travel
Electricity Options for Van Campers
Learn about electricity options for van campers for part-time and full-time van life explained in simple, easy to understand terms. When traveling or camping in your minivan, you will almost certainly need some sort of electricity supply. Cell phones, cameras,…
The Best Minivan Camper Toilet Options
When traveling in a minivan camper, one of your biggest challenges is where to go when you don’t have a convenient place to go. Sometimes public restrooms simply aren’t available or convenient. So what are your best minivan camper toilet…
A Easy and Simple Honda Odyssey Camper Van Conversion
Minivan Camper Conversion This is the story of how I built a Honda Odyssey camper van conversion. For some time now, I've wanted to travel out west. However, I also wanted something for long-weekend trips. For this, I wanted a…
Cycling
When Business Relationships Become Something More: Thank You, DSI
Sometimes you're reminded that the word "client" doesn't fully capture what develops over years of working together. Yesterday, a package arrived at my door from DS Inpharmatics (DSI), a company I've had the privilege of working with for years through…
When a Company Steps Up: Thank You, Tailwind Nutrition
A few weeks ago, I did something I've never done before in my decades of cycling and writing about outdoor sports: I asked for help. I reached out to several nutrition companies and explained my situation. I'm facing seven weeks…
Training for Life: When Cancer Changes the Race
The oncologist's office doesn't look anything like a start line. Still, I recognized the feeling immediately: that pre-race mixture of adrenaline, uncertainty, and the knowledge that everything is about to change."Squamous Cell Carcinoma" the doctor said, pointing to images I…
2025 Season Recap: Three Races, Hard Lessons, and the Long Game
Introduction: A Season of Rediscovery At 64, I'm learning that comebacks don't follow neat trajectories—at least mine hasn't. After nearly three decades away from competitive cycling, 2025 marked my second full season back, with three major races that would test…
Time Alpe d’Huez Long Term Review
Time Alpe d'Huez Review: When French Engineering Meets Racing Reality Time bicycles occupy a unique space in the cycling world. While brands like Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale chase market share with mass production, Time has quietly continued doing what they've…
From Road to Gravel: My First Barry-Roubaix Experience
Introduction: A Racing Veteran's New Adventure At 64, I've come full circle—though whether that's progress or just stubbornness remains to be seen. My competitive cycling began at 16, reaching Category 2 and specializing in criteriums. Those early years delivered solid…
2024 Season Recap: Mostly Accomplished
Standing on the bathroom scale on December 31st, 2023, staring at 203 pounds, I set four specific goals for 2024. As someone who's been making the same promises to himself for a few years running, I figured it was time…
Cycling Old Fall River Road: Rocky Mountain National Park
Ten years ago, I hiked from Endovalley to Chasm Falls twice during winter visits to Rocky Mountain National Park. Both times, as I trudged through snow and gazed up at the serpentine road carved into the mountainside, I thought the…
Return to Racing at 63: Death, Mortality, and Motivation
George was the guy that all my cycling friends wanted to be when they grew up. George was a phenomenal athlete. Besides cycling, George was a national caliber runner and world class Nordic skier. He was an alternate member of…
Return to Racing at 63: Weight Loss – What Has Worked So Far
Once upon a time, I was lean, focused, and fit. In 1983, I weighed 153 pounds with 4% body fat. This was after an extensive medically supervised training program after my "accident." Let's be precise: it was no accident. We…
My Return to Racing at 63
Bicycling has been a significant part of my life. My first bike was a Western Auto Buzz Bike Eliminator, which was my birthday present when I turned eight. On my thirteenth birthday, I got my first ten-speed, a Graco GBX…
Castelli Spettacolo RoS Glove Long Term Review
Who is the Castelli Spettacolo RoS Glove For? As an avid cyclist for over 40 years, I have tried countless winter cycling gloves in search of the perfect combination of warmth, dexterity, and comfort. Finding a good glove for cycling…
Backpacking
Bottle Bright Natural Cleaning Tablets Review – Safe and Effective?
If you want to keep your bicycle water bottles and hydration bladders sanitary, and tasting and smelling fresh, then you need to clean them regularly. This article shows you how to remove that funky smell from your favorite water bottle using…
Piers Gorge Hiking Trail
Piers Gorge Hiking Trail The Piers Gorge hiking trail is short, only about a mile and a half, making for a 3 mile out and back hike. Piers Gorge, located on the Michigan-Wisconsin border, is formed by the Menominee…
Klean Kanteen 40 oz. Wide Mouth Stainless Steel Water Bottle Review
I've had my Klean Kanteen 40 oz. wide mouth stainless steel water bottle since 2008. It's not sexy, it's not expensive, and it's not the item that most gear heads would ever brag about. But it is reliable, durable, and…
Kayaking
Everything You Need To Know About Kayaking to Power Island
Power Island is located six miles north of Traverse City, Michigan in West Grand Traverse Bay. While it lies only one mile offshore from the Old Mission peninsula, kayaking to Power Island is a three-mile paddle from the DNR boat…
Upcoming Michigan Kayak Symposiums
Symposiums are a great way to learn kayaking skills. Taught by experienced paddlers, typically, ACA or BCU certified coaches; one can learn an incredible amount of useful information in a fun, safe, hands-on environment. 32st Annual WMCKA Symposium Montague,…
Kayaking Under the Mackinac Bridge and Through the Straits of Mackinaw
Paddling under the Mackinac bridge and through the Straits of Mackinac in general can present several dangers. Currents in the straits can be very treacherous!Do not attempt this without an appropriate sea kayak, proper safety equipment, and training! A few…