Big rides with friends are my favorite thing about cycling.
Last weekend we did the Rapha Prestige in Santa Cruz, a 120 mile / 200 km ride in the Santa Cruz mountains. We encountered a bit of sun, plenty of rain, and a nice blend of wide open pavement, dirt roads, and some beautiful single track over the course of an amazing 10-hour ride. There’s nothing quite like emptying the tank to make you feel whole again, despite being absolutely crushed the next day.
This week I’ve shared a New Yorker piece profiling the story behind Moriah Wilson’s murder last spring, a tweet that made me think deeply about what’s most important, and an insanely beautiful photo essay about the quest to track down a snow leopard in Nepal.
I’ve also shared a music recommendation for the first time. Music used to be a pretty big part of my life in my teens and twenties, but over the past decade I’ve spend quite a bit more time listening to podcasts and books. In an effort to change that, I’m going to share a song, album, or playlist in each newsletter going forward as a way to remind myself how important good music is to living well.
Hope you enjoy.
Jamie
👀 In Depth Article About Moriah Wilson’s Murder, Colin Strickland & The World of Gravel Cycling — A Murder Roils the Cycling World, by Ian Parker (via The New Yorker)
As an avid gravel rider here in the SF cycling community, Moriah Wilson’s murder hit me hard when I first heard about it last spring. This is the first in depth article I’ve read from a major publication, and it pieces together some of the events that happened that day. More importantly though, it dives deeper into some of the characters involved and the tight-knit community in which this tragedy took place. The author places a particular focus on Colin Strickland, both as one of the central characters in the story, and one of the biggest stars of the sport as it exploded in popularity over the last 5 years. He is someone I used to look up to as a gravel racer, but the article really paints him in a different light. Definitely worth a read whether you’re a cyclist or not, and there is a convenient audio option embedded on the webpage if you’re driving or on the go (~45min).
📸 Photo Essay That Took My Breath Away — Ghost of the Himalayas, by Kitty Pawlowski
This is an insane series of photos (and words) about tracking down a snow leopard in Nepal, one of the most beautiful and elusive creatures in the world. The photo below is from her Instagram post with the November 10 cover shot from The Times of London, but click the link above for the full essay — it’s definitely worth a few minutes of your day to appreciate this kind of rare beauty in the world.
🤔 Tweet That Made Me Pause and Think — What Do We Want More of in Life? by Ryan Holiday
The line that resonates with me most here is:
“It’s moments when we feel like we are enough.”
Reading this sentence made me realize that I rarely feel this way. Despite anything I may have accomplished, I know there’s always more I could be doing, and there’s always someone out there better than me. That awareness makes it hard for me to feel like I’m good enough just as I am.
But when I’m immersed in the moment and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, enoughness isn’t even a question in my mind. I get that when I laugh with K, or spend time with our baby girl, or on adventures with friends like last weekend, or even alone with my journal and a coffee in the morning.
The feeling I have in those moment is one of peace — that I’m good enough as I am even though I could always be better. Despite my best efforts, I find it incredibly hard to remember that these two concepts are not mutually exclusive.
Just another thing to work on I suppose 🙃.
🎶 Spotify Playlist I Listen to Most Nights — Smooth Jazz Piano, by funkyjlo
This playlist has to be my most frequent listen on Spotify, because I put it on almost every night that we’re having dinner at home. The music blends into the background, and with the right lighting, it really helps us calm down after a difficult or stressful day.
Quote of the Week — “You lead by being willing to walk alone.” ~Naval Ravikant
I def relate to not being good enough at feeling enough. 😅
Your thoughts are even more beautiful than words!
So true and a big reminder to all of us to be more appreciative for all the love and beauty in our personal relationships that make us truly smile!