Weekends are for...

Nothing like consistently hitting the trails and enjoying the change in season along with it. Clocking miles in the mountains and building up skills. Looking forward to branching out to new spots this season and keeping the momentum up in the winter!

Wish List: Mounted Bike Speaker

Sometimes I just wanna jam out on my bike, nobody in sight, just me pedaling listening to the *new Drake album*.  Outdoor Tech outdid themselves with this bluetooth speaker.  10 hour battery life, power bank, and a built in light.  Comes in at ~$80 bucks, but just might be the summer time accessory you absolutely need.  Also, you need the new Drake album. 

The Life To-Do List

Inspired by this blog, I decided to put together my own list of things I want to do and carry on through the new year.  Don't call it a resolution.  It's good to reflect and remind yourself of what you want/should/need to do.  

1. Read more.  It's that simple, but somehow the hardest thing for me to make time for lately.  I have a stack of books piling up at home and so many more on my wish list, yet I find I'm distracted by electronics and excuses.  Needs. To. Stop.  ::insert crosses arms girl emoji::

Concrete Planet  |  Wonderland  |  Thinking, Fast and Slow  |  The Valley

2. Cook more, save money. I have never been one to eat out a lot. Somehow that took a turn mid-Summer and I find myself at Whole Foods *treating myself* more often than not in the prepared foods section. AND now my local Whole Foods has a bar, Noodle Stand, Dizengoff and much, much more. Phew! I've been buying bulk goods, making a little schedule, and saving some, ahem *dough*. Thanks to Budget Bytes.

Baked Chicken with Artichokes and Tomatoes  |  (Not) Refried Beans  |   Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

3. Build a better commuter bike, increase activity, & acquire *summer bod*.  My current bike commute, when I'm not being weak and driving, is a 10 mile round trip adventure.  It's a very easy ride and relatively flat.  I come from just north of Center City Philadelphia (Fairmount) to deeeeeeep South Philly (Navy Yard).  It's manageable and makes me feel so productive and alert.  For 8 years I've been riding a very dependable fixed-gear bike.  I'm certainly keeping her for quick jaunts, but these legs are achy and they just wanna freewheel! Oh, the frame I have was gifted from a colleague: Schwinn Circuit.

Fairweather B903 Bullmoose Bar  |  Bar-Ista  |   RockBros Bike Bicycle Pedals

4. Learn more, solve problems.  Some of you may know I've been tackling a second undergrad degree, very slowly, at night, in Civil Engineering.  There have been road blocks and schedule conflicts, but I'm going to keep on chugging.  Take classes when I can and read more when I can't.  This is kinda like #1, but still a goal I have to remind myself of periodically.  About halfway there...

Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers  |  LEED AP BD+C  |  Bridge Design

5.  Be relentless.  Just attack everything with all I have and be tenacious.  Nobody is going to do it for you.  Be fierce and achieve your goals.  Aside from Beyonce, these pictures represent the kinda fierceness I'm aiming for.

Yeti SB6c - Limited Edition

You may have caught the SB6c in action from a previous post, here.  So you know my love for Yeti bikes is real and I can't wait to cruise on one of these guys in the future.  A little pricey, starting at around $9,000, but the specs are sweeeeet.  Fox components, carbon fiber frame, SRAM parts, DT Swiss wheels and quite a stellar paint job.  Captained by the Aussie Jared Graves, who has won multiple enduro championships aboard the Yeti, this bike is sure to put a dent in your bank account but will likely outlast you.  #FamilyHeirloom