Real Stories from the Road

🚴 Real Stories from the Road

This blog is full of cycling tips, gear, and guides — but these stories are the heart of it all. Real moments from the road. Honest. Unexpected. Sometimes funny, sometimes heavy, but always true. These are the ones I still think about long after the ride was over.

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• The McDonald's Stop That Changed My Route
  Two old men, a hand-marked paper map, and a small kindness I’ll never forget.
• The Day I Almost Quit — And the Strangers Who Carried Me Through
  Two old men, a hand-marked paper map, and a small kindness I’ll never forget.
• My Encounter with Temptation on a Bicycle Tour
  A statue, a metaphor, and one brutally tough ride I somehow finished.
• The Day I Thought a Rattlesnake Would Strike My Spokes
  Carlsbad, NM. A rattler. And one of the scariest moments I’ve had on a bike.
• The People and Creatures I Miss on My Usual Route
  Over time, the road changes — and so do the people and animals along it.
• The Car Blew a Tire Right Beside Me — And a Young Woman Stepped Out
  I had big plans. The trip fell apart. And I had to figure out what to do next.

I’ll keep adding to this list as I ride — and as the stories unfold. If one of these makes you smile, cry, or just nod your head and think, *“Yeah, I’ve been there,”* then we’re already riding together.

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👉 If you're curious about the gear I use on these rides — the shorts, sleeves, lights, and little tools that make long miles easier — I put together a simple list here:

🛠️ Gear I Use and Recommend