tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258154896876177394.post3616142876673077915..comments2024-02-03T05:24:58.921-08:00Comments on David J Phillips: Tour Divide - Changing GearsDavid J Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17452811418423819318noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258154896876177394.post-26668253804101549722015-02-19T09:26:51.385-08:002015-02-19T09:26:51.385-08:00Wow! There is a lot of wisdom in this post. I know...Wow! There is a lot of wisdom in this post. I know this had to be a hard decision, but your reasoning and priorities make a lot of sense. A few years ago, a wise, older man pointed out that my boys are growing up very quickly and my window to have an influence on them will be over way sooner than I expect. He suggested that I use this special time wisely. This wisdom was dispensed in the context of me considering a work promotion that would increase my salary at the expense of my family. The same wisdom has proved useful when contemplating a lofty cycling goal that would also negatively affect my family. For now, I’ve concluded that it is not the right season of life to take on some epic cycling adventure that would require me to use what little free time I have to train. Instead of giving up entirely, I’ve sought adventures that I can do with my boys, so we can train and enjoy them together. When they were smaller, this meant camping. Now that they are a bit older, we are more into backpacking. In about a month, we will have completed our 3rd backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon and we are now thinking about hiking a section of the Arizona trail. As a fitness activity, I much prefer cycling over hiking. But, backpacking with them is very rewarding and guilt-free. As they get a little older (and I get slower), the boys and I may be ready to take on some cycling adventures together. But even if they never share my love for cycling or begin to think that hanging out with dad is no longer cool, I will never regret the times we spent together during these formative years. They go by quickly, and once they are gone, they are gone forever. <br /><br />Your thought process for not doing the Tour Divide this year is very wise. It doesn’t mean that you can’t do it, but it may mean finding a creative way to involve your family, breaking the route into smaller pieces, or waiting until a better time. Until you figure out a solution, maybe try making the most of what you can do with your son now and enjoy each day. It will be time well spent. Good Luck!<br />-Chuck C.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com