As Summer Draws to a Close

With school starting in a few days my extended summer is coming to and end. Of the past three years of being in college these past few months have been the best time I have had. I made it through my break without sickness, injury or impending natural disaster on the horizon.

In terms of cycling this summer has rocked, three national championship podiums including one trip to the top step. I finally made a worlds team selection after 2 years of hard work and dedication, though this is second to the time I got to spend with my new friends made throughout this journey.

After riding nonstop throughout the winter, spring, and summer i took a much needed break and am quickly getting back into training mode. In my brief off season I took a trip home to babysit and remember what it is like to work a busy households and ranch. Towards the end I made the trip out to Colorado again, with three friends to the nicest wedding I have ever been to. I spent 4 days in Beaver Creek, riding, relaxing and celebrating the marriage of two close friends.

Last Thursday ended my summer on a new high. The UCSB cycling team got to ride and hang out with Benny Benassi as he rode into Santa Barbara. This easy ride downtown turned into a late night as we found ourselves on the guest list for a sold out event and danced until the club closed to one awesome DJ set. What was cooler was we got to meet the man himself, a down to earth artist who asked about our lives, what we do for entertainment. His crazy friends were awesome, especially his mechanic/bike builder, a guy from Modena who looked homeless, not European.

Looking back it was the people that made my summer, not the 10,000 miles spent in the car or the countless different beds slept in, but my old and new found friends along the way

a little bit of everything

It's been a month since I got back from racing and my life settled back into a normal pace again. After the build to nationals and the drive home I was spent. It was a struggle to get on the bike and every ride was painful and slow. After talking with my coaches I went began my off-season, tucked my bike in the corner of my garage and left it there for two weeks.

That break gave me time to work a bit, sleep in and do activities I normally skip due to training. I went to the beach and pool every day for a week, went downtown dancing with friends and in general remembered why it is so damn great living in coastal california.

At the end of the break I rolled home to manage the fort and occupants while my mom dragged my dad to Hawaii before he disappears into the grape harvest. At home i eased back into riding while waking up early to get kids to school, making dinner and checking math homework. After spending a week at home baby sitting I saw how much different my siblings lives are compared to how mine was in middle and high school.

One obvious difference is that my younger brother and sister are much the tech generation. While I rode my dirt bike and did chores when I got home from school they immediately go to the TV and computer to plug in and check out. While these actions aren't terrible I don't see the drive to work hard and an interest in the world.I believe these traits came along with growing up on a working farm, while spending my days going to high school like the majority of the teenage population.

I found it sad when i took them out to the ranch from our house in town and they were content to sit in the car listening to music while I picked vegetables, fed the animals and watered plants in the house. If they aren't curious they'll forget what its like to eat a white peach straight off the tree, have your hands stained black with berries or watch tomatoes turn green to red, things I have done nowhere else.

While I may have been sheltered and have forgotten high school since it was only a small part of my life, learning from living on the ranch has stayed with me, something I hope is not lost on my siblings