A bicycle that requires balance to keep yourself from falling and landing on the handlebar injuring your stomach which happened to me. It also requires you to pedal to go forward onto your new adventure. It requires you to beat your fears that come with bike riding and just go with it. My dad taught me how to ride a bike to play with the other kids around the block growing up as a child. Embarrassing enough I had training wheels up to a certain age until they broke off and I learned to ride without them. Remembering how we raced down the cul-de-sac I may have the slowest, but I enjoyed it. As time went on we got older and so did my bike. It began to rust slowly in the backyard by the shed becoming a home to whatever wished to inhabit it. Eventually, it was thrown out and cycling never crossed my mind since then. Not until I met a man by the name of Daniel Leal who rekindled my interest in biking in my senior year of college. After quarantine, I'll have to see what I can do about my bikeless situation.
About Daniel:
Fav food is sandwiches saying "I know I am basic like that" and Daniel mentions "you can make them any which way." You can make a sandwich anyway you want, but what I really enjoy is when you add chips inside the sandwich to give it that extra flavor and crunch.
Fav band is Khurangbin, "they are a Psychedelic funk rock band, that's how I would describe them. They are from Houston, Texas." I have not heard them until now, but I'll for sure give them a listen to.
What about a favorite local artist, band or business? Well Daniel mentions Joshua Castillo (@yoshuacastle) an abstract artist and Nuncio (@nuncio) a Digital Artist and Illustrator. Adding in local businesses which are Grind Coffee Company @grindcoffeetx in Edinburg Texas as well as Bandera Coffee Co. @banderacoffee in Harlingen Texas. Daniel states " really enjoy going there before or after a ride to hangout and get some caffeine in me." Well, we all have something to give us a push before or after an activity. Such as post-workouts as it states meant for after a workout or in most cases a cup of joe before starting the day.
I stated how I began biking as a child is due to my dad wanting me to interact with the children, but Daniel's passion began with an old Road-Master Cruiser. Which caused him to switch from skateboarding to a bicycle because he "wanted to get places I would go to faster." When I no longer biked I moved onto skateboarding, but that did not last very long, but hopefully, I'll pick it up again as well. The switch was due to a bicycle he says was in his grandparents shed which was his starting point. The old Road-Master Cruiser as mentioned Daniel says "my grandpa helped me dust off and get rolling again" to which he hasn't stopped since then.
We all have memories when it comes to what we have done and continue doing just as I shared my handlebar incident earlier or how I played with my friends, but Daniel mentions "when I rode from my mom's place to my grandparents which was really about 4-5 miles that was one of my favorites cause it was really a milestone for me realizing hey I can go really far quickly." I can't imagine doing 4 to 5 miles on a bicycle, but probably on a workout bike, but that gets boring pretty fast. Daniel states "I realized I've come really far when it comes to my fitness and mentality. It has really taught me alot about myself" I could say the same thing about myself when it comes to physical activity and how much improvement due to being constant with my exercises. It does change you and shape you into something new. I remember you mentioned how you biked from Harlingen to Edinburg for a Stars number 1 combo I just love the idea of that.
Telling us about his speed machine and what it consists of Daniel explains his "Fixed gear bike which is a bike with one gear and no brakes so you use your legs to backpedal to give you resistance on the wheel to slow down." This sounds killer and something very confusing compared to a regular bicycle, but his current bike is "a 'Dolan - Pre Cursa' Fixed gear bike" and going into the specs he mentions " my gear ratio is 78.90 gear inches." I never knew there could be so much added or changed into a bicycle. I only knew about certain types due to the names, but going into specific details is rather interesting.
Just like the gym or work we need something we enjoy to push ourselves forwards. Just like we need water at the gym or a snack break at work. They are essential needs to your daily activities and Daniel shares his necessities for travel "I would say it is crucial and make sure it's snacks that you enjoy." Who doesn't like a snack? A good protein shake after the gym or chips at home while you work. Besides snacks and staying hydrates Daniel brings along more personal items to make his ride enjoyable " a camera" and he advises if you go on a bike trip "just take photos from your phone to document all the places you are going to" here are some examples of just what you can capture on your biking trip:
Of course, each bike trip has to come with a plan due to "most of the longer rides have been planned out because you want to have a sense of what you might come across (avoid dogs at all costs)." I can imagine trying to outrun a dog who's trying to bite your tire! That'd be an expensive repair I can imagine for the custom bike or bike in general. As mentioned before be sure to bring along your favorite snacks and a good lunch!
There's got to be some good biking spots beside our standard biking trails which Daniel shares "riding down Old 83 has so much history" along with "Military highway and Business 83 from McAllen to Harlingen is definitely an enjoyable tour route." Besides our biking trails and local state parks, these are a great addition to your biking experience. When I think about purchasing a bike I think about biking around Jackson in Mcallen. There's a lot of stores I'd like to visit there that have always caught my attention, but Daniel's recommendations would also be another I'd have to see for myself.
There is a biking organization here in the valley and even while we drive we tend to see groups of people biking in Edinburg. Well, that's what I always saw on my way to UTRGV, but Daniel says "I am not so much involved with any cycling organizations" but that he is open to the idea of participating. Just as he participated in the jalapeno 100 and the enjoyment out of that came from completing it along with the addition to the marathon Daniel mentions "everyone else is on the same boat trying to finish and enjoy themselves." Overall It's just Daniel and his friends "wanting to explore around the Rio Grande valley and take the scenic route to places we haven't been before" and there ain't nothing wrong with that. Traveling and making memories with your friends to new places and by the pictures, Daniel has shared with me I'll show you some examples of the places that await you as well :
Everyone needs advice and starting is never as easy as it seems and Daniel shares with us "Always drink enough water, don't forget your snacks, take lights in case you are out riding home in the dark it's happened to me before and wear a helmet!" Along with something to keep us going forward :
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride” – Eddy Merckx
Just like life, It's a ride and we have to enjoy it wherever it takes us as we feel the gush of wind on our face accepting what's to come. Daniel shares his passion for cycling and the travels he makes, but what matters most if the fun it brings to him and the individuals he shares these experiences with.
Daniel is a man on a journey with his bike.
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