling both my breakfast AND my lunch on my shirt and various other "trials of life" ... but then I saw this guy, and my frown turned upside down.