Labor Day Bike Tour to McGrath State Beach 117 Miles RT

I spent Labor Day weekend camping with my friends at McGrath State Beach in Oxnard. It was a fun and long ride fully loaded with my camping gear. As soon as I arrived Naomi popped open a beer and gave me a neck massage. Life is good.

117 Miles Round Trip. It took me about 5 hours including Lunch both ways with one day of rest in between the rides.

Terrible twos

Day Two: Two miles from my house I had two flat tires and was twenty minutes late for work. This will not be easy.

I'm Giving Up Driving a CAR for a Year!!!

4 Years ago today my life changed dramatically for the better. I broke my leg, tore my PCL, stretched my MCL, tore off most of my Meniscus and severely stretched my Peroneal Nerve all on my left leg “My Good Leg”. We went though 4 surgeries over the course of 2 years. The scariest of them was the nerve damage which the doc gave me a 50% chance to move my foot again. 8 scary months later we cried when I could wiggle my toe a millimeter. I still cannot feel from my knee to my toes on the top of my leg nor, do I have full mobility of my foot.

How did it happen you ask?

Well, I was on vacation in the water at Amity Island when JAWS CAME UP AND BIT ME!!!

I wish the story were that cool and my scars make the story kinda legit.

I was wake-boarding in Brewster, cape cod “the Cape”. I did not hit a huge rock, pier, tree, or a boat. I was not attempting to do any trick other then gliding on water. My friend was not driving faster then a speeding bullet. I wiped out and my body spun in a different direction then my left leg. Instant pain, more then I’d ever felt. “I’d give it a 6 out of 10 inside joke”.

Rehab was hard. It was a full time job, 4 days a week and at home. Cycling was the first outdoor activity that I could do. I fell instantly in love again, free from my bed, couch and at times my pimp cane. 4 years later I bike practically everywhere in Los Angeles, my longest trip has been to Glendale from Santa Monica, 23 miles one way for a house warming party.

My Pledge:

For one year September 1^st 2010 to September 1^st 2011 I’m going to live without my car and use some good old-fashioned human biking power. I used to use over 676 gallons ($2028) of gas every year. This may not put a big dent in the big Oil Companies but we won’t need to drill an extra 34 barrels of oil just on my account.

But wait… You can’t live in Los Angeles with out a CAR!!! Bullshit Mr. Get off your ass and buy a bike. Keep checking back to see how I’m doing, and if you see a biker on the road don’t try and run him over, it could be me. And as always you'll get lots photos.

Josh