My Continued Obsession: Bicycling

Bicycle Handlebar Mount Camera

Last year I came close to hitting 2,000 miles on my trusty Trek 2.1 road bike. I beat my bicycling milage goal of 1,500 miles by almost 30%. And, over the course of the year, I climbed over 8 miles on those two wheels.

Achievements included my fifth or sixth (I honestly cannot remember) time riding the STP, making the 200 mile journey from Seattle to Portland over the course of two days. I also completed my second Bike MS Deception Pass Classic in which I raised an evil $666 to combat Multiple Sclerosis.

I’m at it again in 2017, and this time I’ve set two goals. First, I’d like to cycle 2,500 miles. If I can keep up the pace and stamina, I’d prefer to shoot for bicycling a full 3,650 miles, or 10 miles a day on average.

As January drew to a close, I topped 250, so I’m well on my way to $3k.

To accompany me on my bicycling journey this year is a new inexpensive action camera, the Apeman A66.

On January 31, I filmed my first YouTube video. Today I edited and posted it on YouTube. I’m still learning the camera, but it’s pretty fun to be able to film and edit rides so easily. Enjoy!

Of note, I still needed to drop the date logging feature on the video, which I have since done. The audio could also use some help.

For my second video, which I filmed and began editing today, I make a cameo at the beginning and then ride up Little Mountain. The Little Mountain hill climb is nearly 800 feet, is a great workout, and rewards the rider at the top with a stunning view of the Puget Sound. It’s truly amazing on a sunny day, but today was not that.

Stay tuned for more as I hope to make posting my rides a regular thing. I’m also planning to explore the YouTube monetization feature, as well.

Until next time, follow me on Instagram for regular photos of my road bike journeys!

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600 Miles on Two Wheels

Aside from a handful of music-related musings on FensePost, the number of which I can count on one hand, and a few foodie posts here at AndyFenstermaker.com, 2015 is shaping up to be the first year since the ’90s in which I have essentially NOT blogged.

I would like to change that.

But who knows if that will happen. There are certain points in life where priorities change.

Where music was once the go-to for me, this is morphing toward cycling and cooking. I have logged 600 miles on my bike this year alone, and with two 200+ mile rides in the near future, I’ll easily top 1,000 miles in 2015.

The photo below, for example, was taken a few weeks ago on a 50 mile trek from Mount Vernon to La Conner, out along Padilla Bay and north to Edison, then back to Mount Vernon.

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All of this is a bit deceiving. What this post really is, is an announcement of sorts.

Less than a week ago, my wife Andi was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. We are in our early to mid 30s, and this disease is likely to impact us for the rest of our lives.

I have always wanted to ride Bike MS, but not necessarily because of the cause. Sometimes it takes a life-changing event to become empowered.

Today, I commit to riding Bike MS to help raise awareness of MS and do my part to erase it from the lives of families like mine. Please help out and support me, my wife Andi, and the countless others impacted by this disease.

Click the image below to visit my personal Bike MS page donate.

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